Regular exercise is important for all dogs
Regular exercise is one of a dog’s key needs. Whenever someone is considering getting a pet, one of the first questions is “do you have enough time to exercise them?” If you don’t, then you shouldn’t get a dog.
So what is the answer to the simple question “What level of exercise do dogs need”?
The simple rule of thumb is that most dogs need around half an hour of exercise, twice daily. This is what people are normally recommended to plan for when they are considering dog ownership. Dog behaviourists suggest that if a dog has “bad habits”, like excessive barking, chewing, excitability etc, one of the most simple first steps is often to ensure that the dog is getting their half an hour, twice daily.
Like all topics, however, when you drill down into it, things get more complicated.
First, every dog has its own individual exercise needs. A Chihuahua may be well exercised by going around the block a couple of times on a leash, while a typical Dalmatian will happily run at full tilt off the leash for an hour, twice daily. And most dogs fit somewhere in between these two extremes.
The answer is to assess your own pet, and to work out what they enjoy, and what they are capable of. The aim should be to get your dog’s heart rate increased for 20 to 30 minutes, twice daily. This is good for their physical health, and it promotes good mental health too, just as it does in humans. Animal (and human) bodies have evolved to carry out regular physical exercise, and they function more effectively if they get this.
Ideally, dogs should be allowed to exercise off the leash.
They love going at their own pace, sniffing where they please, moving towards and away from people, animals and objects as they wish. And if they are ball-chasers, they like sprinting, again and again and again.
There are obvious issues linked to being unrestrained: dogs may run off, they may frighten or even harm other animals and people, and there’s a risk of accidents. So being trained to respond reliably to the recall command is a prerequisite before you allow your dog off the leash: this training should be a standard part of rearing a young dog, and regular top up training sessions are important. If your dog won’t predictably come back when called, then you should never let them off the leash: apart from anything else, that is the law in Ireland. You are legally bound to have your dog under “effectual control” at all times.
There’s also the issue of poop-scooping. If your dog is on the leash, you will always know when they are doing their business, and it’s easy to find it to pick it up. If your dog is off the leash, twenty or thirty yards away, you might not notice them going, and it may be difficult to find the poop to pick it up. So to be a responsible dog owner, you need to be aware of this if you are exercising your dog freely in a public area.
Physical exercise is important for all dogs, but sometimes a dog’s needs are very specific. Large breed dogs, like German Shepherds and Labradors, should not be heavily exercised until they are skeletally mature, at around 18 months of age. Too much exercise when they are still growing can damage their immature joints, leading to arthritis later in life.
Dogs with orthopaedic problems (like arthritis, or when recovering from broken bones etc) also have reduced needs. The general rule is shorter amounts of moderate exercise, more often. And it’s good to vary the type of exercise: stepping up and down pavement kerbs, up hills, down hills, on grass, on tarmac. This allows different muscles to be stretched and strengthened, and encourages joints to be gently pushed to different levels of flexion and extension.
Swimming is a useful exercise for animals who may not be as able for full-on rushing around. Dogs may swim in a river, lake or sea, or in the more controlled hydrotherapy environment of a specific dog swimming pool or tank. The water supports the body weight of the dog while allowing the muscles to move freely, preventing undue pressure on the joints.
It’s important to think about the surface that a dog is walking on: animals with mobility issues often find slippery surfaces challenging. For example, older dogs often benefit from having non-slip yoga-type mats at home to allow them to walk comfortably across shiny wooden or laminate floors. And non-slip ramps are useful to allow them to clamber more easily into cars. Grassy surfaces are often easier on dogs’ feet than tarmac. Just as occupational therapists assess the capability of humans, so dog carers should think about what their pet is able to do, and how they can help them.
Finally, it should be remembered that mental exercise is as important as physical exercise. It isn’t enough to expect your dog to exercise themselves in your large back garden. They get bored. Dogs need to engage their brains, and that means moving around the neighbourhood, experiencing new sights, smells, sounds, people, animals and objects. Mental exercise also means getting interesting toys for your dog: Kongs and K9Connectable chew toys that release food treats to keep dogs engaged.
Physical and mental exercise for pet dogs can never be neglected: make sure your dogs are getting enough.