Your dog sprints around the dining table, and you can't help but think, "oh, he needs to burn off some energy." This is a very common, but incorrect statement. Tired dogs are NOT trained dogs. Bad habits need to be redirected, and dogs need to be guided in the right direction from 8 weeks of age. Read here for how much we recommend you should exercise your puppy.
Dogs & exercise
Tired dogs are NOT trained dogs
"We all know the feeling - your dog is full of energy and running around the dining table repeatedly. Your dog probably does this every day, and you might think to yourself, "oh, he needs to burn off some energy." This routine becomes a habit for the dog, and unfortunately, you end up rewarding this behavior without realizing it - and suddenly, your dog hits puberty. Now, hormonal disturbances contribute to your dog becoming even wilder than ever before.
In fact, your dog experiences stress if these habits continue and are not redirected to something more useful. You cannot run one dog tired; it will just want more and more. You will most likely end up demanding something from the dog that has not been established or taught. Communication fails and signals are misunderstood because you do not speak the same language, and irritation arises when the dog exhibits inappropriate behavior, pulls, barks, chases anything that moves, digs up your plants, etc.
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Puppies and Exercise - Start Training from 8 Weeks
Many people get a puppy and end up neglecting puppy training too quickly. This causes the cute, cuddly puppy to end up becoming a little devil with fur. A puppy should be guided from 8 weeks of age, so that it gets the right conditions to become a good dog.
One can easily get confused about how much exercise a puppy/dog should have. In our opinion, you should not exhaust the puppy/dog to achieve calmness afterwards. Calm training requires mental brain exercises - and if you train calmness and patience from the start, the puppy will eventually be more relaxed in various situations. You will slowly also strengthen impulse control, which all puppies/dogs need.
If you establish a routine where the puppy/dog must run around before it can make contact with you - that's what you'll get in the long run. The older the dog gets, the more it will require to burn off energy, which results in a hyperactive puppy/dog, especially during the developmental phases. A negative spiral, which can be very difficult to correct. The puppy never grows out of being a dog, and the puppy will always offer what is genetically in it. Dogs are and remain opportunists. In other words - the dog does what pays off.
Too much energy/exercise will also damage tendons, ligaments, joints and muscles in the long run, especially during growth. If you want to cycle, run or jump with your dog, wait until the dog is physically grown. Small breeds around 12 months and large breeds around 16 to 18 months.
Exercise needs:
8-12 weeks 👉 approx. 3 × 5-10 min.
2-6 months 👉 approx. 3 × 10-15 min.
6-9 months 👉 approx. 3 x 15-20 min.
9-12 months 👉 approx. 3 x 20-30 min.
Remember, tired dogs are not trained dogs.