If you're wondering how much exercise should my puppy get, a general rule of thumb is to take your puppy's age in months and then multiply it by five to work out how many minutes your puppy can walk for each session. This is based on an average of two walks per day.
5 minutes of exercise per month of age: that's the routine advice for growing puppies to prevent physical problems during development.
The amount of exercise your dog needs will vary according to its breed, but every dog should have at least one walk a day, often two. Refer to our Breeds A to Z to find out more about the exercise needs of your chosen breed.
The math equation: Multiply 5 by your pup's age in months
The rule of thumb is you should be able to walk a puppy for 5 minutes for every month of age. So, simply multiply your puppy's age in months by 5.
Although your pup can go outside in your safe space, how soon can you take your puppy for a walk? It's really important to wait until she is fully vaccinated before taking her out walking where other dogs have been. Fully vaccinated means a week to two weeks after the second jab in her primary vaccination course.
Your puppy's age
To begin with, you can use a general rule of thumb for walking your puppy: walk them for five minutes for every month of age. That equates to 20 minutes when they're four months old and 40 minutes when they're eight months old.
Watch out for signs of fatigue, such as your pet panting, slowing their pace, or lagging behind you or stopping. If you notice this, allow them to rest. Watch for overheating, such as your pet panting excessively, drooling, showing signs of agitation/confusion or vomiting.
Some need 1-2 hours of exercise per day, others need more than 2 hours, and some – mostly working breeds – need significantly more, plus mental stimulation throughout the day.
As your pup goes through this stage you may see signs of challenging or aggressive puppy behaviors, such as growling, as well as more destructive behaviors like aggressive chewing and digging. Let's take a look at how to best handle some of these issues as they arise.
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.
Be Careful Not to Over-Exercise
Your puppy needs exercise, but walking too much can be harmful for growing dogs. Too much exercise, or “forced exercise,” can overtire your puppy and potentially damage developing joints.
As your puppy grows into an adult, they are going to need at least one walk every day, with active or intelligent dog breeds like Retrievers, Kelpies, and Blue Heelers needing at least two or three daily walks.
How much exercise does your dog need? Most dogs can tolerate 20-30 minute dog walks on a daily basis if they have a relatively good body condition. Some dogs in great physical health can tolerate walks up to 2 hours or go hiking for hours at a time.
Just like a human child, your puppy's bones and joints need time to mature. If you over-exercise your puppy while they are growing, they might damage their growth plates and joints, which can lead to conditions such as early onset arthritis and hip dysplasia.
Although puppies are little bundles of energy, they usually sleep 18-20 hours a day.
Take your puppy outside frequently—at least every two hours—and immediately after they wake up, during and after playing, and after eating or drinking. Pick a bathroom spot outside, and always take your puppy (on a leash) to that spot.
Although all puppies are officially considered adult dogs once they reach one year old, puppies continue to grow in height and size while their bones are still developing, which takes anywhere from 6 to 24 months.
From 3-6 months, they should not be left longer than their age in months (for example, 3-month-old puppies cannot be alone for longer than 3 hours). If possible, dogs older than 6 months should not be left alone for longer than 4 hours at a time.
The most challenging time of raising a puppy is the adolescent period. Dogs become “teenagers” and seem to forget everything they have ever been taught. This period is individual to each dog, but it may begin when he's about eight months old and continue until he's two years old.
Some may need to be walked just once a day while others need up to three walks, according to the American Kennel Club. Certain sporting and working dogs, like golden retrievers or doberman pinschers, need lots of daily activity and exercise. Toy breeds, like pekingese, are much calmer, according to the AKC.
Dogs need regular exercise, just like people. If your dog isn't getting enough physical activity, he may put on too much weight, become bored or frustrated, or release his pent-up energy in undesirable ways. Keep in mind that individual dogs have different needs.
Their activity levels depend on various factors that make up their breed and genetic and physical composition. 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.
Muscular pain and stiffness is another sign your dog may be getting too much exercise, Downing says. “This typically shows up after the dog rests following excessive exercise. When the dog is ready to get up, the owner may notice a struggle.