How Much Exercise Do Dogs Need?
Most adult dogs need between 30 minutes and 2 hours of exercise a day, depending on breed, age, size and health. High-energy working and sporting breeds sit at the top of that range, flat-faced and toy breeds at the bottom. Puppies need short, frequent sessions, and seniors do best with gentle daily activity.
As a dog owner, you want to be sure your four-legged friend is getting what they need to live a long, healthy life. A dog's exercise plan is not one size fits all, so below you'll find guidelines by age and breed type, the best ways to exercise your dog, and how to do it safely.
| Dog | Daily exercise (guideline) | Good options |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy | Short, frequent sessions plus free play; follow your puppy's pace | Sniff walks, gentle play, training games |
| Working, herding and bully breeds (German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Pit Bull, American Bully, Cane Corso) | 1 to 2 hours, split into 2+ sessions | Walks, jogging, tug, flirt pole, dog sports |
| Most other adult dogs | 30 to 60+ minutes | Brisk walks, fetch, hiking |
| Flat-faced breeds (French Bulldog, English Bulldog, Pug) | About 30 to 60 minutes in short, easy sessions | Short walks in cool weather, indoor games |
| Senior dog | 30 minutes or more of gentle activity, in short sessions | Easy walks, swimming, scent games |
General guidelines only. Your dog's health and energy matter more than the clock. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your vet.
Before we go further, a quick note on fuel: if your dog needs more strength and energy from the bowl, a meat-based, high-protein food is the simplest place to start.
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Why Daily Exercise Matters
Just like people, dogs need an exercise routine to stay physically and mentally in shape. Without exercise, dogs are at an increased risk of obesity, and they can become bored, frustrated, and even depressed. Other behavior problems include:
- Hyperactivity
- Barking and whining
- Destructive behavior
- Withdrawal
- Low stamina
Regular daily exercise at every stage of life is important for your dog's overall health. Experts recommend at least 30 minutes and up to two hours of exercise, depending on your dog's age, breed, size, and health. This can be a brisk 30-minute walk, a visit to the dog park or doggy day care, or playing fetch. If your dog is bouncing off the walls, see why your dog may be under-stimulated and what dog zoomies mean.
How Much Exercise a Dog Needs by Age
The amount of daily exercise your dog needs depends a lot on their age. The needs of a senior dog differ from a high-energy puppy. But even so, less active, older dogs benefit from short walks to tone muscle and improve metabolic function.
How Much Exercise Does My Puppy Need?
As a rule of thumb, watching your puppy is the best way to see if they have had enough exercise. Go at your puppy's pace. When they get tired on a walk, let them take a rest. They will usually let you know this by plopping down on the ground and not budging. Free play is also a great addition to daily walks. Playtime offers the benefits of exercise while you bond with your puppy.
Watch for signs of getting tired, and let them rest when they've had enough. A border collie puppy will have different exercise needs than pugs or bulldogs. Herding breeds, like collies, need plenty of exercise and activities that offer mental stimulation to keep them from getting bored. Bulldogs, pugs, and other flat-face breeds struggle to breathe with long exercise sessions. Your pup is the best indicator of how much exercise is good enough.
Avoid long runs, repeated jumping and forced exercise until your vet says your dog's growth plates have closed, which happens later in large and giant breeds.
As your puppy reaches adulthood, their stamina will increase, and they will be able to handle a longer amount of exercise.
How Much Exercise Does My Adult Dog Need?
Like puppies, adult dogs need plenty of exercise to keep them healthy and out of trouble. This can be a stroll around the neighborhood, jogging, and even dog interval training. Adult dogs need between 30 minutes up to two hours of activity every day.
The ASPCA Pet Health Insurance guide recommends a daily 30-minute walk plus cardio for adult dogs. This includes activities like swimming and running. You can even partner with your dog for high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Dr. Mark LeMay with LeMay Chiropractic and Wellness offers a basic dog exercise routine to get you and your pooch started.
Your four-legged friend's breed matters, too, and will determine how much or how little exercise they need. Larger working or herding breeds, such as rottweilers and German shepherds, need long walks and extra activity, or else they will get bored. They will adopt unwanted behaviors, such as excessive barking, digging, and destroying shoes, toys, you name it. Exercising up to two hours a day is recommended for working and herding breeds and can be broken up into two or more sessions. Have a pit bull? See how much exercise a pitbull needs.
Active dogs burn a lot of energy. A meat-based, calorie-dense food helps fuel long walks and hard play without oversized meals.
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How Much Exercise Does My Senior Dog Need?
Older dogs may have lost some mobility, but they still need physical activity and mental stimulation. There are special considerations for exercising senior dogs.
Gentle activities that do not stress the joints are recommended for dogs with arthritis or hip dysplasia. This includes swimming and walking. However, always look to your dog for signs of struggle or stress. When something is painful, stop. Speak with your veterinarian for advice on ways to improve your dog's strength and stamina. More on osteoarthritis in dogs.
How to Exercise Your Dog: 5 Tips
Take your dog on a walk
Walking your dog is probably the most common and classic form of exercise, and it's incredibly convenient. No matter where you are, you can almost always put on a leash and take your dog around the block for a walk. And of course, there's a hidden benefit of walking your dog, which is that it forces you to get out of the house and get some exercise, too. If your dog pulls, start with how to stop your dog pulling on the leash.
