After a long day of work, errands, or chores, skipping the evening walk with your pup can be tempting. Instead, you could lay on the couch, order dinner, and catch up on your favorite show. Fortunately, you have a wagging tail to keep you motivated to reach your step goals! Not only are walks the highlight of your dog’s entire day, but regular exercise (like walking) is essential for maintaining their physical and mental well-being — and yours too. Exercise helps to prevent obesity, promotes cardiovascular health, and can even reduce stress and anxiety levels for you and your pup. But how much exercise does your dog really need, how often, and what can you do to enrich their mental and physical health? We’ll ‘walk’ you through that below.

The amount of exercise a dog needs depends on their breed, age, and overall health. But generally, most dogs need at least 30 minutes to an hour of moderate to intense daily exercise. This can be walking, jogging, or playing fetch. Both puppies and young dogs might even need more exercise to burn off all that boundless energy, while older dogs might need less intense exercise. 

Walk The Dog

Heading outdoors is a great step, even if it’s just in your backyard or through your neighborhood. Dog walks are a great bonding activity, too and can help reduce behavioral issues like chewing, barking, or digging because it keeps your dog busy instead of bored.

• Change up the Route: Take your dog on different paths to keep things exciting and to expose them to new sights, sounds, and smells.

• Sniffing Time: Allow your dog time to stop and sniff around during your walk. This is their way of exploring their environment and can help to stimulate their mind.

• Interactive Walking: Bring a ball or frisbee and take breaks for short games of fetch during your walk.

• Socialize: Stop and let your dog interact with other dogs and people on your walk. This can help to improve their socialization skills and reduce anxiety. 

Excitement Indoors

Indoor dog exercise can also help your pup and offer enrichment too. 

• Hide-and-Seek: Hide treats or toys around the house and encourage your dog to find them.

• Puzzle Toys: Invest in puzzle toys that challenge your dog’s mind and reward them with treats when they figure them out. Even food-dispensing toys can be a puzzle for pups.

• Agility Courses: Set up a mini agility course in your home or yard using household items like chairs, cones, and boxes.

• Fetch and Tug-of-War: These classic games are always a hit with dogs and can be played indoors or outdoors.

However, you get moving, all dogs need regular exercise to maintain their physical and mental health; just like their parents, it helps reduce stress and improve health—a true win-win for man and their best friend.