What happens if you don t exercise your Golden Retriever

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

How Much Exercise Golden Retrievers Actually Need (Puppies & Adults)

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Want to know how much exercise your golden retriever needs?

This is an incredibly important question because getting your golden retriever enough exercise could be the difference between having a wonderful companion or an unmanageable house-destroyer.

In this article, youll learn:

How much exercise adult golden retrievers need
How much exercise golden retriever puppies need
What happens if your golden retriever doesnt get enough exercise (yikes!)
And much more

Keep reading to learn how much exercise you should give your golden.

How Much Exercise Does Your Adult Golden Retriever Need?

Since they were bred to hunt in the fields and marshes for hours at a time, golden retrievers are high energy dogs that need about an hour of hard exercise each day.

If they dont get enough exercise, they may become destructive and hard to manage.

Younger adults might need more than an hour, and older adults might need less than an hour.

Of course, it also depends on the individual dog and the type of exercise.

Some goldens naturally have more energy than others, so they would need more exercise than others.

And an hour of fetch is not equal to an hour of leisurely walking through the neighborhood.

Sample Golden Retriever Exercise Schedule

Our golden retriever, Oliver, is definitely one of those goldens that naturally has a ton of energy.

In fact, as Im writing this, we just got in from playing fetch in the backyard and after laying down for five minutes, hes now sitting next to me, looking up at me, hoping to play again.

So how much exericse does Oliver get?

Heres an example of his day:

6 am: 15 minute walk

11 am: 15 minute walk

11:15 am: 15 minute training/play session

5 pm: 20 minute play session

5:30 pm: 20 minute walk/training session

8 pm: 15 minute walk

8:15 pm: 10-20 minute play session (usually fetch or tug in the house)

At a year and a half old, Oliver is in his teenage phase, so hes got tons of energy.

This averages out to about two hours of physical activity per day, but if he doesnt get enough, hes sure to let us know.

Your goldens exercise needs might be different than Olivers, so dont take this schedule as a hard rule that every golden needs to follow.

And if youre feeling overwhelmed with the amount of exercise your golden needs, dont worry.

They slow down when theyre about two to four years old and need much less exercise than in their wild puppy years.

How Much Exercise Do Golden Retriever Puppies Need?

Golden retriever puppies need about 5 minutes of exercise per day per their age in months, twice a day.

So a two-month-old golden would need about 10 minutes of exercise twice a day.

But this is a very general rule.

Is your puppy going crazy, nipping everyone, and having zoomies around the apartment?

Then they probably need more exercise!

If youre trying to exercise with them at the park and theyre laying down in the middle of the grass, then maybe you need to scale it back.

How Much Exercise Is Too Much For Your Golden Retriever Puppy?

Have you ever been around a toddler thats overdue for their nap?

Watch out!

When kids (and adults, for that matter) get overtired, they get cranky, and its the same thing with puppies.

If a puppy gets overtired, you may notice that they may be more destructive, or bite more than normal.

So young puppies require shorter, more frequent play sessions, with lots of naps in between.

As puppies get older, they can play for longer durations, and require less nap time during the day.

With golden retrievers, since theyre larger dogs, you also want to be careful of their growing joints, especially their hips and elbows.

A two-mile hike, for example, would be inappropriate for a puppy just a few months old with developing bones, as well as jumping off high objects like beds and couches.

Be sure to talk to your vet about appropriate types and duration of exercise for them.

What Happens If Your Golden Retriever Doesnt Get Enough Exercise

Whenever Oliver doesnt get enough exercise, he lets us know by standing by his toy bin and staring at us, or sitting in front of us panting when were trying to relax.

Then, as we get up to go somewhere, he usually thinks were getting up to go play fetch with him, so hell run in circles or leap up in the air.

So if your golden isnt getting enough exercise, they will let you know!

Here are some other signs that your golden has extra energy:

Biting more than normal (especially puppies)
Running around the house or having zoomies
Destructively chewing things like shoes or furniture
Barking at you
Pacing
Jumping

You probably noticed that all of the things above are unwanted behaviors.

Cuddle with mom or, take a nap and look cute arent on this list, which supports the old saying that a tired dog is a good dog.

