All canines may be created equal, but their dog breed exercise requirements aren't. Different breeds have different needs and, other than many-breed mongrels and hybrid dog breeds, they fall into seven dog groups.
The pet experts at pd.co.nz look at much exercise dogs need based on their breed.
Dog breed exercise requirements by group
If you want a pet dog you can lounge on the couch with, broken only by a short walk around the block, then Toys are an ideal dog. But they're not your only choice. In this article, we cover the seven groups recognised by Dogs NZ, the New Zealand dog registry.
Toy dog group
Toys are small dogs that make great indoor companions, because they have low energy levels and exercise needs. All you should need to do is give your toy a 10-minute session of fetch daily, or a short walk.
Terrier dog group
If you live with a terrier you’ll know how lively these guys can be, and that's because of their history. Terriers were originally bred to sniff and dig down into the dens of prey, so they could help their humans on hunting expeditions. As a result, they have built-in dig and sniff instincts.
Back home, though, make sure to allocate 30 minutes to an hour of play or exercise daily. Also, consider giving your terrier toys to help them burn up their energy physically and mentally.
Gundog group
Gundogs (e.g. golden retrievers and labradors) are highly trainable and intelligent. They've been bred to work alongside humans. In fact, they get their name from their original job: helping gun-toting hunters to bring down prey.
As a result, these perky pups are inquisitive, have a great sense of smell and can easily pinpoint where the prey (or frisbee) lands.
Dog breed exercise requirements for this group is one to two hours of exercise daily. They love a brisk walk and you can also take them hiking and camping in the great outdoors.
Hound dog group
One hound in particular – the greyhound – has a rep for racing, which might create the image of being energetic 24/7, but this isn’t true at all. In fact, greyhounds and other sighthounds will only expend brief spurts of energy before they just want to chill.
Hounds fall into two sub-groups:
- Sighthounds. All these pups need is 20-30 minutes of exercise daily, such as a walk in the park or around your neighbourhood.
- Scent-hounds. Scent-hounds need more exercise to tucker them out than sighthounds. You'll need to schedule one hour each day to exercise your hound, but that can be broken into two 30-minute sessions.
Working dog group
Working dogs have some of the highest dog breed exercise requirements on the planet, so if you're an indoorsy type they might not be your ideal choice.
Also known as herding dogs, this group is another that is historically bred to work with humans, keeping livestock safe and stopping them from wandering. And although these same dogs now live happily as pets, they still need to burn large amounts of energy.
Working dogs need one to two hours of exercise daily, and three-quarters of this time needs to be spent doing high-energy exercise, like running or agility sports. Plus, in addition to their dog breed exercise requirements, this group has a high mental exercise requirement. Training and puzzle games are good options.
Utility dog group
Because utility dogs have high stamina they can really go the extra mile. They're famous for helping people in trying times. For example, the Saint Bernard, which rescues lost hikers in snowy mountains. Or huskies that work as sled dogs.
Choose moderately intense sports and give your pooch one to two hours of daily exercise. For example, they're less about jumping and darting and more about that slow and steady toil up the mountain path.
Non-sporting dog group
Non-sporting dogs are an interesting batch – the group includes the Dalmatian and Great Dane, but also the Shih Tzu. As diverse as the non-sporting group is, so too are their dog breed exercise requirements.
Giant breeds like the Great Dane, for example, only need 30 to 45 minutes of low-energy exercise daily. A stroll on the beach or in the park is enough to do the trick.
On the other hand, dogs like poodles have more stamina and need up to an hour of exercise daily. This can be broken into two or three sessions.
Health and dog breed exercise requirements
Besides being part of a dog breed group, every dog is an individual with individual needs. So in addition to dog breed exercise requirements, here are some factors to consider, pooch by pooch:
- Brachycephalic breeds. If your dog's a flat-faced breed this needs to factor into how much and how intensely they exercise. These pups often have breathing problems, so can overheat or even asphyxiate from the wrong amount or type of physical exertion.
- Puppies. Like humans, dogs don't need the same type or amount of exercise when they're young as when they're adults. Their musculoskeletal systems are still developing, so they mustn’t be put under undue stress, or they risk ligament and joint problems later in life.
- Giant dog breeds. The biggest dog breeds naturally have the biggest bones, as well as crazy growth spurts. Because of this, these breeds often have musculoskeletal conditions, such as hip dysplasia, which limits the types of exercise that's good for them.
- Musculoskeletal conditions. It's not only big breeds that can experience bone, joint and muscle issues – they can affect any dog.