Puppy exercise: a practical guide for owners
Puppy exercise is an important part of supporting healthy development, but understanding how much is appropriate can feel confusing. A commonly referenced guideline is 5 minutes of exercise twice a day per month of age. For example, a 4 month old puppy may have up to two 20-minute walks per day. However, this is only a general guide and there is important nuance when it comes to puppy exercise. What is suitable will depend on your puppy’s breed, size, development and individual needs.
The importance of puppy exercise
Puppies require exercise from a young age to support their development. Exercising a puppy helps build strong muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones and cartilage. It enhances motor skills enabling a puppy to develop balance, coordination, spatial awareness and dexterity. It also helps maintain a healthy weight and reduces the risk of obesity.
It is also important for emotional health and wellbeing. Exercising a puppy supports mental resilience, improves mood, boosts cognitive development and provides opportunity for social interactions.
Whilst under-exercising can cause issues, there are also potential issues with over-exercising a puppy too. And the type of exercise is also important to consider.
Puppy skeletal development and exercise
Puppies’ bones continue to grow and develop until they reach skeletal maturity, which differs depending on the size and breed of the dog. For example, the growth plates of toy breeds may close around 6-8 months whereas the growth plates of large/giant breeds may not close until 16+ months of age.
Until these growth plates ossify into solid bone puppies are vulnerable to injury, which can lead to long term joint damage. Safe puppy exercise should avoid jumping from high places e.g. out of the boot of the car, or high impact activities involving intense acceleration, sudden stopping or tight turning e.g. running after balls, frisbees or sticks.
Joint issues and safe puppy exercise
Certain breeds are predisposed to genetic or conformation issues which may put them at a higher risk of joint damage. Low impact exercise which focuses on movements that encourage equal weight distribution across all limbs is ideal for preventing issues developing. This might include activities such as; walking, swimming, sniffing for toys or treats in long grass, or gentle tug games.
Risk of issues such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, luxating patella (dislocation of the kneecap) or spinal malformation may change exercise recommendations for your puppy, so it is important to research your breed and get advice from your vet to make an informed decision.
Puppy energy levels and exercise
Some puppies are more active than others and this is especially true for working breeds. It can be very tempting to go for longer walks or engage in high impact activities in an effort to tire them out. But this needs to be carefully balanced with the risks of the joint issues mentioned above. Additionally, these types of activities can easily lead to an overstimulated or overtired puppy which can lead to further issues such as difficulty settling or an increase in play biting intensity.
Whilst active, intelligent breeds do often need a higher amount of stimulation to avoid boredom and behavioural issues, this can be achieved through a mix of physical exercise and mental enrichment, rather than aiming for physical exhaustion.
On-lead vs off-lead puppy exercise
Brisk walking on a short lead, especially on hard pavements, can be harsh on developing joints and does not always provide ample opportunity for a puppy to develop balance, coordination or spatial awareness.
Instead, consider access to safe areas for off lead exploration on soft surfaces e.g. grass, earth or sand. This reduces the impact on joints and allows the puppy to exercise and move at their own pace, allowing them to burn off energy with fast ‘zoomies’ at their own speed if necessary. A loose long line can be used (attached to a harness) if there is no option for safe off lead activity.
Puppy outings vs walks: what counts as exercise?
Taking your puppy outside of the home is a great way to provide socialisation and expose them to different environments and experiences e.g. dog friendly garden centre, pet shop or the local park. Meandering walks where the puppy can take its time to wander and sniff can help them relax and take in their surroundings. Taking them to new places and allowing them to explore and take in their environment provides great mental enrichment too.
Outings like these can include a mix of walking for short bursts and resting/observing the environment. This allows you to be out with your puppy for longer than the recommended ‘5 minute rule’ without the risks of over-exercising.
Remember to always look for signs that your puppy is tired and needs to go home/be carried for a while, and follow our guidance on appropriate socialisation.
Mental exercise for puppies
Mental exercise can be more tiring than physical exercise and provides puppies with an outlet for natural behaviours such as chewing and digging, whilst also providing opportunities to learn problem solving skills.
For more information on ways to provide mental enrichment for your puppy see HERE.
Play as a form of puppy exercise
Playing with toys is a great way to provide additional exercise for young puppies. For further information about toy play and how to do this successfully please read [here - link to toy play article]. Energetic toy play should always take place on flooring that provides traction e.g. carpet, rugs, runners or outdoors on grass.
The hazards of slippery surfaces
Please be aware that flooring such as laminate or tile increases the likelihood of a puppy slipping and sliding, which can cause muscle strain or joint damage in growing puppies. Non-slip rugs or mats in your kitchen, hallways, and in other slippery areas for the duration of puppyhood can help to reduce strain at a time when their bodies are developing.
FAQs
A commonly used guideline is 5 minutes of exercise per month of age, twice daily, but this should be adapted based on the individual puppy.
Yes, excessive or high-impact exercise may place stress on developing joints and growth plates.
Low-impact activities such as walking, gentle play and exploration on soft surfaces are generally more suitable.
Finding the right balance in puppy exercise
If you are unsure what is appropriate for your puppy, speaking with your vet can help you make informed decisions based on their individual needs.
We recommend the book 'How to build a puppy.... into a healthy adult dog' by Julia Robertson for further information from a trusted source.
Testimonials
What Clients say
about Puppy School
-
“Very informative, very friendly environment. Cat put me and Betty as ease right away and she was extremely approachable if I had any concerns or queries. ”— Ross
-
“We enjoyed the class immensely it was very helpful and both Barney and the family gained a lot of knowledge and confidence at an important time in our bonding and setting a foundation for our future together so we will all be happy.”— Thomas
-
“We had such a wonderful experience with Jacki as our Puppy School tutor! She is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and supportive. Jacki explains training techniques clearly and makes them easy to follow, which really helped us feel confident. She creates such a positive learning environment where both the puppies and owners feel comfortable. Her calm, encouraging approach made a huge difference for our puppy, who grew in confidence and picked up new skills quickly. You can really see how much she cares about the dogs and their families. Thank you, Jacki, for giving us the tools we need to continue training and for making the classes such an enjoyable experience!”— Penelope
-
“Charlie was absolutely wonderful in all aspects. Friendly, kind and knowledgeable. Always available to answer any questions or concerns. Charlie is very experienced and myself and my daughter thoroughly enjoyed the classes and wish that we had more weeks together with our puppy family! Highly recommended and really enjoyable! Thank you for helping us understood our puppy and teaching us ways to grow together - invaluable”— Sam
-
“I just thought it was extremely convenient, extremely well planned and extremely well led. I have no faults or critiques and when we eventually get another puppy, would look to come back again. We were always offered treats and different toys if needed, as well as just generally a lot of calming presence in what was at most times a very overwhelming scene for the puppies.”— Cassie