How Much Exercise Do Golden Retrievers Actually Need?

The best way to determine a dog’s exercise needs is by consulting a vet, but if your pet is perfectly healthy, you calculate the duration by a simple formula.

Golden retrievers are energetic dogs that retain their puppy goofiness in adulthood and are always up for play. Without exercise, a golden retriever can’t be happy and healthy.

Unfortunately, many golden retriever owners underestimate the amount of exercise their dog needs. But even if you’re constantly busy, there are numerous fun exercise types that don’t take much time.

The Dog’s Age

The amount of exercise a golden retriever needs depends on many factors, including age. Puppies need less exercise than adult dogs because they have lower energy levels.

Furthermore, over-exercising leads to joint problem development, leaving a lifelong mark on the dog’s health. For this reason, puppy owners must keep track of their walk and play duration.

For growing puppies, use the “five-minute rule.” A golden retriever puppy needs five minutes of exercise for every month of its life.

So, a two-month-old puppy only needs ten minutes of exercise daily, and a six-month-old puppy needs half an hour of exercise. Puppy bones and joints are fully developed when the growth plates close.

Growth plates in golden retrievers typically close at about one year old, but some dogs may grow for longer or fully develop earlier. Twelve by five is 60, so the puppy’s exercise time should gradually increase until it reaches one hour a day.

One hour is the universal exercise duration for adult golden retrievers, but it may vary depending on other factors.

Some dogs may only need 30 minutes of exercise, whereas others may require over two hours. It’s best to split the daily exercise requirement into two or three sessions.

Senior golden retriever exercise needs are significantly lower than those of a young adult dog.

Most golden retrievers start noticeably aging from approximately eight years. Their energy levels and stamina decrease, and they start developing joint issues.

Regular walks are still important, but how long they should be is individual. Watch your dog’s behavior during walks and consult a vet regarding the best suitable exercise duration and type.

If a senior dog doesn’t want to walk, don’t force exercise. Walk with it as much as it can. If your dog has joint issues, consider swimming because it doesn’t hurt the joints.

The Dog’s Health Condition

The average exercise recommendation relates to healthy dogs without special needs. Golden retrievers with chronic health conditions may need more or less exercise than average.

Many golden retrievers suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia. This condition is characterized by the knee’s joints not fitting the bones properly, causing the dog discomfort or pain during movement.

As the joint and bone rub and grind instead of gliding smoothly, they deteriorate quicker than in dogs without hip dysplasia. Consequently, the more a dog moves, the faster the condition progresses.

Arthritis is another condition that reduces a dog’s recommended exercise duration. The condition usually affects senior dogs but may develop at a younger age.

If your dog has any medical conditions, consult a vet regarding the suitable exercise duration to avoid worsening the situation.

The Dog’s Weight

Everyone knows the secret of staying fit – eat less, exercise more (to an adequate extent, of course). This golden rule also works with dogs. Unfortunately, golden retrievers are prone to obesity and are highly food-motivated.

The exercise requirement for an overweight golden retriever is higher than that of a dog with a healthy weight because activity helps normalize the weight.

Without sufficient exercise, a golden retriever will only continue gaining weight, which can lead to more severe problems in the long term.

The Dog’s Sex

Male and female golden retrievers share the same temperament traits, but some are more prominent in a particular gender. Male goldens tend to be goofier and more energetic than female golden retrievers.

For this reason, male golden retrievers typically like to walk for longer. However, if you have a male and female golden retriever, there’s no need to exercise them at different times.

The Exercise Type

A golden retriever’s exercise duration largely depends on its type because some exercise types require more energy than others. An hour of slow walking around the city and an hour of swimming are two entirely different things.

Walking or running are the most popular golden retriever exercise types. They don’t require a particular environment or equipment and are an excellent way to explore new terrains.

Furthermore, walking or running with your golden is a fun way to stay fit. Golden retrievers have no issue running alongside their owners unless they have elbow or hip dysplasia.

Naturally, the higher the speed of walking or running, the shorter should be the exercise session. The average recommended exercise duration of an hour refers to walking at a moderate pace, so an adult golden retriever may run for 20 to 30 minutes daily.

Hiking is similar to walking but often involves walking on rough, challenging terrains, so a hiking session can also be shorter than an average walk.

If you don’t find walking and running particularly amusing or don’t want to waste your energy, play fetch with your dog. This way, your dog can run back and forth, and you can relax.

The duration of playing fetch should be about the same as that of running. This game is also a great mental stimulation for your dog and an opportunity to learn new tricks.

Although playing tug doesn’t require running, it can also be considered an exercise for your dog because it requires physical strength. It’s also a great way to learn the “take it” and “drop it” commands.

Hunting is a perfect exercise for golden retrievers because these dogs were bred to retrieve waterfowl. If hunting is not on your hobby list, try agility training with your dog.

Agility training involves running, crawling, jumping, and other actions that will help keep your dog fit and facilitate command memorization.

Because agility training requires quite a bit of athleticism, the training session doesn’t have to be long.

Swimming is one of the best exercise types for golden retrievers. It develops muscular strength and requires athleticism, so an average golden retriever can only swim for about 40 minutes until it gets exhausted.

Although a laser pointer is commonly considered cat entertainment, many golden retrievers find it equally amusing. It’s a fun alternative to regular running that doesn’t require effort from the owner.

Golden Retriever Exercise Schedule

A golden retriever doesn’t have to fulfill its daily exercise requirement in one go. The daily exercise can be split into two, three, four, or even five short sessions depending on the owner’s schedule and a particular dog’s needs.

For example, a golden retriever may go for a 15-minute walk at 6 a.m., then for another 15-minute walk at 11 a.m., followed by a 15-minute play session and two additional 15-minute exercise sessions in the evening.

Alternatively, a golden retriever may have a short 15-minute walk in the morning, another 15-minute walk in the afternoon, and a longer, 40-minute running and training session in the evening.

If you don’t have enough time for long walks with your pet, choose more energy-consuming exercise types. For instance, go for a short walk in the morning and a swimming session in the evening.

Consult with a vet regarding the best suitable for your golden retriever exercise duration and find out which exercise types your dog prefers. Then, create a custom schedule that will suit both you and your pet.

Signs That a Golden Retriever Doesn’t Get Enough Exercise

If your golden retriever is going crazy, running around the house, bumping into furniture, chewing on things, chasing your cat, jumping and barking at you, and pacing, it likely isn’t getting enough exercise.

Less apparent signs that a dog lacks exercise include rough play and pulling on the leash. Some owners perceive it as the norm, thinking it’s just a usual habit of their pet, but the issue can often be resolved by more exercise.

Golden retrievers have high energy levels, and if they don’t waste their energy walking or running outdoors, they will find a way to waste it at home.

Making an under-stimulated golden retriever behave well is a challenging task. A tired dog is an obedient dog, so if you want your golden retriever to be a good boy, ensure it gets enough exercise.

A golden retriever not getting enough exercise can develop health conditions and behavioral problems in the long term. Apart from obesity, an under-exercised golden retriever may suffer from depression, joint issues, and anxiety.

On the same note, you should also ensure that you aren’t overtiring your dog. Puppies that get too much exercise may get cranky, bite more than usual, and engage in destructive behavior.

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