HOW MUCH EXERCISE DOES MY NEW PUPPY NEED?
So you’ve got a new puppy? CONGRATULATIONS. What’s better than brining a beautiful new baby home in your family. I’ll bet your new family member is busy chewing, peeing and pooing all over the house, and stealing socks. I hope you enjoy your new puppy and that it brings you loads of love and joy over the coming years.
In the meantime, I bet you’re researching all there is to know about taking care of the pup like feeding, training and of course exercise. So how much exercise does your puppy need and how important is exercise for your dog?
How important is exercise?
Well firstly let me say that an active puppy is a happy and healthy one! Exercise is essential to your dog’s mental and physical wellbeing. Just like us, dogs need to get out, breathe fresh air and work their muscles. The list of benefits of exercise for dogs is long and here are just a few reasons your pooch should get out there daily:
- Frequent walks promote training. Your dog will get used to a schedule and before you know it, he’ll bet letting you know it’s time for a walk
- Promotes cardiovascular health, yep they’re just like us, getting the blood pumping is vital to their health
- Keeps the dog’s weight in a health range
- Stops behavioral issues such as digging and destroying household items out of boredom and frustration
- Helps with digestion and bowl function
- Builds confidence in little pups and helps with socilisation
How much exercise does a puppy need?
Puppies do not require as much exercise as adult dogs. In fact too much exercise can create problems with young puppies. Large breeds in particular can develop joint damage if walked excessively, and all dogs can become exhausted if walked too often, too far.
Exercise will vary depending on the breed, but 1-2 walks a day is recommended. As a basic rule of thumb, you should increase a puppy’s exercise time by 5-6 minutes each month. This will help them to learn how to walk with you and become a strong confident walker without getting overtired.
What type of exercise is best for your puppy?
Puppies have energy to burn so walks and runs around the block can be a great way to use some of it up. Games like tug-of-war and fetch are classic and timeless, and fun for you and the dog. These games teach your puppy boundaries and rules, and can also create a deep bond between the two of you.
If you are planning on leaving your dog home alone, make sure he has plenty to of toys to play with and occupy his time.
Other things to remember when heading out for exercise with your pup.
- Take a doggy bag for your poo!
- Take water for you and the puppy
- Remember that the road can be hot in the middle of the day, check the temp before you let your dog walk on bitumen
- Have fun!
Got a dog you love, but hardly enough time for walks? Contact us if you are looking for a dog sitting or dog walking in North Brisbane.