Take your dog on a hike
Going for a walk is great, but taking your dog on a hike can be even better. Dogs love getting out in nature, and plus, this gives you an opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle so you can see a new trail too. Taking your dog on a hike often takes a little extra work, since driving is often involved, and for that reason it probably won't happen as often. But your dog will love you for it. Just remember to bring along some treats and water, especially if it's a long hike and/or if the temperature is hot.
Take your dog for a jog or bike ride
Once your adult dog is ready for something a little more intense, you can take them jogging or bike riding with you. Depending on your physical fitness, you may find that you have to run slower and shorter than you're used to, especially if your dog has very short legs. Build distance gradually, stick to cool parts of the day, and save running for dogs that are fully grown.
Play fetch or use a flirt pole
Another fun way to exercise your dog is to simply play a game. Fetch is a classic game that takes only a ball or frisbee, or you can also buy or build a flirt pole to help build some extra strength and muscle for your dog. For strong pullers, a spring pole is another great outlet.
Take them swimming
Most people don't think of swimming as an exercise for dogs, but it absolutely can be, especially if your dog is a common swimming breed like Labrador Retrievers or Standard Poodles. The nice thing about swimming is that it's low impact, which means it's gentler on your dog's joints than running and jumping. Heavy, short-legged and flat-faced breeds should wear a life jacket. See our water and pool safety tips.
Activities to Get Your Dog Moving
There are so many ways to get you and your dog moving. From indoor to outdoor and even group activities, there is always a way to get your dog the physical activity they need.
When the weather is not so great, or you are limited on time, indoor games are a great way to engage with your dog. You can play a game of hide-and-seek with their favorite treat, create an obstacle course, or have a game of tug-o-war. Some cities have indoor dog parks where your dog can meet some new friends, and so can you.
Being outdoors is second nature to dogs. When the weather is beautiful outside, here are some activities that will keep your dog entertained and physically fit:
- Fly ball
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Running drills
- Frisbee
- Fetch
For the social butterfly, there are a lot of playgroups for dogs. Dog playgroups and day care are ideal for well-socialized dogs and allow them to hang out with their dog friends while engaging in physical and mental stimulation. Looking for more structure? Try one of the dog sports that suit strong, driven dogs.
Mental Stimulation
Physical exercise is great, but it's only half of the equation. Your dog needs mental stimulation, too. A lot of problem behaviors, such as chewing everything in sight or digging, can be reduced by adding mentally stimulating activities.
Mental stimulation for dogs is not the same as humans, of course, but it is a valuable tool for a happy dog. Some ways you can provide mental stimulation for your dog is to spend a few minutes a day teaching your dog a new trick, allowing your dog to smell the roses while on a walk, or hiding treats for them to smell out. Other ways to challenge your dog's mind include:
- Offering new toys
- Introducing new people
- Playing dog puzzles
- Creating an agility course
- Teaching them household chores
Mental stimulation is just as important as physical activity for your dog. It helps decrease stress and boredom and makes for a happier dog. More than just throwing a ball over and over, mental stimulation involves all their senses while experiencing new things, all while getting to do one of their most favorite activities, which is spending time with you.
How to Exercise Your Dog Responsibly
It's important to learn how to exercise your dog in a way that's safe. So when you're exercising your dog, make sure to start slow and progress slowly. Anytime your dog starts to exhibit signs of being tired, that's always a great time to stop and take a break. There's no point in pushing your dog past the point where they want to stop.
- Heat: exercise early or late on warm days, carry water, and test pavement with your hand. Heavy panting, stumbling or vomiting means stop and call your vet.
- Meals: avoid hard exercise right before and after big meals, especially for deep-chested breeds.
- Soreness: limping or stiffness the next day means you did too much. Rest, and see your vet if it doesn't clear up.
Dog Exercise FAQ
Is a 30-minute walk enough exercise for a dog?
For many small, senior or low-energy dogs, yes. Working, herding and bully breeds usually need more, often a walk plus a harder play session.
Can a dog get too much exercise?
Yes. Too much too soon can cause sore joints, paw pad injuries and overheating. Puppies and flat-faced breeds are most at risk.
Should I feed my dog more if they exercise a lot?
Usually, yes. Active dogs burn more calories, and a dog that's getting thin needs more food or a more calorie-dense food. Use the dog food calculator as a starting point.
Optimize Your Dog's Health and Performance With Bully Max
Exercise, mental stimulation, and nutrition are optimum ways to make sure your dog is in their best physical and mental health. By incorporating a daily routine of physical activity based on their age, breed, and health, you can reduce many unwanted behaviors and create a long-lasting relationship with your dog.
Fetch is one of the simplest ways to give your dog daily exercise. A tough ball holds up to strong chewers and keeps play going.
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Complement your dog's physical health with performance dog food from Bully Max. Our 30/20 High Protein Dog Food offers a meat-based formula with 30% protein, 20% fat and 535 calories per cup, so active dogs get the energy they need from smaller meals. Dogs in hard training can step up to PRO Series 31/25.
