Canine exercise

Owner plays frisbee with border collie. Image for canine exercise tag page.
Follow practical tips to keep your dog happy and healthy. Provide healthy food, plenty of water and daily exercise.

Dogs, especially when they are young, seem to have endless energy. If it’s not channeled properly, that energy can turn into obnoxious and destructive behavior. That’s why canine exercise is key to having a happy, healthy dog.

Making sure your dog gets enough exercise is key to helping him maintain a healthy weight. Be sure your dog gets plenty of healthy canine exercise.

Like people, most dogs need 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day. That can include any mixture of dog walks, swimming, hiking or agility.

But take care not to push your dog too hard when he’s young.

Forcing any puppy under the age of six months to exercise for an extended period of time can cause injuries. Forced exercise — any repetitive motion for an extended period of time — causes stress on developing joints and bones. That can include jogging, biking, rollerblading, skateboarding or even sled/cart pulling.