We were recently asked for some advice on flying with dogs across the U.S. Clearly a large dog is not going to be able to fly with you in the plane cabin
When it comes to dog exercise, size matters! According to Dr. Pedro Aponte, DVM Ph.D., "the most common, complete, and desirable exercise for dogs is walking, although daily routine may include other activities like playing games." Owners usually wonder, "how much exercise is enough for their dogs?" Whether they are the smallest dog in the world, toy dog breeds, medium sized dogs or large dog breeds, there is a rule of thumb about the suitable duration of exercise sessions for dogs!
Dr. Aponte noted small-sized breeds should have a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise per day, especially those in the toy group.
Examples of popular small-sized breeds needing this exercise plan are:
Medium sized dogs require one hour of daily exercise. Some well-known medium-sized dog breeds are:
Dogs belonging to large breeds should exercise for two or more hours daily.
Large dog breeds that can benefit from this exercise length are
Rules may come with some exceptions. Some of these exceptions Dr. Aponte noted are:
For several small-sized breeds, usually working dogs like Cocker Spaniels, Basenjis, Beagles, and most Terriers, 30 minutes is not enough, so they require one hour of daily exercise.
Also, exceptionally, very active toy dog breeds like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Pug require one hour per day of action.
Some very energetic medium sized dog breeds like Pointers, Spaniels, Salukis, Border Collies, Belgian Shepherd dogs, Samoyeds, Dalmatians, and Siberian Huskies require more than 2 hours of daily exercise.
A few large dog breeds like Chow Chow, Mastiff, and Saint Bernard dogs require less workout time (1 hour daily) than other big dogs.
A large dog breed like the Great Dane might get enough exercise in one daily hour of walking, but for large working breeds like German Shepherds and male Belgian Malinois require 2 hours or more.
Examples of large dog breeds that need 2-3 daily hours of complete exercise are Bulldogs, Boxers, Doberman Pinschers, Labrador Retrievers, Dogue de Bordeaux (French Mastiff), English Setters, Irish Setters, Rottweilers, Scottish Terriers, Siberian Huskies, Standard Schnauzers.
Small dog breeds 5 months and older requires an average of 30 minutes of daily exercise; while pups under 5 months old require 20 minutes or less per day.
Medium sized dog breeds like Pointers and Labradors need an hour of running or walking daily, but large working dogs require more than 2 hours per day.
Most large breed dogs over 1 year will need 2 hours of exercise. While large breed puppies over 5 months need at least 30 minutes to one hour divided in several sessions a day.
Much like humans, it is a known fact that dogs can become overweight if they are inactive.
In addition, large, medium, and small-sized dogs can suffer from serious joint problems if they don't get enough walking or running every day.
Keeping your dog fit is one of the best ways to help control behavior problems like chewing furniture or excessive barking. Injuries may also occur when your pup tries to get rid of excess energy by jump off beds, couches, etc.
There are plenty of ways large, medium, and small breed dogs can be active. Exercise is not only a way to keep your dog fit but it also serve as an excellent way to strengthen your bond with your pooch.
Train large dog breeds, walk medium sized dogs, and play with small breed dogs to get them enough exercise daily. If large or medium breeds don't get enough exercise they can become obese and the large dog have the highest risk of joint problems while puppies under 5 months old can suffer from serious injury while playing around.
Dr. Aponte is a veterinary college professor and blogger writes about pets with emphasis on explaining the solutions to dog and cats' problems.
We were recently asked for some advice on flying with dogs across the U.S. Clearly a large dog is not going to be able to fly with you in the plane cabin
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