It’s important to know how much exercise you should be giving your dog, especially when they’re young. The dog’s size and breed, genetics and environment all play a part. So while there’s no one-size-fits-all recommendation we can give, read our latest blog to follow our puppy exercise duration and type advice
How long should a dog walk be?
I often get asked how much exercise a puppy (and indeed an older dog) should have – and it’s a difficult question to answer.
Like so many things to do with biology and behaviour, never mind the huge variation in shape, size, leg length, bulk and body mass in our pet dogs, the answer is… it depends.
Why should you be concerned?
Well, young puppies have soft bones. Their bones are not fully formed and there is a small risk of damaging the growth plates. These close at a predictable age, depending on the size of the dog. Small breeds generally have closure of the growth plates by around 6-8 months of age, but large and giant breeds may have open growth plates up to 14-16 months or even longer.
Genetics and environment play a part. Puppies should be bred to be free from hip and elbow dysplasia and genetic conditions such as osteochondritis dissecans. Breeders have a responsibility to score prospective parents to reduce these problems. And puppies should never be allowed to become overweight, as excess weight puts a strain on joints – this applies to human owners too!
So there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation we can give. But we can give some general advice:
- A reasonable guide to follow for young puppies (up to 6 months) is five minutes walk per month of life twice a day, plus plenty of play and exercise around the house and garden. So at three months, 15 minute walks, by four months 20 minute walks, and so on. After that…it depends. Small dogs can walk as much as they and their owner want from around 7-8 months of age, but I recommend being cautious with large or giant breeds, or any breed prone to joint problems, restricting walks for much longer, up to 18 months or so in some cases.
- The type of exercise is more important than the duration. High impact activities, such as jumping from heights such as stairs or seats or sharp turns such as when chasing a ball or other toy, must be avoided until the dog’s skeleton is mature and the dog has had adequate conditioning and strength training.
- Plenty of puppy play at home is important, as normal puppy play helps to develop muscle, ligament, tendon, bone, and cartilage strength as well as developing coordination and balance.
Finally, prevent your pup pulling on lead. This not only can cause damage to their neck structures, but put all sorts of uneven and damaging strain on their joints and skeleton – and it can affect yours, too!
Our Wonderful Walkies masterclass comprises two sessions of group training that teach you how to train your dog to walk nicely on lead. Give the skeletons and joints of your pup and you a helping hand to remain healthy and strong and avoid preventable problems.
Keep training and stay safe,
Carol
