Safe Exercise for Puppies
Safe Exercise for Puppies: How to Tire Them Out Without Wearing Them Out
Puppies are bundles of energy—tiny tornadoes with tails. While exercise is important for their health and development, over-exercising a puppy can be risky. Growing bodies need careful management to avoid injuries or developmental issues. Here’s how to strike the right balance between playtime and nap time (because trust us, puppies love both).
Step 1: Short and SweetPuppy exercise sessions should be short but frequent. Think of it like puppy recess—10 to 15 minutes of play or activity is plenty. Too much exercise can strain their growing joints, so keep things light and fun.
Step 2: Age-Appropriate ActivitiesFor young puppies, stick to low-impact activities like gentle games of fetch, exploring the backyard, or playing with soft toys. Avoid activities that involve lots of jumping or rough play. You wouldn’t take a toddler on a marathon, and the same goes for puppies!
Step 3: The 5-Minute RuleA general guideline for puppy exercise is the 5-minute rule—5 minutes of exercise per month of age, up to twice a day. For example, a 4-month-old puppy can handle around 20 minutes of playtime. This keeps them active without overdoing it.
Step 4: Listen to Their Body LanguagePay attention to signs that your puppy is getting tired, like lying down, panting heavily, or losing interest in the game. Puppies are notorious for going full throttle and then suddenly crashing. When it’s nap time, it’s nap time—don’t fight it!
Step 1: Short and SweetPuppy exercise sessions should be short but frequent. Think of it like puppy recess—10 to 15 minutes of play or activity is plenty. Too much exercise can strain their growing joints, so keep things light and fun.
Step 2: Age-Appropriate ActivitiesFor young puppies, stick to low-impact activities like gentle games of fetch, exploring the backyard, or playing with soft toys. Avoid activities that involve lots of jumping or rough play. You wouldn’t take a toddler on a marathon, and the same goes for puppies!
Step 3: The 5-Minute RuleA general guideline for puppy exercise is the 5-minute rule—5 minutes of exercise per month of age, up to twice a day. For example, a 4-month-old puppy can handle around 20 minutes of playtime. This keeps them active without overdoing it.
Step 4: Listen to Their Body LanguagePay attention to signs that your puppy is getting tired, like lying down, panting heavily, or losing interest in the game. Puppies are notorious for going full throttle and then suddenly crashing. When it’s nap time, it’s nap time—don’t fight it!