Translated by Nick R
Have you ever wondered why your pooch is always hyperactive at home and makes such a mess? Well, maybe your dog requires a lot more exercise than regular.
But don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place! Here I’ll show you the 20 dog breeds that require more exercise, the explanation for this, and what exercises they can do.
Table of Contents
Importance of exercise in dogs
It’s worth always thinking about the physical and mental well-being of our pet. That’s why exercise is a must-do activity that won’t only help maintain their health, but will also make them happier.
The Bachelor of Nutrition Science and Biochemistry at the University of British Columbia, Franco Cavaleri tells us in his article, published in 2014 on the website Animal Wellness, 6 aspects that demonstrate the importance of physical activity in dogs.
1. Exercise controls obesity
By exercising properly, the dog’s metabolism will be regulated, which will allow him to burn the calories he gets from eating, without accumulating unnecessary fat.
In addition, obesity leads to a higher risk of other diseases like diabetes, cancer, depression, bone problems, and chronic inflammation, among others.
2. Exercise strengthens the bones
When the dog exercises, he works his muscles and, therefore, his bones. This will allow, thanks to the physical stimulation, to activate special cells in charge of improving the bone mass (bones) as a mechanism to adapt to the physical work done by the dog.
3. Exercise prevents the loss of muscle mass
It’s inevitable to suffer from muscle wasting when reaching an advanced age, both humans and dogs. However, to keep that muscle mass strengthened, constant exercise is essential.
Routine exercise accompanied by a healthy diet will maintain “lean muscle strength and integrity”.
4. Exercise helps endure arthritis
You may think exercise makes arthritis worse, but it is quite the opposite.
A sedentary lifestyle will lead to more health problems. Among these, we find “a major tissue degeneration”, increasing the chances of accumulating and producing more adipose tissue (fat), which will cause inflammatory processes and aggravate arthritis.
Routine and controlled exercise is of vital importance in cases of arthritis because it allows the “secretion of endorphins” that help relieve pain.
5. Exercise eliminates toxins from the body
When canines work their muscles by exercising, they help to flush toxins out of the body, improving health. But how does that happen? The lymphatic system of dogs, among other functions, is in charge of eliminating toxins and metabolic by-products (“leftover substances of metabolic processes”).
This is done through their paws, particularly their paw pads, through which they can also perspire. They “act as pumps to promote lymphatic circulation” and the support provided by working their muscles during exercise enables the circulation to return to flow throughout the body once the toxins have been eliminated.
An inactive lifestyle leads to the accumulation of toxins that need to be released and therefore, the cells are unable to oxygenate. Exercising allows the dog to feel more active and energetic, benefiting his physical and mental health.
6. Exercise controls metabolism by regulating insulin.
First, let’s review what insulin is to better understand this. It is a hormone that allows glucose (sugar in the blood) to pass into the cells so that it can then serve as energy fuel to be expended for activities such as exercise.
As glucose is the main source of energy in the body, insulin will take it and use it in physical activity. This means that as long as the canine is exercising regularly, insulin will keep sugar levels under control.
If the dog is not leading a healthy and active lifestyle, it could present a diabetes problem. This is because glucose is not used in energy.
Insulin will not be able to transport the glucose easily because the body is not physically active; as a result, the sugar won’t be used, accumulating and therefore increasing its level in the blood.
Why do some dogs need more exercise than others?
The answer to this question is related to several factors that influence the physical activity of a canine to keep it healthy in every way.
Among the factors involved in the well-being of dogs we find their anatomy, the upbringing carried out in the past, and their high endurance level, which allows them to have a lot of energy. Now let’s take a closer look at how these aspects influence the health of the canine.
Anatomy
Most of these dogs requiring much more exercise owe it to their body size; their anatomy. Such canines have larger bodies, which demand more food to compensate for the energy they expend to stay healthy.
For this same reason, the dog needs to do exercise to avoid weight-related problems. These sizes (large and giant) are more likely to have obesity and with it, other latent problems such as heart problems.
Likewise, being overweight can affect the canine’s routine activities causing, for example, joint problems and pain. For that reason, it is vital for this type of dog to do more physical activity.
Breeding
Long ago, dogs were bred to help humans in their jobs, so they were bred to specialize in a specific activity or job. And as this evolved, as dogs were born, they already had an innate need to do certain types of jobs.
But what does breeding have to do with a dog’s need for more physical activity? Well, thanks to the training and preparation these dogs have undergone, they maintain a high level of concentration, both physically and mentally.
If they don’t get the required exercise, it can affect the dog’s concentration and lead to frustration because they can’t make use of their abilities.
Also, if they go too long without physical activity to tire them out, they will develop behavioral problems as they need to occupy themselves doing something. These problems may include excessive barking, chewing, digging, or running away.
High physical endurance level
Some dogs were not bred for work but they do retain an incredible amount of energy like the Poodle or Jack Russell Terrier. These dogs like to play a lot and have something to keep them busy but still enjoy themselves.
It’s important to tire them out so that they can have a moment of relaxation instead of doing other things. Just like working dogs that need to keep their concentration on something, these canines are very energetic; if they don’t spend that energy exercising, they will use it for activities that are not very convenient for their owners.
These dogs, as they feel bored and without fun, will become frustrated and develop behavioral problems, such as doing their needs at home, destroying things they shouldn’t, being very noisy because they don’t pay attention to it, getting anxious, and starting to lick themselves too much.
