The amount of time different types of dogs needs to walk and exercise for to stay happy and healthy has been revealed by experts.
Online healthy pet food retailer, PurePetFood.com has highlighted how long common breeds of dog need to spend out on walks or playing fetch with their owners, so Brits can help their pets avoid health issues.
All dogs require daily exercise, but this can vary from half an hour to a couple of hours or more, depending on the natural fitness level, personality and physical features of the breed.
Younger or larger canines and traditional working breeds generally need to be more active than older dogs that may have stiff joints or other underlying problems.
Lengthy spells of vigorous exercise are also unnecessary and could even prove dangerous for pets with shorter legs, short noses or ‘squashed faces’.
Not getting enough exercise can lead to a range of health problems in Brits’ four-legged friends though, including obesity.
Inactivity and being stuck in the house all day also makes dogs bored just like people and can lead to behavioural issues, such as excessive barking, chewing and self-grooming.
All breeds love to explore and sniff in new locations, as well as stretching their legs for an appropriate amount of time. Toileting indoors could even be a consequence for dogs who aren’t given enough opportunity to get out of the house.
So, the pet experts have revealed the bare minimum amount of exercise different breeds should be getting daily, assuming they’re of average age and health, not including play time around the house.
They’ve also reminded Brits it’s best to split a dog’s walking up in to two or three walks or exercise sessions throughout the day, rather than all at once.
A spokesperson for Pure, said: “New dog owners need to know that there isn’t a set-in stone rule for how much exercise their pet will need. Puppies need lots of play and older dogs won’t want to walk as much if they have ailments, but it’s not as simple as a couple of quick outdoor toilet breaks for dogs of average age and health either.
“Depending on the size and personality of your breed, half an hour over a day, in addition to indoor play, could be enough activity. But for larger dogs and traditional working breeds, at least a couple of hours running around could be required.
“It’s also best to break up walks throughout the day, rather than only one long session to stretch their legs in the afternoon. This will give your dog better balance between exercise and rest, as well as providing an interesting variety of smells and locations, and greater toileting opportunities.”
Pure Pet Food have put together a loose guide when trying to understand how much exercise your dog needs.
Minimum half an hour:
Bichon Frise
Bulldog
Chihuahua
Dalmatian
English Bulldog
Eskimo Dog
Kind Charles Spaniel
Lhasa Apso
Maltese
Miniature Dachshund
Miniature Pinscher
Miniature Poodle
Miniature Schnauzer
Papillion
Perkingese
Pomeranian
Poodle
Pug
Schipperke
Shar Pei
Shih Tzu
Yorkshire Terrier
Minimum one hour:
Airedale Terrier
Afghan Hound
Bassett Hound
Border Terrier
Boxer
Bull Terrier
Cairn Terrier
Cocker Spaniel
Coonhound
Dachshund
Doberman
Dogue de Bordeaux
Foxhound
Fox Terrier
Greyhound
Great Pyrenees
Great Pyrenees
Hairless Terrier
Husky
Kerry Blue Terrier
Lakeland Terrier
Manchester Terrier
Mastiff
Rat Terrier
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rottweiler
Saint Bernard
Schnauzer
Scottish Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Tibetan Terrier
West Highland Terrier
Whippet
Minimum two hours:
Alaskan Malamute
Australian Cattle Dog
Border Collie
Boxer
Collies
Corgi
Dalmatian
English Pointer
English Cocker Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel
German Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Great Dane
Labrador Retriever
Old English Sheepdog
Retrievers
Rottweiler
Samoyed
Shetland Sheepdog
Siberian Husky
Spaniels
Tornjak
Vizsla
Weimaraner
Wolfhound
