The right amount of exercise depends on breed, age, and health. Under-exercised dogs develop behavior problems. Over-exercised puppies risk joint damage. Use our Puppy Exercise Calculator for safe daily limits by age.
Daily Exercise by Breed Energy Level
- Low energy (Bulldog, Basset): 30-45 min/day
- Medium energy (Lab, Golden, Poodle): 60-90 min/day
- High energy (Border Collie, Husky, Vizsla): 2+ hours/day including intense activity
Puppy Exercise Safety
5 minutes per month of age, twice daily. A 4-month puppy: 20 minutes twice daily. Growth plates don't close until 12-24 months depending on breed. Avoid forced running, jumping, and hard surface impact until then.
Mental Exercise — The Overlooked Half
A 10-minute training session can settle a Border Collie more than a 30-minute walk. Add: food puzzles, nosework, trick training, sniff walks. Mental fatigue = calmer, better-behaved dogs.