Is 2 walks a day enough for a Labrador
How Much Exercise Does a Labrador Need?
This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Just like humans, to stay fit and healthy, Labradors must have exercise.
Whether young or old, big or small, yellow, black, chocolate, from field lines or show lines, your Labrador needs exercise.
It will keep their heart and muscles strong, their mind stimulated and their weight under control.
But how much exercise does a Labrador need?
Labradors Are a High Energy Breed
The Labrador Retriever is a high energy working breed, initially bred for very physically demanding work retrieving game for hunters.
This would involve all day hiking, running and swimming in sometimes difficult conditions.
So Labrador Retrievers were bred to have lots of energy and be very active. And though their main role in life today is as a family pet, they still have those same genetics that made them suited to their original role.
This means they have a body built for and one that craves a lot of physical activity and if you dont provide a way for them to release their pent-up energy, they may very well find a release for it themselves.
QUICK TIP: One of our favorite inexpensive toys for exercising our Labs is the Chuckit! Dog Ball Thrower. Yes, you can throw a tennis ball extra far with the Chuckit, but two reasons why I love it: 1. You dont have to touch a slobbery ball and 2. You dont have to bend over to pick up the ball (great for my old body).
What Happens If You Dont Exercise Your Labrador Enough?
If you fail to exercise your Labrador sufficiently, theyll become bored and absolutely bursting at the seams with pent-up energy.
In this state they will often resort to destructive behaviors such as digging and chewingand will often be very restless, may bark excessively and try to escape your home and garden at every opportunity.
Its now that many people start to use the words disobedient and uncontrollable when describing their Labrador, when all thats needed is to cater for their needs.
Insufficient exercise can also lead to weight problems with Labradors. They tend to put on weight very easily being voracious eaters and if they arent exercised enough they soon pile on the pounds.
Excess weight is a problem because it can lead to all sorts of problems such as damage to their joints (hips and elbows), heart disease, increased blood pressure and increases the risk of diabetes.
So a lack of exercise leads to behavioral problems, hyperactivity and possibly an assortment of health problems. So its very important to exercise them well!
So How Much Exercise Does a Labrador Need?
Theres no absolute concrete answer to this as it depends on your Labradors age, their overall health and even their genetics as Labradors from a working line will usually need more exercise than those from show lines.
However, as a general rule of thumb, a normally healthy adult Labrador Retriever will need 1 hour of exercise every day. The more relaxed Labs just 45 minutes per day, the more energetic 1.5 hours+.
This can be made up of running, swimming, playing fetch, jogging alongside youanything that goes beyond a gentle walk.
But if the first consideration is your Labradors age, how much do puppies and the elderly need?
QUICK TIP: In our early days we would run with our Labrador Retriever mix, Linus. Yep, I used to run marathonsso long agoAnyhoo, we liked using a hands free leash like the Tuff Mutts Hands Free Leash. Nice for long runs with your Lab.
How Much Exercise Does a Labrador Puppy Need?
A Labrador puppy doesnt need any form of structured exercise during its first 3 months as theyre only small, tire quickly and are sufficiently exercised with just their normal play.
During the first 3 months, its more important not to over-exercise your pup.
If you have older dogs or children, the puppy may well try to keep up with them and over-exert themselves, playing to exhaustion and damage their developing joints.
So keep an eye on them and interrupt play if need be, to give them plenty of rest.
From 3 months and older, theres a much spoken rule of thumb called the five minute rule I found on numerous sites on the web during research, and seen in an article by the UK kennel club:
A good rule of thumb is a ratio of five minutes exercise per month of age (up to twice a day) until the puppy is fully grown, i.e. 15 minutes when three months old, 20 minutes when four months old etc. Once they are fully grown, they can go out for much longer.
-The UK Kennel Club
This means structured, deliberate exercise where you take time out to exercise your puppy properly and doesnt include natural free play time.
Its important to begin structured, planned exercise as early as 3 months in order to get your Labrador used to a regular exercise routine with you.
The 5 minute rule should be sufficient to keep your lab puppy fit, burn off excess energy yet not over-exert them and cause possible developmental issues.
Continue the 5 minute rule until your puppy is at least one year of age where you can then begin to exercise them more vigorously.
How Much Exercise Does an Elderly Labrador Need?
This is highly dependent on your labs overall health and can vary wildly from one Labrador to another.
Some labs may need to slow down from the 7th year onwards, while others remain extremely active beyond their 10th year.
