07/06/2025
🐾 Rethinking Dog Exercise: Why More Miles Aren’t Always Better 🐾
💠There’s a widespread belief among dog owners that “a good dog is a tired dog” — and that the key to good behaviour is logging a certain number of miles or hours of exercise each day.
💠But this mindset can be deeply flawed. Not only does it ignore the individual needs of the dog in front of us, it can actually create behavioural and physical problems that owners then try to “burn off” with… even more exercise. A cycle that becomes self-defeating.
💠Here’s what every dog owner (and trainer) should know:
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⚠️ The Risks of Over-Exercising Dogs
Just like humans, dogs need a balance of physical activity and recovery. Without that, we risk:
🔸 Orthopaedic damage – Puppies, in particular, are vulnerable to over-exercising before growth plates close. High-impact activity can cause irreversible joint problems, such as hip or elbow dysplasia (Canine Arthritis Management, 2022).
🔸 Elevated stress levels – Chronic over-exertion can raise cortisol, the stress hormone, which impairs sleep, digestion, and emotional regulation. Dogs prone to reactivity or anxiety can become more on edge, not less (Beerda et al., 1997).
🔸 Dependency on exercise to cope – If the dog only “behaves” after a long run, they’re not learning coping skills or emotional self-regulation. It’s management, not resolution.
🔸 Suppressed signs of pain – Dogs are experts at masking discomfort. Many will run, jump, or chase even when injured, driven by instinct and adrenaline. Pain-related behaviours often show up later as irritability or aggression (Mills et al., 2020).
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🧠 Why Mental Enrichment Often Matters More:
🔻Dogs don’t just need physical outlets. They need to use their brains.
• Sniffing lowers heart rate and improves optimism (Duranton & Horowitz, 2019).
• Puzzle toys and food-based enrichment help fulfil foraging instincts, promote problem-solving, and tire dogs out mentally.
• Shaping games and low-arousal training (like nosework or mat training) improve focus and build your dog’s confidence in a calm, constructive way.
🔻A 10-minute enrichment session can be more satisfying — and less stressful — than an hour pounding the pavement in an overstimulating environment.
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💤 Rest Days Are Not Lazy — They’re Necessary
✅Even elite athletes build in rest days. Dogs are no different. Without them, the body can’t recover — and the mind never has a chance to settle.
✅Especially for:
• Puppies (whose joints and bones are still forming)
• Senior dogs (with reduced mobility or chronic pain)
• Reactive or anxious dogs (who find walks overwhelming)
• Dogs in rehabilitation (recovering from injury or trauma)
🥰A “rest day” doesn’t mean your dog does nothing — it means you swap stimulation type: fewer miles, more sniffing, calm games, massage, or simply downtime with you.
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✅ So What Does a Balanced Week Look Like?
Rather than rigid daily quotas, consider a more thoughtful weekly rhythm:
• 2–3 structured walks
• 1–2 true rest days
• Daily enrichment (10–20 min)
• A mix of decompression walks, calm training, and varied environments
• Plenty of free time to sleep, chew, and observe the world safely
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💬 Final Thought
We must move away from the belief that walking X number of miles every day equals good dog ownership. The truth is more nuanced.
✅ A well-balanced, well-regulated dog is not created by exhaustion — they’re shaped by rest, enrichment, safety, and trust.
Instead of asking, “Did I walk my dog far enough today?”
Ask, “Did I meet their needs today — mentally, emotionally, and physically?”
‼️Let’s start training smarter, not harder⚠️
