Exercise is one of the first things people worry about when they own a dog.
Am I doing enough?
Am I doing too much?
Is this the right kind of movement?
It’s easy to believe there’s a perfect number. A distance. A daily target that guarantees a happy, healthy dog.
But dogs don’t experience exercise as a number.
They experience it as a balance between movement, stimulation, recovery, and emotional safety.
In this blog, I want to explore what exercise really means for dogs, why the question is more nuanced than it seems, and how understanding your individual dog matters far more than following generic guidelines.
Why Exercise Is Often Oversimplified
Exercise advice for dogs is usually delivered in absolutes.
An hour a day.
Two long walks.
High energy breeds need more.
While these guidelines can be helpful as a starting point, they often ignore the reality that dogs are individuals.
Age, health, temperament, environment, and past experiences all influence how much exercise a dog actually needs to feel settled.
What energises one dog may overwhelm another.
Understanding this helps shift exercise from a box to tick into a form of communication.
Physical Exercise and Mental Exercise Are Not the Same
Movement is only one part of exercise.
Mental engagement plays an equally important role in how fulfilled a dog feels.
A short walk filled with sniffing, decision making, and calm observation can be more tiring than a long walk focused purely on distance.
Dogs use their brains constantly when navigating the world. When that mental effort is missing, physical exercise alone often fails to settle them.
Exercise works best when it supports both body and mind.
When More Exercise Is Not the Answer
It’s common to increase exercise when a dog seems restless or unsettled.
Sometimes that helps.
Other times, it creates a dog who is physically fit but emotionally overstimulated.
Signs that exercise may be tipping into overload include:
Difficulty settling after activity
Increased reactivity
Persistent restlessness
Reduced ability to rest or switch off
These signs don’t mean your dog is broken or under stimulated. They often mean your dog needs balance rather than more intensity.
Energy Needs Change Over Time
A dog’s exercise needs are not fixed.
They change with age, health, lifestyle, and environment.
Puppies need rest just as much as movement.
Adult dogs benefit from consistency rather than extremes.
Senior dogs often need gentler, more intentional activity.
Even short term changes such as weather, routine disruption, or emotional stress can alter how much exercise feels appropriate.
Paying attention to these shifts allows you to adapt without guilt.
Learning to Read Your Individual Dog
The most reliable guide to exercise is your dog.
A dog who is well balanced will usually show:
Ease in movement
Ability to settle after activity
Interest without frantic energy
Willingness to rest
These signs matter more than kilometres walked or minutes logged.
When you observe your dog over time, patterns emerge. Those patterns become far more useful than external advice.
Creating a Sustainable Exercise Rhythm
Rather than aiming for a daily target, many dogs thrive on rhythm.
A sustainable rhythm might include:
Gentle daily movement
Opportunities for sniffing and exploration
Rest days without pressure
Variation without constant intensity
This approach supports long term wellbeing rather than short term exhaustion.
Bringing It All Together
Exercise is not about doing more.
It’s about doing what supports your dog’s physical health, mental state, and ability to recover.
When exercise is guided by awareness rather than obligation, it becomes something shared rather than enforced.
The goal isn’t to meet a standard.