As Labradors get older, many develop arthritis, dysplasia and other health issues that can prevent a Labrador from enjoying or needing exercise as much as they used to when young and healthy.
And exercise can aggravate certain health problems so please ask your vet for exercise advice if your Labs been diagnosed with any health issues.
For an elderly Labrador thats slowing down with age and possibly suffering with stiffening joints, gentle walking and especially swimming that takes the weight off their limbs are the best forms of exercise.
Be mindful of asking less of your Lab in old age. They will likely still try to chase a tennis ball all day and hike mountains just to please you, even if it may be doing them more harm than good. Try not to put them in this position.
As your Labrador ages, you need to be more observant, looking for changes in their movement, excessive panting, slowing down, feeling tired. And during grooming sessions and massage, check for any painful spots indicative of sore joints or other problems.
QUICK TIP: As your Labrador gets older you might consider glucosamine for dogs to help relieve some of the stiffness in his joints. We noticed Linus was stiff getting up in the morning and decided to try adding glucosamine to his diet. We saw a noticeable difference a few days later and an added spring in his step.
Signs Your Labrador Isnt Getting Enough Exercise
Its relatively easy to tell when your Labrador isnt getting enough exercise and knowing the signs will allow you to adjust accordingly.
If your Labrador tears around your home like a tornado. If they chew, bark and dig what seems like all the time.
If they dont listen to commands theyve been reliably trained to follow, then its fairly safe to say they arent getting enough exercise.
Also, if you Labradors putting on excess weight and you arent over-feeding them, including table scraps and treats, then its also likely they arent getting enough exercise.
However, if your Lab can relax around the home, isnt destructive and follows your commands, looks athletic and not overweight, then its fairly safe to say theyre being exercised enough.
If your Lab displays any of the restless and destructive symptoms described above, try increasing their levels of exercise for a few days and see if their behavior problems improve. You may be pleasantly surprised :-)
QUICK RECOMMENDATION: Earlier we recommended the Chuckit! which we love. However, if you have money burning a hole in your pocket you might want to check out PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher. We dont personally own one, but we did see an adorable Golden Retriever demoing the launcher at a conference we attended recently.
Speaking of automatic ball launchers this is one of our favorites:
Its great when your dog takes the initiative to exercise himself. :)
Conclusion
Labradors are energetic and need lots of regular exercise. If they dont get it, then you, your ears, your shoes, furniture and flower beds will soon know about it!
Dont over-exercise a puppy, and be observant of and mindful to an elderly Labradors ailments and needs. Over-exercising very young and elderly Labradors can do more harm than good.
For your adolescent and adult Labrador, exercise them well. Theyll be able to out-perform you so its unlikely youll exercise them too much, they can go all day.
As a general rule of thumb, aim for 1hr per day and scale this up or down depending on your Labradors individual needs.
This could mean 45 mins for the more sedate and elderly, or 1.5 hours+ for the more energetic and highly strung.
Particularly if theyre restless and destructive, try upping the amount of exercise you provide and their behavior should improve.
And at the end of the day, think of it like this: You have the best exercise machine to rival that of any gym to keep you fit and healthy yourself.
Walking, hiking, throwing, swimmingA lab will relentlessly work you and make you go nuts if you dont get outside for your 1hr+ of exercise together per day.
And hey, what fun!!! What better motivation and need is there to keep yourself in shape? :-)
Anything to add?
As always, wed love to hear your feedback, comments and any thoughts you may have on the subject of how much exercise does a Labrador need?.
Do you mostly agree with the above? What are your experiences with Labradors youve owned yourself? Please let us know in the comments section below.
Save To Pinterest:
Top Picks For Our Dogs
- BEST PUPPY TOYWe Like: Calmeroos Puppy Toy w/ Heartbeat and Heat Packs - Perfect for new puppies. Helps ease anxiety in their new home.
- BEST DOG CHEWWe Like: Bones & Chews Bully Sticks - All of our puppies love to bite, nip, and chew. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors.
- BEST DOG TREATS We Like: Crazy Dog Train Me Treats - One of our favorite treats for training our service dog puppies.
- BEST FRESH DOG FOOD We Like: The Farmer's Dog - A couple months ago we started feeding Raven fresh dog food and she loves it! Get 50% off your first order of The Farmer's Dog.
For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining.com blog.
