How Much Should You Exercise a Puppy?

Behaviour and Training

The short version:

Puppy Exercise: Over-working very young dogs can impact their bone and muscle development. That’s especially true for large and giant breed puppies such as great Danes and mastiffs. With so much growing to do, it can take up to a year for them to really exit the delicate puppy stage.

? Jump to Frequently Asked Questions

Growing up with dogs, one of the first things we did when we got a puppy was run around the house with it. It seemed like the logical thing to do (at least to a kid), puppies are made for playing with, right?

As it turns out, their reputation as bundles of energy might be a bit misleading. In fact, too much puppy exercise could lead to a lifetime of structural health issues. They are, after all, babies. Their muscles and bodies are underdeveloped for most activity. You wouldn’t ask a toddler to join your netball team right?

The Problem with Too Much Puppy Exercise

Most of us probably don’t need to worry about doing too much exercise. But for puppies it’s a real concern. Over-working very young dogs can impact their bone and muscle development. That’s especially true for large and giant breed puppies such as great Danes and mastiffs. With so much growing to do, it can take up to a year for them to really exit the delicate puppy stage. That’s also why some dog foods aren’t suitable for large breed puppies until they’ve stopped growing in height: that ambitious growth requires specific nutrients.

What about Jumping?

It’s all well and good to tell a puppy to relax, but good luck making them actually do it. While you can’t do much to stop their natural playfulness (and why would you want to?) you can avoid encouraging them to leap into the air. Stay away from games like Frisbee or high ball throwing until they’re older. You want to minimise the chance they’ll land awkwardly and hurt themselves.

Even incidental puppy exercise (such as walking around the house) can be too much. A study in Norway actually found that dogs that had to regularly deal with steps from a young age were more likely to suffer from hip dysplasia. Obviously you can’t renovate your home to suit your dog, try keep them on the ground if you can help it.

How Much Should You Exercise a Puppy Then?

The old rule with puppy exercise is they should only walk for five minutes for every month of his age. So a four-month-old puppy should get a 20-minute walk. While an eight-month-old puppy can have up to 40 minutes of exercise

This is by no means a perfect system, but it’s a simple guide to give you a general idea of what to expect.

Basically you’re just making sure your puppy doesn’t become overly exhausted. If they have a backyard to run around in at home of their own accord, they probably won’t even need a longer walk for the first six months of their lives.

Hopefully we haven’t scared you off walking your dog! It’s still vital to let them explore new environments and enjoy some healthy socialising – just don’t overdo. A puppy’s natural inclination is to jump around like a maniac, you might just need to step in and play the responsible-parent role.

Catch up on other puppy health essentials here!

For more on puppies, read:

Should we get a dog? What you need to know

Should You Get a Rescue Dog? How to Decide

What You Need to Know about Bringing a Dog Home for the First Time

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Written by Mike Halligan on May 7, 2019 for Off The Leash

Article last updated on February 16, 2022

Mike is a huuuuuuge dog lover and the Co-Founder of Scratch. He's spent his life surrounded by Collies and Cocker Spaniels. You can find him sipping coffee in Melbourne and pointing out Bernese Mountain Dogs to his girlfriend, in hope that she'll finally let them get one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much exercise does a puppy need?

Puppies should only walk for five minutes for every month of his age. So a four-month-old puppy should get a 20-minute walk. While an eight-month-old puppy can have up to 40 minutes of exercise.

How do you exercise a puppy?

If they have a backyard to run around in at home of their own accord, they probably won’t even need a longer walk for the first six months of their lives.

If you don’t have a yard, a good rule is walk them for five minutes for every month of his age. So a four-month-old puppy should get a 20-minute walk. While an eight-month-old puppy can have up to 40 minutes of exercise.

Is exercise good for puppies?

Light exercise lets them explore new environments and enjoy some healthy socialising. But over-working very young dogs can impact their bone and muscle development. That’s especially true for large and giant breed puppies such as great Danes and mastiffs. With so much growing to do, it can take up to a year for them to really exit the delicate puppy stage.

Do puppies need special food?

Yes. Growing dogs have more energy requirements compared to adult dogs of the same size, they also have higher needs for key nutritional building blocks. Puppy food should contain additional protein for healthy muscles and organs, fat for energy, and calcium and phosphorus for bones. As well as specific omega 3s (ALA, EPA, DHA) to help brain development.

Large breed puppies have more growing to do than smaller dogs and take longer to get to their full size. This creates complications such as too much calcium putting them at risk of bones deformities. If you have a large breed pup always check to make sure their food is designed for them.

How often do you feed a puppy?

Puppies need to eat more often than adults. A 10 week old pup needs four meals a day.

Next in Behaviour and Training

Is your dog a bully? A guide to canine play styles

If you’ve ever stepped foot in a dog park, it’s likely you know the type. There always seems to be that dog. You know the one: crash-banging from one dog to the other, the force of a rugby player and the grace of a toddler in canine form. While some dogs blend seamlessly into the […]

Read Post