20 Dog Breeds That Need Extra Exercise
These dogs need at least two hours or more of physical activity daily to keep their physical and mental health in optimal condition.
1. Siberian Husky
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 16 Kg to 35 Kg | Medium | Loving and intelligent |
The Siberian Husky is a very active dog that requires a lot of physical activity, ideally in a controlled area, so that it doesn’t run away due to its desire to run and feel free.
2. Alaskan Malamute
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 38 Kg to 56 Kg | Large | Friendly and imposing |
The Alaskan Malamute was long ago employed to help in the work of herding sleds. So it is a dog that loves to pull and push heavy things.
3. Samoyed
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 17 Kg to 32 Kg | Large | Extroverted and loyal |
The Samoyed is a very active dog that likes the company of his family, which will enjoy even more if accompanied by activities that require his physical effort.
4. Dalmatian
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 23 Kg to 25 Kg | Medium | Friendly and playful |
The Dalmatian is a breed with great endurance and needs a lot of exercise to use up that energy and avoid behavioral problems. Jumping and climbing are some of the things they like to do.
5. Boxer
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 25 Kg to 40 Kg | Large | Brave and active |
The Boxer is an energetic canine; they enjoy activities such as running in open spaces, chasing a ball or reaching for a frisbee.
6. Rhodesian Ridgeback
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 29 Kg to 40 Kg | Large | Strong and calm |
The Rhodesian ridgeback is a breed with a strong hunting instinct, so be careful in which area you let it loose for exercise. They are athletic and like to jump a lot.
7. Weimaraner
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 22 Kg to 38 Kg | Large | Energetic and affable |
This canine needs a lot of physical activity so that he doesn’t develop a destructive behavior at home. Among the exercises he likes to do are swimming and retrieving objects, the latter because of his marked hunting instinct.
8. Golden Retriever
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 25 Kg to 30 Kg | Large | Kind and balanced |
The Golden Retriever is an innate hunter so he will enjoy activities that require him to put his skills to use. He is also good in the water, having been trained to hunt waterfowl in the past.
9. German Shepherd
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 30 Kg to 43 Kg | Large | Protector and loyal |
The German Shepherd is a very active breed and enjoys keeping his body and mind busy in some activity. They need long periods of exercise to prevent them from developing nervous behavior.
10. Australian Shepherd
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 17 Kg to 29 Kg | Medium | Brave and loyal |
The Australian Shepherd is an energetic dog that needs a lot of exercises to prevent him from getting bored and destroying the objects around him.
This breed shows great performance in agility sports, flyball (passing obstacles to get the ball), or heelwork to music (dance and exercise to music).
11. Irish Setter
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 26 Kg to 32 Kg | Large | Loving and playful |
The Irish Setter has a strong hunting instinct, which is why searching exercises or fetching objects are very good for them.
They need a lot of exercise like long runs to feel satisfied and happy, which will help them to behave well with their family.
12. Border Collie
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 13 Kg to 20 Kg | Medium | Attentive and active |
The Border collie is a very energetic canine and loves activities and exercises that keep him distracted. He requires his owner’s attention to command him and the lack of attention and exercise can make him aggressive.
13. Labrador Retriever
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 25 Kg to 36 Kg | Large | Loving and hard-working |
The Labrador Retriever is an incredibly energetic breed and enjoys a variety of physical activities. These include running freely, taking long walks, and retrieving objects on land and water due to their innate hunting instinct.
14. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 9 Kg to 12 Kg | Medium | Active and social |
Despite their size, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi retains a great deal of energy due to their herding abilities. In addition, as they have very athletic bodies, they are good at agility competitions.
15. Beagle
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 10 Kg to 20 Kg | Medium | Cheerful and energetic |
The Beagle is a lively dog, driven by his hunting instincts for exploring spaces. They require a lot of physical activity so field trips are ideal for them.
16. English Springer Spaniel
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 18 Kg to 25 Kg | Medium | Extroverted and friendly |
The English Springer Spaniel loves to exercise. They enjoy doing activities with their owner such as canicross, hunting exercises, or agility competitions.
17. Jack Russell Terrier
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 7 Kg to 12 Kg | Small | Energetic and cheerful |
The Jack Russell Terrier is a dog with a great deal of energy for its size. Like the Beagle, this canine has a very marked hunting instinct with the difference that he can see a cat or hamster as prey.
He likes long walks and activities that require using his sense of smell, fetching objects, or searching for the ball.
18. Shetland Shepherd
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 6 Kg to 12 Kg | Small and medium | Active and hard-working |
The Shetland Shepherd likes to be assigned tasks, to do physical activities, and above all, with the company of their owners. As they are very energetic, they are good at activities such as flyball or agility trials.
19. Poodle
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 3 Kg to 32 Kg | Standard, toy and mini | Playful and active |
The Poodle is a very energetic canine regardless of size. In the case of the standard size, they are good at physical activities such as catching or fetching objects, ideally on water surfaces. The other two-size dogs enjoy general dog sports and agility trials.
20. Catahoula Leopard
| WEIGHT | SIZE | PERSONALITY |
| 18 Kg to 43 Kg | Large | Intelligent and energetic |
The Catahoula Leopard Dog possesses high energy so they enjoy long walks, and tracking activities due to their hunting instinct, challenges, and field trials.
You now know if your little fluffy dog needs more exercise to keep him in excellent health. To learn more about what activities and exercises can help your dog stay active, I invite you to read How to exercise and distract your dog outside?