How Much Exercise Does a Labrador Need? was last modified: July 28th, 2020 by LTHQ
Labrador Walking Guide: How Many Times You Should Walk a Labrador?
Labradors are exceptionally energetic, and if their exercise needs arent managed correctly, you might end up with shredded curtains and a howling companion. You know you need to take your Labrador for a walk, but how many times per day should you do this?
You should walk a Labrador at least 1-3 times per day. Labs need at least 45-60 minutes of exercise and play daily, but they can often go longer if you allow it. You can combine walking, swimming, and games to increase how much your Labrador exercises throughout the day.
Labs can be great companions and often motivate you to exercise more. This article will discuss how often you should walk your Labrador, walking guidelines for each stage of your companions life, and if you can walk your Labrador too much. So stick around and get comfortable.
How Often Should You Walk Your Labrador?
Labradors were bred to retrieve things while hunting and working alongside their human companions. As such, theyre muscular and built to sustain hours of physical activity, meaning they should get as much exercise as you can give them.
Your Labrador should walk at least twice daily or more, spread out throughout the day, as this gives your pup a chance to rest and re-energize between walks. But you can also take them to a dog park and let them off the leash so they can run and play.
However, if its cold outside or your schedule is extremely busy, they can benefit from at least going outside for a few minutes 2-4 times a day before coming back inside.
How Long Should Each Walk Take?
Each walk should take at least 20-30 minutes; if it is laid back and slow-paced, it should take up to 90 minutes. However, Labs need a mixture of gentle walking and hard running to build their bones and muscles. They also need to build up their heart muscles, as we do.
You can take your dog to the park with a toy or a rope to meet this requirement and engage in some free play time.
Walking Alternatives for Your Labrador
Since Labradors are meant for hard work, you can set up a training course to work them out and train them to obey commands. The course should have your Lab running to fetch things that you throw. You can also have your dog retrieve something you hide after letting him smell it, or take him to a dog park and let him run around and socialize with other dogs.
In warmer months, take your Labrador swimming as a walking alternative. Elderly Labs, specifically, can benefit from this type of exercise, as its more gentle on their aging joints. And, if you enjoy swimming too, this is a perfect way to work in an alternative exercise.
If your backyard is big enough, throw a Frisbee around and have your Lab chase it for 10-15 minutes to expend your dogs pent-up energy.
Another activity you can do is play tug-of-war with your dog. Using a thick rope with a knot in the middle, engage your pup in pulling on it the opposite way you pull. Once in a while, however, its good to let him have it so that he feels a sense of accomplishment.
Caution: Dont let your dog bite you or nip you. He might be in play mode, but if he gets used to biting you, it could get serious quite quickly. So if he nips you or bites you, end the play time and go home.
Remember that if walking is all your Lab wants to do, then walking is perfectly acceptable. Yet, since your Lab wont be exercising very hard, youll want to extend your walk to at least 30 minutes and perhaps go for an hour.
Walking Guidelines for Each Stage of Life
Like humans, Labradors have different exercise requirements as they go through life stages. For example, puppies need more off-leash play time than adults, while senior Labs need to go at their pace and take frequent breaks.
However, adult Labs in their prime can go for long periods without rest. That doesnt mean they should, but they can. Before adopting a Labrador, familiarize yourself with how and when to walk him.
Puppy Walking Guide
Puppies arent fully developed and need more play than adult Labs. During this phase, you can train your puppy to walk on a leash, but hell be much happier if he can run around in a park, chasing a frisbee or a stick.
Also, since their legs and muscles are still developing, they shouldnt be required to walk for a set amount of time. Instead, they can play and run as much as they want. However, to keep them from tiring too quickly or getting injured, you can use the 5-minute rule.
This rule states that puppies should exercise 5 minutes for every month of age. So if your puppy is 5 months old, 25 minutes of daily exercise is sufficient. Let your puppy run in the park or backyard while playing games during this time.
However, if youre trying to leash-train your Labrador puppy, walking your puppy daily for a few minutes should be sufficient. Still, they must be off the leash during most of their exercise time.
Adult Walking Guide
Adult Labs are in the prime of their life and have the most energy. For this reason, they should get at least 45-60 minutes of exercise daily, if not more. You can take them running, walking, swimming, and playing several active games in the park or backyard.
Senior Walking Guide
As dogs age, their joints and muscles become sore, making walking difficult. You dont want to walk your senior Labrador very much, which could cause injury. If your Lab wants to walk, you can take him out for a gentle walk.
