Do some dogs really need as much exercise as some web pages say?

Question

Many websites i have seen have stats for each breed of dog, be it 1-5 stars or paws. Many dogs had 4-5 ratings for exercise needed. I have a couple of different friends who own some of those spacific breeds to which these sites claim need an extreme amount of exercise, yet the dog is extremely happy with just a normal amount of one walk a day and/or backard play/obediance training. Im curious if it really is nessisarry to walk your dog 3 times a day as well as play and training time, or if its all just a matter of peference, so long as the dog is happy.

Answer 1

No is the short answer. The guidelines given are an ideal to strive towards. A dog, just like people, will tend to live longer and be healthier if given regular exercise. In addition, the old trainers' adage that a tired dog is a good dog is very true. For many problem behaviors, the first suggestion a trainer gives is to exercise the dog more. If the dog is with you most of the time and you are a fair (as in not abusive) owner, it will most likely be happy. It's kind of like with people. We all know that exercise is the first line in preventive medicine but most choose other activities as more important. That doesn't make for a sad person, just one that isn't as healthy as it could be.

Answer 2

Websits cant tell you precisly how much to exercise any animal .But they can be used as a guide and customised to suit the animal and owners situation.If your talking about an average size family pet in a town then I would say two walks a day as well as play and obediance training.Even then it is hoped there is a good sized yard for the dog to hang out in.Dogs need two walks a day so they can go to the toilet when they wake up in the morning and before you bring them in at night.If your in the country and a long way from a road and he is an outside dog then the dog can take care of itself,.I think tho that smaller dogs do need to pee more than the bigger breeds.

Answer 3

Exercise levels can vary within a breed, and with age of the dog. but based on the average young adult in most cases

but some authors of websites and books know nothing about the breed they are talking about, for example one book says that if you want a greyhound you should have a horse because you will need to provide a 20 mile run every day.

Problem with this is a greyhound is not a marathon runner, they are a sprinter meaning they can run at high speed but only for very short distance lasting only couple of minutes, no greyhound is going to be able to run 20 miles they simply do not have a body designed for that, so the reason you would ever need a horse is to carry the dog back home once it became winded.

So definitely worth checking a few different sites or book to compare in casse one is totally wrong

Answer 4

Some dogs definitely need lots of exercise, ie. Border Collies, Austrailian Shepards, etc. They are very high energy dogs and will not be happy unless kept active. Do they need to be walked 3 times a day, probably not. If you are willing to walk or run with the dog once a day and then do some fun things like frisbee or ball playing, then the dog will probably be happy.

Honestly, what makes a dog happy is being with its people. Include the dog in your life when you take a drive to the store or go for a Sunday drive in the country and make it a part of the family and it will be happy.

Answer 5

If your dog is healthy, in good shape, eating well, and isn't acting like a pest, that needs more exercise then you are doing fine.
You can tell when a dog needs more exercise, some days they need ALOT of exercise and outside play time and some days they are happy to spend the day laying in the sun.. There is no real definite answer as to what each breed needs, all dogs individually are different from one another. It's just a general idea of what the breed is like.

Answer 6

Many breeds are more difficult to own then others.

Certain dogs are more stubborn and harder to train than others as well.

I'm going to use my three dogs as an example. I have a black labrador retriever, a pomeranian, and an australian cattle dog mix. My pomeranian loves to run around, but he doesn't need all that much exercise. He likes activity, especially because he's a puppy. My black lab *loves* to go running and chasing things in the field. She's just not happy inside all the time. If she can't get out and run everyday, she's depressed. And my aussie cattle dog..well, she's insane, lol. She is always like "run run run!!!" You can't make her sit still. She is highly intelligent, though, as she is a herding breed dog.

If you are a first time dog owner, I'd defenitely reccomend a dog that requires less exercise. Do *not* get a dog out of the herding class if you don't have time to exercise it several times a day. Such breeds include Australian Cattle Dogs, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Bearded Collies, and many more. These dogs thrive on exercise and stimulation. Without exercise, they will get bored and become destructive.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Dogs can adjust to diferent situations but whats reccomened on various sites is basically the minimum eg labs need 6 to 8 miles a day of walking -- pretty much they should get that - It wouldn't hurt to go for 4 miles etc but espically very active/ working breeds need ALOT of exercise - it keeps them health & much happier in the long run
Every dogs different & medial health has to be taken into account & other conciderations- if thedog in question has friends -- other dogs at home he plays with - that will be some exercise in it's self so walk time wouldn't need to be as intense , If the dogs home alone & u comehome & watch tv all night - it's going to get bored,chubby etc, which will effect its physical & mental health - & bored dogs find jobs for them selves - chewing distroying etc etc ....
some obedience workshould be done daily - even if its 5minuites - just to keep their mind fresh - playfetch thro in a few other commands etc - dog's like to 'work' even breeds that weren't designed to be star athletes or harvard scollars - it keeps their mind active - if they don't like one gave/ activity start a new one !!

Answer 8

Dogs don't really need three walks per day. 2 walks per day for 40-60 minutes each time is good or one walk for 60 minutes plus play time/training for 30-60 minutes will be good. It really depends on what breed you get. If you have a dog like a Chihuahua, they need a few walks per week for 30 minutes. If you get a dog like a Border Collie, they need at min mum 5 hours of activity per day.

Answer 9

Exercise and walking are not necessarily the same thing. When you walk your dog (correctly at a heel), you are satisfying his/her primal desire to (1) work (2) hunt with his pack leader. Walking your dog 3 times a day would (IMO as a dog trainer) be appropriate in cases where the dog is displaying behavior problems. Otherwise, it would be nice but not truly necessary.

Trainer

Answer 10

Have you seen the TV show The Dog Whisperer? On the National Geographic Channel on Friday nights. Cesar ( TDW) says exercise is the first step in dog training. He performs miracles with dogs, animals who are so untrained that they are on the brink of being "put down". Watch it some time, it is amazing what he does.