How Much Exercise for My Puppy?

Humans need regular exercise in order to remain healthy and happy, and so does your pet puppy. While it is important to make sure you feed him the right pet food, you should also make sure he gets plenty of exercise because it is good for his mental and physical health. Exercise is important for combating obesity, as well as maintaining healthy joints throughout his life. Exercise also provides mental stimulation, and well-exercised puppies are usually better behaved because they haven’t become bored and mischievous.

So, how much exercise is enough for your puppy? The important thing is to remain consistent. Regular exercise will help him to build his stamina, but he won’t be able to do the same rigorous activities at this stage that an older dog would. The puppy’s age, breed and medical condition will affect how much exercise he should have, although the UK Kennel Club says that they need five minutes of exercise per month of age up to twice a day as a guideline. This can include low-impact activities such as playing with a ball or being taken for a walk on a lead. If you notice your dog wanting to sit down, however, then he probably needs time to rest and shouldn’t be forced to walk home if he doesn’t want to.

For adult dogs, between 30 minutes and two hours physical activity per day is about right. Discuss with your vet when it is right to move him from puppy to adult exercise.