How much should a puppy exercise?

While playing, your puppy learns to coordinate and time its movements, making it agile and preventing it from running into things as an adult dog. However, too much activity can disrupt your pup’s growth process and cause irreparable damage. But how much exercise does your puppy need exactly? Read on to find out!

How much exercise does my puppy need?

With puppies, it’s better to consider how much exercise they are allowed to have. After all, they are still growing and have fragile joints and bones. Be cautious with physical activity and take the following factors into account to ensure they become healthy adults:

1. Small or large dog?

• Small dog: Did you know that small dogs grow faster than large ones? They reach maturity earlier and can handle more movement on their joints and bones. For example, a Chihuahua can start agility training as early as 10 months. On the other hand, you should avoid taking puppies of small breeds on long walks as their short legs may tire quickly.
• Large dog: Puppies of larger breeds can handle longer walks. With fewer steps, they cover more ground. However, a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy, for instance, should start dog sports no earlier than at two years old. Their joints and bones need time to become strong enough for intense physical activity.

2. Very young or almost fully grown?

As a general rule, your puppy can handle and needs about 5 minutes of physical activity per month of age, done 3 to 4 times a day. For example, a 3-month-old puppy can go on 15-minute walks multiple times throughout the day.

3. Breed and heat tolerance?

Particularly brachycephalic breeds like the French Bulldog can quickly overheat with too much physical activity. Due to their short snouts, they have a harder time panting, making it difficult for them to cool down. Thus, it’s important to restrain your brachycephalic puppy because, as an enthusiastic young pup, they may not know their limits yet!

4. Type of activity?

The amount of exercise your puppy can have also depends on the type of physical activity. It’s best to avoid intensive activities like agility training, stair climbing, high-impact fetching, and running alongside bicycles until your puppy is fully grown. If you want to know when your puppy becomes an adult, read this blog to find out.

By following the 5-minute rule of physical activity per month of age, you can safely engage in the following activities with your puppy:

• Short walks with plenty of rest breaks
• Mental games and search activities (remember, mental exercise is also beneficial!)
• Playing with non-bouncing toys, like tug-of-war
• Walking on an unsteady surface, like a plank on a mound of sand
• Low hurdle jumping on different surfaces

Keep your puppy in top shape with the right nutrition!

To support your puppy during its daily play and walking moments, it needs the right puppy food. Firstly, it should be calorie-rich to facilitate steady growth. Secondly, it should contain protein, calcium, and phosphorus to ensure strong and stable bones and joints in adulthood.

Just Russel’s food adapts to your pup’s growth stages, providing the appropriate nutrients at every age. If you want a personalized nutrition plan for your dog, click here.

Want more information or tips & tricks about puppies? Be sure to read these blogs:

• A puppy schedule, the ultimate tool for owners!
• Getting a puppy soon? These 7 preparations are a must!
• Picking up your puppy: everything you need to know
• How much does a puppy cost?
• 5 to do’s for the first three days with your puppy
• This is the ultimate puppy checklist!
• How do I calm down my overstimulated puppy?
• How to raise a puppy?
• 5 tips for crate training your puppy
• How do I socialize my puppy?
• Must-haves for your puppy
• Stopping a puppy from biting, the ultimate tips
• Leaving your puppy alone, how long is okay?
• Potty training a puppy, how do I do it?
• Crate training a puppy, step by step!