It is a common belief that the smaller the pet, the less exercise they need.  However, their shorter leg stride does not necessarily mean that small dogs tire more easily.

Every dog is an individual, even within their breed.  However, looking at the dog’s breed or mix of breeds and the purpose that dog was originally bred for can be an excellent starting point.

For example, if you have a terrier or terrier mix, they were originally bred to hunt small vermin.  They had to be fast and agile to be able to keep up with rats, mice and ferrets.  They also needed to have endurance.  Terriers also have a strong sense of smell and hearing and in the outside world, this can often encourage them to keep going (pushing past their normal activity level).  Terriers often need twice daily walks or runs in addition to mental exercise.

On the other hand, if you have a companion short nosed breed such as a pug, pekingnese or shih tzu, they were not only originally bred purely for keeping people company within a home, their physical features mean that they have low exercise needs and low exercise tolerance.  A 20 minute daily walk or stroll in low temperature conditions (ideally less than 25 degrees) is where they function best.

You will also want to pay attention to the age of your small dog.  Dogs less than 12 months of age have developing growth plates at the end of their leg bones that don’t form into solid bone and mature joints until that 12 month point.  This means that their exercise needs to be more gentle.  A good rule of thumb is 5 minutes for every month of age.  For example, a 4 month old pup shouldn’t go for a lead walk for longer than 20 minutes and have regular breaks (either self interrupted or guardian encouraged) throughout vigorous play such as tug, chase, fetch and wrestling with other dogs.

Of course, the individual dog also comes into play.  Some individuals within their breed need more or less exercise.  How can we tell?  Watch them on their walks and outings and note if there is a time that their enthusiasm for the walk dulls.  We are watching for a change in behaviour.  Going from pulling a lot to not so much is within normal if you haven’t trained a reliable loose leash walk.  However, if you dog is walking at a normal pace and then slows significantly or sits down, it can be a sign that the walk is too long (it can also be a sign of discomfort and may require a vet check).

It is very common for dogs that have had sufficient physical exercise to come home from their outing and race around the home with the energy of a dog that has had zero exercise.  Many mistake this as a need for longer walks or runs, whereas in fact they need help winding down from their walk with mental exercise.   A walk followed by a meal or treats in a food dispensing toy (or a simple food scatter on grass) is a great way to wind down after a walk.