How Much Exercise Do Puppies Need?
Bringing home a new puppy is super exciting. However, it can be difficult to navigate pup parenthood, especially if this is your first dog. Unless you are some super genius, you probably have plenty of questions about your puppy. For instance, many dog owners do not know how much exercise their precious pooch needs.
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Now, you've likely noticed that your furry friend is full of energy. For this reason, you may want to take Fido on super long walks. However, it is believed that puppies only need about 30 to 60 minutes of exercise each day during their first few months. For an exact number, you can do this tricky little math problem -- multiply your pup's age by ten and take them out for that amount of time. This means a 5-month-old dog should have about 50 minutes of exercise each day.
Now, as a new pup parent, this can seem like a daunting task. That being said, it is actually better to split up your puppy's exercise throughout the day, so they won’t exhaust themselves. You should also make sure that you are going at a relatively slow pace.
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It is worth noting that you can over-exercise your pup. In a 2017 YouTube video, famed dog trainer Zak George explained that puppies have growth plates "that are soft parts of the end of long bones in young dogs which allow the bones to get longer." Typically, the growth plates fuse between the ages of 18 months to 24 months.
"It’s really important to make sure that you’re being very conservative when you are exercising your dog, otherwise you risk injuring them," noted George.
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He then recommended that pup parents "should avoid long walks or repetitive exercise with puppies." He also noted that "the best and safest type of play with young dogs is self-directed play or free play." This means that dog-owners should refrain from giving their pups regimented walks and just let them do their own thing. For example, you can allow your furry friend to explore your backyard or train them to fetch at their own pace.
Also, there is no exact science to this. How long you should exercise your pup is dependent on its breed, size, and overall health. Please, consult your vet before starting a fitness routine for you and your furry friend.
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How do you like to exercise with your canine companion? Let us know in the comments below!