So if you want your golden to stop doing some of the bad behaviors above, then exercise them!

In addition to unwanted behaviors, golden retrievers are very prone to obesity, which is another potential problem if you dont exercise them enough.

This can lead to heart problems, joint problems, and other potential health problems.

So if you dont want your golden to become overweight and suffer through potential health problems, exercise them!

Which leads us into the next section

13 Ways To Exercise Your Golden Retriever

Now that you have a good idea of how much exercise your golden retriever needs, and what happens if they dont get enough exercise, here are 13 ways to exercise your golden.

But before we dive into this list, know that exercising your golden isnt just about physically getting them tired.

Since theyre such smart dogs, mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise.

These following suggestions for exercising your pup will cover both mental and physical exercises.

1. Play fetch with your golden

Dont forget that golden retrievers are retrievers, and most of them love to chase around a tennis ball or a frisbee.

2. Play tug with your golden

Another good game to play with your pup is tug.

This is also a great opportunity to work in some training, as you can teach your golden to drop it, take it, and even have them do sits or downs to resume the game.

3. Play chase

This is a great game to play, especially with puppies, since most puppies love nothing more than to chase or be chased.

I would definitely advise you being the one whos being chased more, as it will get your dog used to running towards you, which will help when you teach them to come to you.

4. Get your dog hooked on chew toys

Teaching your dog to love to chew on chew toys is one of the best things you can do for your puppy.

Chewing releases feel-good endorphins and channels their chewing energy into an appropriate toy, instead of something in appropriate, like your household items.

It can also help them relax, and put overtired puppies to sleep.

See Olivers favorite chew toys here.

5. Play with a flirt pole

Using a flirt pole is great for young puppies because it allows them to chase and pounce a toy while you stay a safe distance away from their razor-sharp teeth.

6. Give your golden puzzle toys

Puzzle toys are some of my favorite ways to get out Olivers endless energy.

I love to take some of Olivers food, soak it in water for ten minutes, put it in a Kong, put some peanut butter at the opening, and then freeze it.

Oliver loves it, plus it takes a ton of mental energy to figure out how to get all of his kibble out of it.

Other puzzle toys include the Kong Wobbler, snuffle mats, and food balls.

Since Oliver has so much energy, we dont feed him from a bowl, but instead put his food in a puzzle toy and make him earn it.

This is a win-win since he loves the puzzle toys and it takes more energy to work for his food than to just gobble it up from a food bowl.

7. Take your golden for walks

Of course, walks arent exactly intense, but letting your golden sniff their heart out on a walk will definitely help use up some of their physical and mental energy.

8. Train your golden

When you train your golden retriever, youre mentally challenging them.

Theyre trying to figure out what youre asking them to do, trying to please you, and trying to earn a treat, so their brains are working extra hard.

9. Play hide and seek

This is a great game that combines training and a little bit of exercise, but it does require that your golden knows how to stay.

To play hide and seek Ill ask Oliver to sit and stay, then Ill go to another room and call his name.

He loves finding me, and its a great game to practice recall.

10. Take your golden retriever swimming

Swimming will definitely wear your golden out, and its great on their joints because theres no impact.

Just be sure to fully dry them off because goldens are susceptible to hot spots.

11. Take your golden to doggy daycare

After a day of daycare, Oliver is usually wiped out for the night, as well as half of the next day.

He loves it there and one of the workers told me he even has a girlfriend named Grace, whos an English Cream golden retriever.

12. Set up a doggy playdate

If you have any friends that have nice dogs, or if you meet anyone in a local Facebook group, try to set up a doggy playdate.

Your golden will love it!

This is especially good for young puppies, since they need to be socialized with other dogs and you can make sure the other dog is up to date on their vaccines.

13. Take your golden to the dog park

Taking your pup to the dog park is another way to get your dog lots of exercise, but just make sure its a nice dog park.

Weve had some bad experiences at dog parks, and Ive heard some horror stories, so we actually dont go to dog parks unless its for a golden retriever meetup, or the park is empty and we want to run around with Oliver ourselves.

