What is the best exercise for a dog?

Start with walking

VCA Animal Hospitals calls walking a cornerstone of canine fitness, and the PDSA says most dogs need at least one or two walks a day. It is low impact, it suits almost every dog, and it comes with sniffing, which is exercise for the brain.

Regular matters more than long. As VCA puts it, a 20 minute walk every day is better than a two hour walk on Sunday.

How the activities compare

PetMD sorts exercise by effort. Walking is low intensity. Jogging, flat hikes and fetch are moderate. Running, hilly hikes, swimming, hard fetch and agility are strenuous. Here is what each is good for.

• Walking. The everyday base. Suits every dog, at a pace and length to match. Best for sniffing and steady movement.
• Running. Good for fit, fully grown, athletic dogs. Not for puppies or flat-faced breeds. See do I need to run with my dog.
• Fetch. A lot of exercise in a few minutes. Hard on joints if overdone. See is fetch enough exercise for a dog.
• Swimming. A full body workout with very little impact.
• Hiking. A long walk with hills, rough ground and far more to smell.
• Play with other dogs. Fast and sociable, for dogs that enjoy it.
• Tug. Strength and self-control in a small space.
• Scent games and training. Tiring for the brain, gentle on the body.

Swimming is hard work that is easy on joints

Water takes the weight off. The American Kennel Club says swimming is great for dogs with joint problems because it is low impact, and a vet it quotes calls it especially useful for older dogs.

Not every dog can swim or wants to. VCA advises introducing water gradually, and the AKC is firm that no dog should swim without a person watching closely. Keep sessions short at first, since swimming is more tiring than it looks.

Hiking and hills

A hike is a walk with more of everything. Uneven ground works different muscles, and a trail is rich in smells. Build up distance gradually, carry water, and check paws afterwards. Hilly hikes count as strenuous, so they suit fit adult dogs best.

Games for the brain

The AKC says mental stimulation does not replace physical exercise but is an important complement to it. Hide and seek, scent work, puzzle feeders and trick training tire a dog without loading its joints. The PDSA notes that dogs benefit from scent games at any age, which makes them ideal for seniors and for dogs on restricted exercise.

Matching the activity to the dog

• High-energy and working breeds. Long walks plus running, fetch, swimming or hiking, and daily brain work.
• Sprinters such as Greyhounds. A short, fast run in a safe space, then a long nap.
• Flat-faced breeds. Short, gentle walks in cool weather and calm games. PetMD notes that short-nosed breeds do not tolerate a lot of daily exercise.
• Small and toy breeds. Several short walks and indoor play.
• Puppies. Short outings and free play at their own pace. See how much exercise a puppy needs.
• Seniors and arthritic dogs. Gentle walks, swimming and scent games. The PDSA says walking and gentle running are fine, and that chasing, jumping and skidding are best avoided.
• Overweight dogs. Walking and swimming, built up slowly with your vet's advice.

Why variety wins

A behaviourist quoted by PetMD says dogs thrive on variety. Different activities work different muscles, spread the load on joints, and keep a clever dog interested. A good week might hold daily walks, two or three short games of fetch, a swim or a hike at the weekend and a little training most days.

This is the idea behind the way Zoomies counts a day. A walk counts minute for minute. Faster activities count for more, so 20 minutes of fetch or swimming adds 35 minutes to the meter and a 20 minute hike adds 25. Your dog can meet its goal with whatever mix it enjoys.

How much is right?

PetMD and Preventive Vet both put the daily range for dogs at about 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the dog. PetMD's benchmark is a useful one to keep in mind. You want a dog that is happily tired, not exhausted.

For a starting number for your own dog, see the breed exercise guides, and read how often should you walk your dog.