Exercise for dogs

It's a dog's life

Dogs all have very different character traits. Some have historically been bred for high-energy jobs such as herding or chasing game, while others are designed to be nothing more than companions. So, if you are going for a pedigree dog (or already own one), think about what it was originally bred to do and whether your lifestyle can accommodate its innate behaviour.

The average dog needs around two hours of exercise every day, but herding or hunting dogs often need double that, small dogs can be taken out for half-hour walks two or three times a day while some toy breeds can get most of their exercise running around your home. We look at low- medium- and high-maintenance breeds.

High-maintenance breeds

Typically, such dogs have traditionally been bred to do specific jobs like hunting (Jack Russell Terriers, Springer Spaniels), herding (Border Collies) and even, trotting along side carriages – as in the case of the Dalmatian.

Such active or sporty dogs require regular, vigorous exercise (almost double that of the average dog) and are great if you’re looking for a jogging partner but not the pet of choice for the elderly or the less active among us. In addition to plenty of aerobic exercise, these dogs need lots of mental stimulation so they can fully express themselves. Jack Russell Terriers, for example, are very intelligent creatures, bred in the 19th Century as fox hunting dogs. They're very quick to fetch objects for you and can learn tricks with ease. The rule of thumb here is only pick such breeds if you are prepared to put in a lot of 'walkie' time, come rain or shine.

Medium-maintenance breeds

The kinds of breeds in this category would typically include Boxers, Dobermans, German Shepherds and Retrievers. Their main purpose is to be a watchdog or guard dog and to do military or police work, which is why they need both regular exercise and lots of mental stimulation. A poorly-trained Doberman or German Shepherd could be aggressive and dangerous.

While Boxers are less problematic, they do need mental exercise – a 20-minute stint of obedience training and playing, in addition to daily exercise, should do the trick. If a lively minded dog doesn't have enough interesting things to do it will find something else to occupy its time such as destructive chewing.

Funnily enough, some of the largest breeds including Great Danes and St Bernards are easier to deal with. Such dogs are content with a long walk that includes a bit of running time and are relatively inactive indoors. As larger-than-average dogs, they’ll need larger-than- average space indoors – the average Great Dane weighs between seven and 12 stone and is almost a metre tall.

Low-maintenance breeds

Toy breeds such as Chihuahuas and Havanese are so small that they can often get enough exercise running around the flat or house and make great companions for the elderly. Of course, this doesn't mean that they don't need walking and welcome the opportunity to get out of the house at least once a day. It's just that a medium-paced half hour is enough to satisfy them. Beware of under-exercising them as some toy breeds, Pugs for example, are prone to obesity and need much more exercise than they usually get.

There are also larger low-energy breeds such as the Corgi, Dachshund or Norfolk Terrier, who are ideal for those leading more sedentary lifestyles. Among the least-active dogs are Clumber Spaniels. Bred to retrieve prey for the main hunter, a few slow walks a day are enough for this type of dog.

With mixed-breed dogs it becomes more difficult to tell how much exercise they need. Observe your dog's behaviour – a restless pacing around the house or garden can be your dog's way of telling you they're bored and want to go for a walk or some playtime. Whatever type of dog you have, like any loving relationship, if you make time for your canine friend you’ll be rewarded 100 times over.

Read our pet insurance policy documents to find out more about Direct Line's range of pet insurance for your dog, and get a pet insurance quote in minutes.