How Do You Know Your Dog Is Getting Enough Exercise?

[Guest Jubilee251]

I know it varies by dog, age, temperament, etc., but how much exercise do you think an average hound should get? How can you tell if you dog hasn't gotten enough exercise?

 

The amount of time we spend walking Molly every day probably totals up to anywhere between 2-3 hours outside. Sometimes that includes hard running at a park or sand volleyball court. She also gets some short training sessions most days. But in the evening, she'll just lie on her bed and stare at me. I know greyhounds do that a lot, but I can't help thinking she is bored and needs more things to do. She doesn't really play with her toys unless she's really excited - for example, when I come home, she'll get excited and grab her stuffed pig for a few minutes. I just hope she's not thinking, "This is so boring. Entertain me, woman!"

[sarabz]

Oh, she's DEFINITELY thinking "Entertain me, Woman!". Didn't you know, that's what our greys think we humans are here to do?

 

Bella doesn't get near that much exercise - it really depends on the day. Most days she probably gets a total of an hour to 90 minutes walk, maybe a little zoomie time in the hallway, and on weekends we'll often take her around to whatever we're doing so she's active most of the day. Right now she's zonked out on her bed.

 

We do make sure she gets Kongs during the day and has something to chew on to keep her entertained. For her, she needs something to do or attention more than physical activity, so when she's board she'll collect our slippers and whatever else she can pick up and gather into her crate. She'll walk around seeing what she can pick up - anything from the tv remote to the dustbuster

[Guest sorenkkg]

As you said, it depends on age, physical condition, and temperment (sp?). We do about 2 20-30 min walks per day, and a nighttime walk of about 10-15 min. Usually there's a play session in the backyard, weather permitting (and injuries permitting). On the weekend, we try to get them up to the greyhound hour playgroup, so sometimes each weekend, usually at least 1x per month.

 

Gotta remember that greys were sprinters-- so they have bursts of energy, but mostly, really, lie around 23hrs per day.

 

I'm working from home, and I can tell you-- mine are not bored. they are barely conscious. But there's no chewing on furniture, digging through the floor, walls, etc. Nothing destructive at all. Aleeya will collect shoes if we're not home, but I think that's misplaced mothering instinct actually

 

Your pup will adjust to your schedule, and your level of activity. Walks sound great, and you'll know if Molly starts panting a lot or maybe just lies down in the shade-- you've done too much. That happened to me once, totally freaked me out, but my boy was fine, just too much sun and walking.

 

So I don't think there's a rule-- my group originally said "like any other dog" so whatever that means

[jetcitywoman]

Animals that are so bored they get frustrated start showing behaviors like chewing on inappropriate things, walking in circles, pacing, etc. Of course that's at the extreme end. They may be occasionally a little bored, but aren't we all at one time or another? But it sounds like you give your hounds ample exercise and stimulation.

[Guest Jubilee251]

Yup, Molly is never destructive - doesn't dig, chew, etc. When she is tired, she will usually slow down and stop to sniff EVERYTHING, and she always does this at the end of our walks, so I figure she's ok on exercise. Like sarabz said, maybe it's just that she needs something to do or attention? I gave her some paper tonight, and she tore that all up and is now properly tired, it seems.

[Guest lasharp1209]

... in the evening, she'll just lie on her bed and stare at me. I know greyhounds do that a lot, but I can't help thinking she is bored and needs more things to do.

 

 

YES this is normal! If she's lying there looking at you, she's being a greyhound. If she's chewing up furniture, she's bored. Heck if I can get mine to lie on his bed and look at me without getting into something, I'm ecstatic.

[NeylasMom]

Animals that are so bored they get frustrated start showing behaviors like chewing on inappropriate things, walking in circles, pacing, etc. Of course that's at the extreme end. They may be occasionally a little bored, but aren't we all at one time or another? But it sounds like you give your hounds ample exercise and stimulation.

 

Are you sure she's not giving you bedroom eyes though? My female has this look down - she stares deeply and intensely into my eyes until I cave and pet her. If I don't cave immediately, she will continue to stare at me and I'm not kidding, I can feel her eyes boring into me. It's pretty common with greyhounds.

[Guest gecko_foot]

You know your dog is getting enough exercise when they look like this after a walk:

 

 

BTW, Tumnus has a bed, but he just didn't want to sleep on it right then.

[Guest FastDogsOwnMe]

If my dogs do nothing at home but sleep, then I know they are getting enough running!

[TheFullHouse]

Mine let me know when they're ready for some exercise, they get really excited in the house and start to play with each other and start running through the house. I have a couple who will find something inappropriate to play with and at that point I put them outside with a runner so they both get some exercise.

[Guest Jubilee251]

Aw, Tumnus is beautiful - I have a weakness for the fawns! Molly isn't sleeping - just staring at me. She does enjoy her daytime naps and sleeps peacefully through the night. Sometimes, I think it's bedroom eyes and she wants cuddling, but if I get on her bed with her, then she'll get up and move somewhere else and continue staring at me. Who knows, maybe she's just trying to decipher me.

 

WHAT DO YOU WANT, PRINCESS?!

[jetcitywoman]

Also, if in doubt, dogs LOVE puzzles! They do have to be supervised, and in some cases work the puzzle with their human. But I have a few for Capri and she LOVES them. Here is what we have:

 

Dizzy Ball - a black and yellow hollow ball with a very small hole and a weight. The weight is only one one side and prevents the ball from rolling evenly (it's also slightly flattened on top and bottom). The hole is very small and angled sort of to one side. The angle of the hole and the weight/flattened sides provide additional challenge to the dog for getting the treats out. Only use dry kibble because you can't open this for cleaning, and don't put in anything that won't easily fall out by shaking the ball. Capri chases hers all around the house until it's empty.

 

We also LOVE the Nina Ottoson dog puzzles. You must play these WITH your dog, teaching him step by step how to solve the puzzle. They also have increasing levels of challenge, so the dogs take years to get bored with them, if ever. Your dog will learn how to slide covers off compartments, pull pegs out of holes, open tiny drawers, etc. We have the Dog Brick and the Dog Casino. Capri gets so into the Dog Casino that she'll pull out all the bones (the pegs in holes that lock the drawers shut) even if there are no treats under them. When she really gets into it, she'll pull them out as I'm trying to put them back in until I fall over giggling.

[RobinM]

"This is so boring. Entertain me, woman!"

 

 

 

That' s it in a nutshell. We walk about a mile before we leave for work, a mile when we get home from work and 1/2 later in the evening. They have all the play time they want in the fenced in backyard BUT if "woman" is not there to entertain, they will do their business and run right back in. Every once in a while, Teddy will lay out on the deck on a cushion that's out there and get some sun. My pack thinks they were brought here to be served... by me.

 

 

 

 

I wonder why.