Although activity levels range from dog to dog, you can over-exercise your dog. Like humans, over-exercising can lead to decreased activity levels, energy, and overall harm than good.
If they are not used to more than a 10-minute walk or playtime, suddenly expecting more than an hour of activity can set them up for injury and medical problems. If they're over-extended, they may be resistant to exercise or develop mobility issues, anxiety, and exhaustion/lethargy.
Most dogs can handle 5 km (3 miles) without extra training but need at least a month to get up to 20 km. Walks above 5 km should always be followed by a light rest day. If you go too far too quickly you could cause all sorts of muscle, tendon, ligament, joint or bone problems.
A dog in good general shape can enjoy a 15 to 30 minute walk daily. Most breeds may need routine walks several times per day. Moreover, dogs with excellent health can enjoy long walks of up to two or more hours.
Your Dog's Exercise Tolerance
Most dogs can tolerate a daily 20–30-minute walk if they have a relatively good body condition. Dogs in great physical health can tolerate walks for up to two hours or go hiking for hours at a time.
While it's important to exercise your dog, it's equally important to make sure they get enough rest to allow them to recover and avoid injuries. This is particularly true after an active day where you've been on a long walk or cani-cross, for example. The occasional rest day can be greatly beneficial for your pup.
While 45 minutes or more is ideal, a 30- minute walk is usually an achievable goal for most dog owners and will help to keep your dog fit and well balanced. For puppies, a walk that lasts 15 minutes is recommended until they are fully grown so that they do not damage their joints by doing long walks.
“An hour-long walk every day is generally a good recommendation — preferably all in one session,” she says. “A long walk benefits a dog's physical body as well as their mental health.
Every dog, just like every person, is unique, but what breed (or breeds, in the case of mixed breeds), age, size and overall health can tell you a lot. Also, a general rule-of-thumb is that your dog should spend between 30 minutes and two hours being active every day.
It's normal for some dogs to slow down a bit after heavy activity. For example, your dog may want to spend a day or two sleeping more than usual following a long day at the dog park or a rigorous hike. However, prolonged tiredness should not be ignored.
A rest day is a day that your dog uses to physically and mentally recharge. It is a full day off, not just a few hours or an evening. Your dog's body will use this time to repair tissues. A rest day is ideally an ACTIVE rest day in that your dog will maintain some degree of activity instead of just lounging all day.
Walk in Front of Your Dog
Walking in front of your dog allows you to be seen as the pack leader. Conversely, if your dog controls you on the walk, he's the pack leader. You should be the first one out the door and the first one in. Your dog should be beside or behind you during the walk.
The five-second rule: Place the back of your hand on the pavement. If you cannot hold it there for five seconds, it's too hot to walk your dog on the pavement. "If the asphalt is so hot you could probably fry an egg on it, then it can burn your dog's feet.
This largely depends on the breed, but generally, you could expect a dog without training to walk from 5 to 10 miles a day. Fit dogs will likely be able to pull off 20 miles, perhaps even more. Note that every breed has its own level of physical fitness and endurance.
HEAT EXHAUSTION/OVEREXERTION
Treat as you would an overexerted human, with rest, fluids, shade, and energy foods like a dog treat or molasses, which is safe for canines and often used for hunting dogs.
Most dogs need at least 1-2 walks per day (unless otherwise specified by your vet). A brisk walk is a great opportunity for your dog to burn off extra energy, and a slow, meandering walk – where you let your dog sniff and explore for as long as they want – is great for their mental health.
Giving a dog a great deal of exercise doesn't always mean they'll simply sleep well that night. In some cases, dogs who over-exert themselves can experience "damaged paw pads, sore muscles, joint injuries, and heat exhaustion or heat stroke," says Jennifer Coates, DVM, and Pet Life Today advisory board member.
It's normal for dogs to pant or breathe heavily after exercising (walking or running), playing, or if they are in a hot environment where they need to cool down. In most cases, it is no cause for alarm.
Most dogs love them and they can be a wonderful part of our day. That being said, it is not necessary to take a walk every single day. Many dog caretakers feel like they are failing their dogs if they skip a daily walk. In fact, it is usually nothing to worry about, and sometimes it's exactly what your dog needs!
Having a rest day is often beneficial for the human-dog relationship as you tend to focus more on your time together, rather than completing the “chore” of a dog walk.
As long as your dog doesn't have any underlying health concerns, you can gradually increase the length of the walk or take them out twice a day. How often you walk your dog depends on your schedule as well as your dog's energy level and individual personality.