Having various dogs under our care at Home from Home, it is quite fascinating to see the different energy levels across different breeds of dog. Hence, I thought I would do some investigating into the different exercise recommendations for different breeds. Whilst we all think that one or two walks a day is more than enough, for some breeds it truly isn’t or indeed the opposite can be true, and it can be too much. Failure to get the amount of exercise right for our dog can lead to a whole world of issues, like arthritis, aggression, weight issues, social problems and general behavioural issues.
We have a Golden Retriever (could also be a Hovawart, see our blog) - Missy. Let’s take her our starting point. Being a Retriever, she loves nothing more than a game and a good run around the fields (not that her back legs will allow this anymore). So Golden Retrievers and Labradors require a lot of physical activity and because they are from a working breed, they will engage easily in strenuous activities also. This is something any new owner or someone thinking of getting a puppy should consider.
What about Sighthound breeds, such as Greyhounds, Whippets and Salukis and Lurchers (mix of Sighthound breed and working breed)? We have the pleasure of having one very special lady under our wing - a Lurcher. Not only is she the most gorgeous lady on four legs, she could also outrun a cheetah. We quite often see her run past her dad and the sheer power and speed is really quite something that takes your breath away. The average speed of Greyhounds is approximately 45 miles per hour compared to that of other breeds, coming in at about 20 miles per hour.
As she is a Sighthound, she is bred to chase and locate and I know from her lovely owners that her stamina is endless. That said, we also have a Dachshund (still part of the hound group) and to be quite frank she would rather be carried so it must not be all hounds! Dachshunds were bred to fight badgers, so goodness knows why our girl is born lazy!
Our little Yorkie is quite happy plodding along and, although old, he will happily walk a good distance. In the main, this smaller breed are happy with two 20 minute walks a day and garden play as they love to investigate. Trees and lampposts are his favourite objects!
Dalmatians are carriage dogs - in the past they would have run alongside or under the horse and carriages (their job was to guard and protect). This breed can quite easily exercise for two hours a day. They also need plenty of mental stimulation. Did you know that Dalmatians are born pure white and develop their spots around three to four weeks of age and 30% of them are deaf in one ear?
Huskies require extremely high amounts of exercise and love to run as they are instinctively energy-fuelled. One can only imagine the energy required to pull sledges and alike in their native country. Did you know, however, that the Alaskan Klee Klai dog is not actually bred in Alaska but in America, and is not related to any Alaskan dog breeds at all!
Cockerpoos are also full of energy and bounce. They too require a great deal of mental stimulation, coupled with at least an hour exercise. We have a lovely, well-mannered Cockerpoo who attends day care. I can truly say I have never witnessed such energy levels in a dog. She is like a coiled spring.
So what about working dogs like Collies? These dogs require a minimum of two hours exercise and must have plenty of mental stimulation to keep them occupied. Farm living is well suited to this breed. They thrive on having a human/dog relationship and love an environment where they can work to burn of energy. Did you know that the first ever dog to appear in a movie was a Collie dog called Jean and the movie was in 1910?
German Shepherds (another working breed) also need over an hour a day. Failure in doing so with this breed can lead to many issues, including behavioural ones. German Shepherds can cover a good distance when being exercised. One famous example is the 2100-mile long Appalachian mountain trail, which is has been completed by owner and German Sheperd. So you may need new pair of walking boots if you consider this bred!
Whilst we have picked a few different breeds above that all have quite high exercise requirements, it’s not true for all dog breeds. Breeds such as the Bassett Hound, Pug, Bull Dog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Newfoundland, Akita, Chow Chow and Irish Wolfhound to name but a few all require medium to low amounts of exercise. But let’s face it, the mere mention of the “W” word coupled with the rattle of a lead, normally sends most into orbit!
Newfoundlands have webbed feet and love a good swim so if wild swimming is your thing, this breed could be perfect for you. They of course aren’t the only breed with webbed feet. Others include the Otterhound, Dachshund, Retriever, Water Spaniel, Poodle and English Cocker Spaniel. Our Dachshund isn’t keen at all on water and looks at me in pure disgust if I bath her. She is far from a water baby!
My advice to any prospective new owner would be to ask what will be the exercise requirements of your new friend? Are you prepared to input that amount of energy yourself? Maybe a change of breed may suit you better? Think about your answers and be truthful to yourself. Whatever dog you choose, they will be only too happy to enjoy your love and company and will complete your life for sure.
All views and opinions are my own. If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s dog you should seek advice from professional services (useful contacts can be found here).
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