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How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need?

June 16, 2017 by Mary Telesz

Dog ExerciseExercising your dog is one of the standard aspects of dog-owning. All dogs need exercise, but owners are often uncertain about how much their particular dog needs. The quick answer to this question is that the amount any dog needs depends entirely on the dog. All pet owners and their animals live drastically different lifestyles, and have drastically different eating habits, so the quantity and length of the dog walks you take necessarily changes widely according to the particular circumstance.

Luckily, however, there is an approximate way of determining how much exercise your dog needs, regardless of the uniqueness of you and your pet’s lifestyle: their breed.

Yes, that’s right: knowing your dog’s breed can go a long way to determining the amount of exercise they need. This is because different breeds have different exercise requirements. In fact, different breeds are as unique as fingerprints with regards to the specifics of their care. Grooming, the kind of food you feed them with, and medical care are all impacted by the breed of dog.

Thus, without further ado, let’s examine some of America’s most popular dog breeds:

Labrador Retriever

A labrador retriever is just a longer name for a labrador. It is not, as is often assumed, a mix between a labrador and a golden retriever. This breed got its name from where it originates: a province called ‘Labrador’ in Canada. However, experts debate about the specifics of the origin of the labrador, including how it actually came to be its own defined breed.

Dog ExerciseIt is generally agreed that the labrador breed developed out of indiscriminate interbreeding between the St. John’s water dog and other settler breeds of mixed origin including Portugese. The labrador retriever gets its name partially from the kind of work its ancestors did. The line of dogs it came from were involved in fishing tasks: carrying fish, pulling rope, and retrieving fish nets from the water (hence the ‘retriever’ part of the name). The short hair of the St. John’s dog made it better for such tasks, because the conditions were often very harsh and icy, and ice got caught on the longer-haired breeds.

Because of their heritage, labradors are a high energy breed. They need approximately one hour of exercise every day. If you have a labrador who is exceptionally hyper, they need more to calm them down. A labrador of friendly temperament needs one hour, a hyper one needs 1.5 hours, and if your lab is very placid and relaxed forty-minutes will do the trick. You should also give or take a bit of time according to their health or age. Obviously, if they’re an older dog with poor mobility, their exercise needs change dramatically, and it is recommended that you don’t over-exert them in such cases.

German Shepherd

Number two on the list of America’s most popular dog breeds is the German shepherd. Obviously, this breed originates from Germany, but its history is very complex indeed. Max von Stephanitz is the German credited with the discovery of this breed because of his work with in-breeding. His discovery was accidental in part: the first dog that was in-bred to become what we now as the German shepherd was found by Stephanitz at a dog show. He changed the dog’s name to Horand and made him the centre point of his breeding programs.

Stephanitz’s vision for dog breeding was to breed a dog specifically for working. There is a degree of controversy surrounding the breeding habits of German shepherds nowadays, particularly with regards to the health and posture of the dogs. Critics of today’s breeding standards lament that Stephanitz managed to filter out health defects in the breed, and now there are not enough regulations in this area. There is also some negative commentary surrounding the unusual posture of German shepherds used as show dogs: their back is somewhat slanted compared to those who are bred to be working dogs, and this difference has met with much criticism.

The breed characteristics of the German shepherd mean that it needs a high level of exercise. Their breeding history as working dogs mean that they are incredibly active and need entertainment. Exercising a dog is primarily for their health, but it is also connected to their behavior. In order to provide the optimal conditions for a healthy German shepherd, you should introduce vigorous daily exercise into their routine. Physically active people will love going out for a long run with their dog every day. Those who live a more sedentary lifestyle may find it difficult to keep up with the energy needs of the German shepherd.

Golden Retriever

For many years it was thought that golden retrievers were the desired result of breeding Russian circus dogs with bloodhounds. Lord Tweedmouth, a member of the English gentry, was responsible for breeding. However, after further research, it was found that golden retrievers were the result of breeding between an unregistered yellow retriever and tweed water spaniel (a now extinct Scottish breed). This is the currently accepted theory regarding the origin of the golden retriever breed.

Their history as a breed portrays the golden retriever as an excellent tracker, sniffer, and hunter. In contrast to the labrador retriever and the German shepherd, the golden retriever is a bit less active, because their working history is not as high-energy as the others.

This friendly placid breed is well known as a perfect family pet, even for families with very young children. The standard traits of the golden retriever breed show it to be a very calm and laidback dog: even the unwanted attention of young kids who don’t know how to handle a dog properly will likely gain little to no reaction from this incredibly docile creature.

The exercise needs of the golden retriever are determined by examining other parts of its history as a retrieval dog: in the 19th century, they were often used to retrieve game caught by hunters. Thus, the golden retriever is an agile breed with an affinity for water. The perfect way to exercise your retriever is to give it something to retrieve: that’s right: balltime! Playing ball with your retriever every day for at least an hour should suffice. This breed has an affinity for water, too, so if you live near a body of water, don’t be surprised when your dog loves to jump around and splash in it!

Bulldog

Dog ExerciseAnyone can spot a bulldog when they see one: their look is very unique to other dog breed. The origins of a bulldog are complex, and widely debated. However, it is generally thought that bulldogs got their name from their traditional job of guarding, baiting, and chasing bulls. Bull baiting is when a bull is held in position by its nose and rendered helpless. Bull baiting was not only a form of entertainment, but also a superstitious method of preparing a bull for slaughter. Baiting the bull in such a manner was generally thought to improve of the tenderness of the meat.

Bulldogs are often wrongly assumed to be aggressive because of their odd appearance and the history of their breed. However, in reality, this is a very laid back breed, known for its gentle disposition and overall laziness.

The lazy nature of this breed doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be exercised. However, bulldogs generally don’t require as much exercise as other dogs. A fifteen minute walk around the block or down the road every day, at a leisurely pace, is usually sufficient exercise for a bulldog.

General Rule

Now that some of the exercise needs of the most popular breeds has been assessed, it’s important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to ensuring dogs get the level of exercise they need. As a general rule, however, just remember this: a tired dog is a good dog. Live by this philosophy and you won’t go wrong.

Filed Under: Pet Care

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Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
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Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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