Yet youll want to monitor him to ensure hes not lagging behind or struggling to walk, which could indicate that hes in too much pain.
Old Labs, however, need more rest and less exercise. But if youre concerned that your Lab isnt getting enough exercise, swimming is a great way to help him get moving without too much shock to his joints. While you might think swimming is relaxing, it can be strenuous and intense, depending on how hard he swims.
Youll want to walk your senior Lab for at least 15 minutes daily. However, this isnt a hard and fast rule; youll want to go at your dogs pace. And remember, if you have any concerns about his physical health, make an appointment to see your vet for further diagnosis.
Can I Walk My Lab Too Much?
You can walk your lab too much, but it is unlikely, as a Labrador has more energy than you do. They would need to walk or run all day to release their pent-up energy. If youre too exhausted to walk or run with them, take them to a park and throw a ball or other toy around.
The exception to this is that you might need to limit your puppys walking, as they can walk too much. If your puppy is under 3 months old, you shouldnt walk him at all and, instead, let him play in short bursts. This is because their muscles and joints still need plenty of rest to develop properly.
Elderly Labs can also walk too much, as with humans, they can develop arthritis and other joint conditions that make it difficult and painful to walk. Making them walk more often than they can walk will cause injury.
Is It Okay Not To Walk a Labrador Daily?
It is okay not to walk a Labrador daily, but they get restless and can use their excess energy to destroy your home and belongings. While some experts claim that a Labs behavior can be modified with training, others say that a Lab needs exercise to stay calm.
Life can creep up on you, and before you know it, you have no time to walk your Labrador. It might start with one or two days every other week, but then it cascades to walking your Lab twice a week. While youre letting your dog out to relieve himself daily, he needs a lot more than that to stay fit and healthy and release pent-up energy.
But will he destroy your curtains and furniture if he doesnt get out for daily walks? Behavioral training is a large part of having a dog of any breed, regardless of whether they get enough exercise.
However, bored dogs with too much pent-up energy can get into more mischief than if they have an outlet for their energy.
If you dont have time for an hour-long walk with your Labrador once daily, try splitting your walks into 3 or 4 15-minute intervals throughout the day. This schedule will, at least, get your dog outside for some fresh air and exercise.
Regardless, walking your dog seems like a human invention, as most dogs prefer to run, play, and hunt. Walking is optional as long as your Lab gets enough exercise.
Winter Walking With Your Labrador
Most places in the world see at least some type of winter weather with snow, ice, and cold temperatures. And many locations can be downright hostile for humans and dogs alike.
What should you do during the winter months with your Labrador?
During most of the winter months, you can take your Lab out for walks if you dont stay out too long or go out when its frigid outside. However, he needs more exercise, so you might want to check out a canine fitness center, a growing trend in the dog world.
Essentially, its a gymnasium with doggie fitness equipment and training classes designed to work out your dog, much like a human fitness center. Plus, being indoors, you and your dog remain comfortable while exercising during the cold winter months.
Although, if your Lab likes the snow and cold, and you have a big backyard, you can let your dog outside to run in the snow for a while before coming back inside to warm up.
When You Should Take Walks With Your Lab
So you know how long walks should be with your Labrador, but is there any time during the day that is better for walks? No time is better than another time during the day to walk your dog, but youll want to keep your walks around the same time each day.
Labs and other dogs love routine and expect to go out on schedule. If youre walking your Lab at least twice daily, you could take him out in the morning and evening, which is the typical walking schedule.
Still, if your schedule is slightly different, you can adjust your Labs walking schedule, and as long as its consistent, it should be fine.
What About Naughty Behavior?
Labradors are one of the many breeds with a lot of energy and should get plenty of activity daily. But will your Lab destroy your furniture and other personal belongings if he doesnt get outside to exercise for one or two days?
Some people say yes, while others say no. But, they all agree that Labs that get a good amount of exercise tend to be better behaved and have fewer naughty episodes.
Conclusion
Labradors need at least an hour of exercise daily to be healthy and release their pent-up energy. This exercise can come from walks, running in the park, playing with other dogs, or playing with you.
Puppies can get most of their exercise from running and playing in your backyard or even in your house if its big enough. Senior Labs should tell you when they want to exercise, as you dont know if theyre in pain.
And remember, if you live where its cold most of the time, you can look for a doggie fitness center.
