As you probably already know, dogs need exercise to stay healthy, fit, and happy. But exercise is a vague term that can be interpreted differently by many people. So let’s clarify what counts when it comes to exercising a dog.
What Is Considered Exercise For A Dog?
Any activity that requires physical or mental effort and helps your dog maintain or improve health and fitness counts as exercise. Running and obedience training are two good examples. But anything that stimulates your dog’s mind or body can also be considered exercise.
The intensity or nature of the activity doesn’t matter as long as it’s mentally or physically demanding for dogs. Anything involving the use of their energy counts. So if your dog is panting or seems tired after doing something, it’s a good sign that what you did was exercise.
The second part of the definition is also important to consider. Otherwise, practically anything would count as exercise because every action your dog take requires a certain mental and physical effort. To be considered as exercise, the activity has to purposefully maintain or improve health and fitness.
So letting your dog walk and sniff around the house doesn’t really count. Exercise must be more structured and involve more intentional effort than everyday actions. Now let’s take a look at some activities dog owners do and understand if they are considered exercise.
Does Playing With Your Dog Count As Exercise?
Playing with your dog can count as exercise as long as it requires enough physical and mental effort. Fetch, tug-of-war, and most other interactive games can help maintain or improve health and fitness while keeping him busy. Therefore, playing is an effective and fun way to exercise a dog.
Every form of play that involves physical activity or mental stimulation can be considered exercise. But letting your dog chew on something or leave some toys to play with when you’re out doesn’t necessarily count. It has to be active play, so interaction is often required.
Many toys can help you exercise and tire out your dog. Balls and tugs are only two good examples. A flirt pole, puzzle game, frisbee, agility obstacle kit, dispensing toy, or anything else that engages with your dog’s mind or body while playing counts as exercise.
It can also be a good workout for you. Depending on what you do and for how long, playing with your dog might be an excellent source of exercise for everyone. Running around in your backyard together and chasing each other is physically demanding for both of you.
Does Walking Your Dog Count As Exercise?
Walking definitely counts as exercise for dogs and humans. Although it’s moderate physical activity, daily walks will help you and your dog burn off some energy and improve your overall health. So walking your dog is considered exercise.
On the other hand, letting him wander around the house doesn’t count as physical activity. You need to go outside and walk for a certain period of time to consider it exercise. Otherwise, the effort isn’t significant enough to impact you and your dog’s health and fitness.
Walking won’t tire you or your dog out or get you in much better shape, but it can provide you with a good basis for daily exercise. Sniffing around during the walk will also be mentally stimulating for the dog. That’s why walking together should be an important part of your exercise regimen.
What About Mental Exercise For Dogs?
When talking about exercising a dog, most people think about physical activity. But dogs also have a mind to satisfy. That’s where mental stimulation comes into play. Keeping your dog’s brain stimulated and busy is another way to exercise.
Mental effort can be as challenging and tiring as physical work. The effects are just different. So exercise isn’t all about the body. It involves the mind too. That’s why you need to stimulate your dog both mentally and physically to keep him fit, healthy, and happy.
There are several ways to provide a dog with mental stimulation. Obedience training, brain games, puzzles, and nose work are great examples. Anything that challenges and engages with your dog’s mind counts as a mental exercise.
Other Ways To Exercise A Dog!
Playing with your dog and walking are only two ways to exercise your dog. Many others are less ambiguous on whether or not they count. Any activity involving vigorous physical effort and making your dog pant a lot is obviously considered exercise.
Running, swimming, hiking, and canine sports are all excellent examples. They are demanding on the body and will help improve health and fitness. Now here’s a list to resume what counts as exercise for dogs.
- Walking.
- Playing.
- Fetch.
- Tug-Of-War.
- Hide-And-Seek.
- Running.
- Swimming.
- Hiking.
- Dog Agility.
- Obedience Training.
- Puzzle Games.
- Etc.
Now that you know what counts as exercise, it’s time to find how much your dog needs!
How Much Exercise Does A Dog Need?
A dog generally needs at least 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day. But ideally, the longer, the better. How much exercise a dog should get will vary according to breed, age, health, energy, and fitness level. For example, more active and energetic dogs will need around 1 or 2 hours of exercise per day.
What Type Of Exercise Does A Dog Need?
As you have seen in this article, there are many ways to exercise a dog. Walking, vigorous physical activity and mental stimulation are all essential. But your dog might need more of some forms of exercise than others because they aren’t created equal.
Walking should generally make up half of a dog’s daily activity. Ideally, it should also be divided into two or three short walks dispersed throughout the day. A dog will also need a little bit of mental stimulation. Then, the rest of the exercise should be more physically demanding.
So a dog that requires a total of 1 hour per day would need around 30 minutes of walking, 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity, and 10 minutes of mental stimulation. But anything that counts as exercise can fill that time up. Just try to diversify the activities as much as possible.
Last Thoughts About What Counts As Exercise For A Dog!
Finally, anything that requires enough mental or physical effort to positively impact your dog’s health and fitness counts as exercise. It doesn’t have to be very intense or last very long. It just has to be significant. So any activity that burns energy and helps your dog stay in good shape is considered exercise.
Walking, running, swimming, and playing together are some good examples. Panting and tiredness are signs of a significant effort. So you should look for them when you’re not sure if what you do is exercise. Now it’s time to work out and have fun with your dog.
Let’s Do Exercise That Counts For Your Dog!