Modified 5-Minute Rule One of the most popular answers to how long a puppy should exercise per day is 5 minutes for every month of age, twice a day. This means an two-month-old puppy should get 10 minutes of exercise twice a day. This is a good starting point, but not all dogs are the same.
Puppyhood is an important stage of development for dogs, so you need to keep puppy entertained — whether you are indoors or out. Keeping your furry buddy working is also important for training and keeping damage to a minimum. A bored puppy is absolutely a puppy who's getting into trouble!
Take your puppy outside frequently—at least every two hours—and immediately after they wake up, during and after playing, and after eating or drinking.
But do schedule play and exercise time into your puppy's day: a walk around the neighborhood, playing with toys, and time spent bonding go a long way toward expending energy. Several shorter sessions are better for a puppy than one long one.
How Much Time Do You Need for a Puppy? Plan to spend at least 2-3 hours on average engaging with your puppy in training and play throughout the day. When getting a puppy, you should consider the impact they will have on you over the next 10-15 years, and whether they will fit into your lifestyle.
According to The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, a good good starting point is to aim for 5 minutes of exercise, twice a day, for each month of age. For example, 3-month-old puppies should have 15 minutes of exercise twice a day, then 20 minutes twice a day at 4 months, etc).
You can gradually allow your puppy more freedom as he grows up and matures mentally and physically, and as you continue to teach him the rules of living with your family. Just keep in mind that the stage of development after puppyhood is adolescence and you're not going to want to allow too much freedom then, either.
According to the American Kennel Club, puppies younger than 10 weeks cannot be left alone for more than an hour. From 3-6 months, they should not be left longer than their age in months (for example, 3-month-old puppies cannot be alone for longer than 3 hours).
How will I know if I'm over-exercising my puppy? Your puppy is unlikely to show any obvious signs of being over-exercised until damage has been done to their joints, which is why it's important to regulate them. Watch them on walks and get them to rest when they show any signs of being tired.
But in all honesty, there's no 'right time' for a puppy to go to sleep, as long as it's the same every night. While this may be the case, do note that your puppy will need, on average, around 8-10 hours of sleep per night.
The instant you feel your puppy's teeth touch you, give a high-pitched yelp. Then immediately walk away from him. Ignore him for 30 to 60 seconds. If your puppy follows you or continues to bite and nip at you, leave the room for 30 to 60 seconds.
Month 3. The third month of your puppy's life is the most important stage for bonding, brain development, and training. Many pet parents won't even meet their new puppies until they reach eight weeks old, but don't worry that you missed out: month three is when the fun stuff really starts.
The research found that a lack of play can cause up to 22 different behavioral issues. These undesirable behaviors include anxiety, aggression, pulling on the lead, whining, and not coming when called. Humans and dogs are two of the few species of mammals that continue to play well into adulthood.
What are signs of overstimulation? Biting or being snappy is one of the signs - others can include barking, chasing their tail or spinning and being hypervigilant.
Your Dog's Exercise Tolerance
Most dogs can tolerate a daily 20–30-minute walk if they have a relatively good body condition. Dogs in great physical health can tolerate walks for up to two hours or go hiking for hours at a time.
There is nothing wrong with cuddling and playing with your new puppy, but try to limit picking them up. Continually holding your dog can make them begin to feel as though they are human and can encourage behavior that causes dominance struggles within your home.
Putting your puppy in their playpen is a great idea if you work from home, as it gives them a safe area to relax or play while you get some work done. This is especially important for preventing separation anxiety if you work primarily from home.
To keep your puppy healthy and happy while you're away, follow this general rule: Puppies younger than 6 months: Leave them alone for 2 hours max at a time. Puppies older than 6 months: Leave them alone for 4 hours max at a time.
You can usually stop closing your dog into your crate when they are around two years of age. Before then, they are usually more likely to get into trouble. It isn't until they mature fully that they are able to behave properly when not supervised. This is especially true for larger dogs, who tend to mature later.
Be sure to not let them run around the entire house for the first few weeks to avoid any unwanted behaviors. Baby gates are a great way to block off a smaller area of your home for your puppy to explore. If you have other pets, have their first interactions be in a controlled environment.
Having a huge assortment of toys can actually have an adverse effect on your dog. He can easily become overwhelmed and overstimulated, resulting in a lack of excitement around playtime.
Staying in a crate helps reduce the risk of accidents and also keeps your puppy safe and secure when no one is around. Keeping your puppy in a crate is a temporary solution. Puppies that are a few months old or more might not handle being in a crate for several hours at a time.
My very first piece of advice is also the simplest: take your puppy out frequently. By frequently, I mean every 20-30 minutes if she is awake and moving around. No exceptions. Set a timer if you need to.