February 24, 2022
How much physical exercise should my 18-month-old dog have each day?
Full Question:
I have an 18-month-old malinois/pyrenees mix. How much physical exercise is a good goal each day? We also do training a couple of times a day and mental stimulation. Thank you. 
Cindy's Answer:
This is one of those questions I get a lot and the answer is always "it depends".
It depends on your dog's level of development first and foremost. Too much exercise for a young dog that doesn't have growth plates closed yet can cause long-term issues. I'm all about walking a lot with all my dogs, swimming is good too as it's not hard on joints.
I find training to be more tiring for my young dogs than physical exercise alone.
Free play, walking/hiking is good, swimming if you have the availability, nose work, tracking etc. Once the dog is physically mature you can add more variety of exercise based on your dog's energy level and goals. Hard concussive running with lots of slamming stops are rough on the front end. (fetching a ball for example)
It depends on your dog's level of development first and foremost. Too much exercise for a young dog that doesn't have growth plates closed yet can cause long-term issues. I'm all about walking a lot with all my dogs, swimming is good too as it's not hard on joints.
I find training to be more tiring for my young dogs than physical exercise alone.
Free play, walking/hiking is good, swimming if you have the availability, nose work, tracking etc. Once the dog is physically mature you can add more variety of exercise based on your dog's energy level and goals. Hard concussive running with lots of slamming stops are rough on the front end. (fetching a ball for example)
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