How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Really Need?
It's not the same for every dog — and getting it wrong has real consequences
A Husky and a Basset Hound are both dogs — but their exercise needs couldn't be more different.
Key Facts:
- High-energy breeds (Husky, Border Collie, Vizsla): 2+ hours of vigorous exercise daily
- Medium-energy breeds (Labrador, Beagle, Boxer): 1–2 hours of moderate exercise daily
- Low-energy breeds (Bulldog, Basset Hound, Shih Tzu): 30–60 minutes of light exercise daily
- Under-exercised dogs are more likely to develop anxiety, destructive behavior, and obesity
Mental exercise counts — puzzle feeders, training sessions, and sniff walks tire a dog out almost as effectively as physical exercise. A 20-minute "sniff walk" (where the dog leads and follows their nose) can be equivalent to a 1-hour regular walk in terms of mental fatigue.
Over-exercising is also a real danger: puppies under 12–18 months shouldn't run long distances because their growth plates are still open. Over-exercising young dogs increases the risk of joint problems in adulthood.
💡 Did You Know? Mental fatigue is more exhausting for dogs than physical fatigue. A training session that teaches 3 new commands can tire a dog out more than a 30-minute run.