Some puppy breeds have more energy than others. While it can be extremely fun to watch a puppy go crazy and have fun, after a couple of hours you may be exhausted and need a break.
Most pet owners know that it’s important to have social interaction with your new puppy, but also that spending time doing exercise with them will also help to work off some of that crazy energy they have. This will tire them out enough so that you can actually get some sleep at night.
While they won’t be puppies forever, you want your new pet to be healthy and happy. But just how much exercise does a golden retriever puppy need on a daily basis?
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Are Golden Retrievers High-Energy Dogs?
We hope that people will do research into the Golden Retriever dog breed first before adoption, but we also understand that there are times when you may have a puppy rescue from a distressful situation. In these cases, it’s “learn as you go”.
So yes, Golden Retrievers, also called goldens not only need exercise to stay physically fit, but also to keep their minds happy and healthy too. In other words, these types of dogs need more exercise than many other types of dog breeds, for example than a yorkie does.
What Happens If My Puppy Doesn’t Get Enough Exercise?
Your puppy will definitely let you know if he or she is not getting enough. They may constantly bug you for attention. They may become destructive and knock things around the room. They may scratch or chew up the furniture. They may put on weight and become heavy for their age. They may bark a lot to let you know they are not happy.
They may look longingly out the window, or scratch at the door. They may start jumping up on counters, or learn mischief such as opening up the fridge door. But seriously, you should not adopt a Golden Retriever puppy if you do not have time to train and exercise them on a daily basis.
Do Puppies Need More Exercise Than an Adult Dog?
No, they need less, which may seem surprising when they have so much energy. Exercise levels vary by age. Your young puppy will need some exercise, while your adult dog will need more. As your dog enters their senior years, they may need a slightly decreased amount based on their health conditions.
Your Golden Puppy’s Needs
A young puppy of up to the age of three months old needs some exercise, but you must be careful. These are the weeks when their bones and joints are still growing. You want to avoid causing any injuries to their sensitive bodies. They can’t take too much. Walking is generally the best activity, and is best to avoid encouraging them to run or jump up until they’re past 3 months old.
You should stick to a five-minute-rule any time you play with your puppy. Multiply this by each month of their age. For example, if your golden puppy is three months old, limit exercise time to 15 minutes. You can also have a second session later in the day, but stick to only twice a day.
Should I Exercise with My Puppy or Leave Them Alone?
Puppies can make their own fun, so you may wonder if you should just toss a toy at them and leave them at it for 15 minutes. The answer is no. It’s important that you engage in exercise with your puppy, and with your adult dog in the future.
Doing activities with them will not only help them to look forward to activity time, but will also help you both to bond with each other. Bonding is the number one focus, as when you’re bonded together you learn to trust and love each other. When something is wrong, your pet will run to you first for help.
If you’re in distress, your pet will run to you to help soothe you. Your pet dog can even warn you if danger is imminent. So yes, you should always spend time with your new puppy, including play time, exercise time, training time, and resting time.
What Kind of Exercises Should We Do?
You don’t want to have your puppy go crazy for 15 minutes. A couple of minutes is fine. The rest of the time can be spent walking or playing tug-of-war with a chew toy. You can also vary their activities.
For example, have a couple of minutes of playing fetch with them running around the yard, then spend five minutes just going out for a walk on a leash. Then do some training where you teach them to sit, stay, roll over, jump up, etc.
What If I Go Away or Need Puppy Daycare?
You may not be spending 24 hours a day at home, because you need to go to work, visit friends and family, and enjoy recreational activities. It helps to ask if you can bring your puppy so that they can be further socialized.
But you may be concerned that your puppy also receives enough exercise if you have to hire in a puppy sitter while you go on vacation, or you need to drop them off at puppy daycare. Experienced professionals understand your Golden Retriever’s exercise needs.
You can also write the requirements down and hand the professionals a note as a reminder. And later, when you’re back at home with your puppy, see how they’re doing. Are they happy and eager to spend time with you? Or are they exhausted? If so, the pet professionals may need to make a few adjustments in your puppy’s exercise routine.
When you take the time to exercise your Golden Retriever puppy, they will become a happy and healthy adult dog. It’s important to look after their health with the right amount of exercise on a twice-daily basis every day of the week. It may seem like a lot of effort, but it will be worth it to have a happy and healthy dog that will live well into their senior years. And your dog will also love and appreciate you for spending all that time with them too!
