Dogs need regular exercise to stay healthy and to stop them from getting bored. But the amount of time dogs need outdoors varies based on their age, size and breed.
Based on their age
While puppies are often bundles of energy, it is important not to over-exercise young dogs. A good rule of thumb for puppies is that they should enjoy five minutes of a movement twice a day per month of their age; so, for example, if your puppy is 12 weeks old, keep walks or play sessions to around 15 minutes each.
Elderly dogs may struggle to take long walks, but should still be given the opportunity to go outside and move around at their own pace at least twice daily.
Based on their size
All dogs should be let outside for exercise twice a day, but how intense that exercise should be depends, partly, on the size of the dog. Larger breeds need more space to wander around so, in addition to regular play in the house or garden.
Smaller dogs often require less space of a workout, so letting them out for a runaround, in addition to their daily walk, can be an appropriate form of exercise.
Based on their breed
Some breeds, such as border collies, springer spaniels, German shepherds and Siberian huskies, have been bred as “working dogs”, so are suited to covering long distances. Dogs such as labradors and poodles have bundles of energy, so they are also great companions for a long walk.
Brachycephalic breeds, such as pugs or bulldogs, are more likely to struggle with intense exercise. For these breeds, two shorter walks each day may be the best option; make sure to incorporate some rest breaks, and plenty of drinking opportunities, too.
【小题1】How long exercise is suitable for a 4-month-old puppy?| A．10 minutes. | B．15 minutes. | C．20 minutes. | D．25 minutes. |
| A．Location. | B．Time. | C．Space. | D．Frequency. |
| A．Labradors. | B．Bulldogs. | C．German shepherds. | D．Siberian huskies. |
