If you don’t want to exercise a dog then why have one? I see articles all the time espousing the health benefits of owning a dog—especially for seniors. Yet we all know people who own dogs but do not exercise them nearly enough, if at all.
This is not good for the dog, or the owner. Especially for the dog, who often ends up at the dog pound because the dog is too destructive, chewing shoes or pillows, scratching doors, digging holes in the yard, jumping the fence to escape, or dogs that are too loud, barking and whining constantly.
- A couple from my work has a one-year-old lab-pit bull mix, an old bulldog, and two young children. They have no time to exercise the young dog, or even train it. I’m afraid this dog may be on borrowed time.
- An overweight neighbor just got a one-year-old lab. He says she’s a great companion, but we can see the dog is putting on weight and is not getting enough exercise. I wonder what will happen once winter comes and there is ice on the sidewalk. I recommended to him that he take her to obedience class in the winter as a great way to tire the dog out.
“A tired dog is a good dog,” is an old saying that I’ve always tried to stick to. Click here to see the benefits of a tired dog.
It works. I’ve never had a destructive dog—ever. But I’ve always given my dog top priority for exercise. , I even took up agility lessons for one of my springer spaniels. Plus my dogs received lots of obedience training.
Advice to people considering a dog
- 2 hours of exercise per day for a young dog
- 1 hour each day for an older one.
- Not all at one time, but broken up between several walks, runs, ball playing or other exercise.
- Also provide mental stimulation with training, tricks, or games.
If you can’t exercise your dog that much, then get a senior dog, or a low energy dog.
Dogs are great motivators—they encourage you to take them out, to do something with them when they are bored. They get you outside and moving.
Read more about dog exercise needs here.
Dogs provide great health benefits—emotional, physical, and mental benefits.
- A survey of almost 700 people showed that people
with dogs spent almost four hours per week walking their pets according to
researchers at Liverpool’s Institute of Veterinary Science. This was in
addition to other types of exercise (Tufts,
August 2019).
- This is a lot less than my recommended amount, but still shows the time needed for exercising your dog.
- Walking outdoors has a greater effect on mental
well-being than indoor exercise according to a study published in Environmental
Science & Technology (Tufts,
August 2019).
- Even walking in the cold and wet (not the pouring rain) makes me feel better than exercising at the gym.
- Social benefits also occur from walking your
dog. Buffy doesn’t like to go on long walks so sometimes I put her in a
stroller. Tonight three people stopped to pet her.
- Dogs can also provide great companionship for senior citizens—but not always, click here to read more.
Get a dog that fits your lifestyle, whether it is a couch potato or an exercise fiend. Also consider the dog’s age, health, energy level, and breed. Develop a backup plan in case you are not able to properly exercise your active dog due to an illness or injury.
Your dogs will change their activity needs as they age, just like us. A young puppy only needs short bursts of activity, while a six-month to three year-old dog typically needs the most activity. Middle aged dogs are often content with less exercise. Senior dogs are prone to injury if you exercise them too much.
A dog’s temperament also has a lot do with their exercise needs. Buffy, my blind ten-year-old cocker spaniel has to be strongly encouraged to even walk around the block. I would like to do a lot more, so I have her ride in a stroller, which she loves!
How much exercise do you give your dog? What is her age and breed?
A tired dog is a happy dog indeed! Theo’s favorite form of exercise is a game of tug. We play several times a day.
One of my older sisters has the same rule about getting a dog that you can pick up. She had a black Lab and a chow. When the lab was around 10 years old, she had pretty bad arthritis and my sister had to carry her. Her current dogs are considerably smaller.
I’ve seen so many sad stories of people who’ve gotten a large dog (especially the herding and sporting breeds) and were surprised when the dogs became destructive because they weren’t getting enough exercise.
With having Siberian Huskies, we always say that saying in the Sibe community, but change it to a tired Husky is a happy Husky due to their need for lots (and lots) of exercise! As with any dog, it is so important to be active. My Huskies are all in their golden years now, so they are slowing down, but still love their zoomies. Great post!
Thank you. I would love to go on a sled dog ride sometime! I imagine when yours were young that you had them pull you either on a sled or bike. I’ve done a bit of skijoring and also have had one of my springers pull me on my bike. I can’t even imagine the speed and control you would need with huskies!
Cookie, while already a senior, requires about 3 hours a day. Now, being older and wiser, she understands when the weather is too hot or too cold but unless the circumstances are dire, that’s what she needs to be happy.
Wow, three hours is a lot! I’m sure you enjoy it a lot too or you wouldn’t exercise Cookie that much. It all depends on the breed, temperament, and age. My springers always needed a lot of exercise, while the cockers didn’t.
Absolutely great article to remind everyone how important the role of exercise is – both for the pups and for us! We walk 1/2 hour to 45 minutes every day with our dogs – and you are right, a tired dog is a happy dog! 🙂
Yep, it all depends on what is needed to make a tired dog. When I’ve been short of time, I would take my springers for a quick run on the bike. But now, all my cocker Buffy needs is a walk around the block, which I really have to encourage her to do–it’s also helped with a peeing issue she started to develop when left alone for long hours during the day. No drugs just walk!
The need to walk and exercise them is one reason I don’t have a dog. I don’t have the time or energy for it.
When I used to work retail I’ve seen the senior human/puppy or big high maintenance dog combo and it’s so sad – no one is happy, the dog pulls so they can’t safely walk it, the dog gets crazier because it’s not get the walks it needs, the people get frustrated. Just because you’ve always had labs or whatever doesn’t mean a young lab is a good choice for you in your 70s… small dog that isn’t going to pull you over maybe? Or hire a dog walker or put the dog in daycare.
I totally agree. I’ve seen way too many mismatched owners and dogs. I try to tell people my rule of thumb to not own a dog that you can’t pick up. I’ve had to carry all my dogs at some time or another.
I always tell my nieces they should be exercising their dog more. He can be quite the couch potato, enjoying the company of humans. He’s also a very social dog, and loves meeting people, so more walks would suit him.
Some dogs enjoy being couch potatoes, like the bulldog my coworkers have. But then they tend to get too overweight. I think a happy dog is a well-exercised dog.
Layla gets 3 to 4 walks a day depending on the weather, one good one in the morning, shorter one at lunch time and if I have time then park time in the late afternoons and one before she goes to sleep if she wants – because of her sight I do not push the last one which the vet agrees with me. But she is 12 years old and when she gets going in the morning we can walk non stop for at least 6 blocks LOL.
It is good for both of us the exercise.
At 12 she’s doing quite well for exercise, and of course, you have your backpack to take her in if she gets tired!