Conclusion

Since golden retrievers were bred to hunt out in the fields and marshes all day, they need a lot of exercise.

The exact amount of exercise will depend on how old your golden is, how much energy they naturally have, and what type of exercise theyre doing, but shoot for about an hour per day.

How much exercise does your golden need per day?

Have any questions about exercising your golden retriever?

Let me know in the comments below.

And if you know someone whos about to get a golden retriever, please share this with them!

P.S. If you liked this article, youll love our guide to training your golden retriever puppy.

Related articles:

14 Best Ways To Exercise Your Golden Retriever

Updated: June 1st, 2022

This article contains affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here.

Making sure your golden retriever gets plenty of exercise is about more than just keeping your pooch healthy. While exercise is necessary to ensure your dog doesnt get too heavy or develop other health problems from inactivity, it also gives you a unique opportunity to bond.

Keep in mind that healthy adult golden retrievers should get about an hour of exercise a day, with some needing more and others maybe less. You will notice that if you dont provide enough exercise, they may turn to destructive behaviors.

If you are looking for fun ways to exercise your golden retriever, consider these 14 options that will help keep your pooch happy and healthy. The list starts with outdoor activities before transitioning into indoor options that you can do on rainy or cold days.

Walking Or Running

The most obvious way to exercise with your golden retriever is to simply take them for a daily walk.

Your pooch will gladly walk alongside you for an hour or more a day since this breed is very athletic.

If you enjoy jogging or running, take your dog with you next time. Because of their build, goldens have no issue keeping up with human runners, even those who go running regularly.

As a bonus, walking or running with your retriever will help you stay active as well.

Fetch

Another obvious but fun way to give your golden retriever exercise is to play fetch.

Go to your backyard or the local park and throw their favorite toy. Wait for them to bring it back and throw the toy again. Remember to give your dog breaks and think about their personality.

If, for example, your golden tends to get easily distracted, try playing fetch in an enclosed area to keep them concentrated on you.

Also, make sure to choose an appropriate object for the game. Avoid sharp or heavy objects that can hurt your retriever; instead, stick to balls, squeak toys, small sticks, ropes, or other vet-approved toys.

Best of all, you can also play fetch on a smaller scale inside if the weather is bad or you feel too sick to go outside.

Hiking

If you are tired of simply walking or jogging around the neighborhood, then plan a more exciting trip and take your golden retriever hiking with you. Always be sure to check whether the trail or park you plan on hiking in is dog friendly and whether your canine needs to be on a leash while there.

Remember that hiking requires a great deal of athleticism and can be very tiring. If your golden retriever is sick, young, or old, ask your vet whether they are up to the task.

Be sure to bring plenty of water and a bowl with you and let your golden pause to drink at regular intervals.

During the hike, try to aim for soft terrain and stay clear of dense underbrush and sharp rocks since these can damage paws.

When you get home, give your retriever a thorough bath or brush out and check for fleas and ticks.

Hunting

If you take a look at the history of the golden retriever, youll see they were bred to be hunting dogs. Although they are now frequently family pets with humans who have no intention of hunting, this is still part of their genes.

You can take advantage of this, get outside, try something new, and let your retriever do what they were bred to do. They will truly enjoy field retrieving and hunting with you and this will ensure they stay in great physical shape with strong muscles.

Hunting with your golden will also promote bonding.

Its not the easiest of things to get into, your dog will have to be trained to a fairly high standard first, but if you can find a local hunt willing to allow you and your dog to take part, its a great way to be out in nature and for your dog to do what they were born for.

Agility Training

Photo Credit: Depositphotos.com / cynoclub

Golden retrievers tend to enjoy doing dog agility training and is a good way to keep your pooch occupied in every way possible, both their body and mind. It also helps you build a bond with your golden as you work together towards a common goal.

Depending on where you live, it should be easy to find an agility group. If there isnt one in your area, you can do a bit of research and set up your own mini-agility course in your backyard or take a portable one with you to the local park for more space.

You can even adjust this activity for inside play on rainy days. Set up items like tables and hula hoops and get your retriever to go around, under, or over them. You can even work on balancing on top of smaller items.

Swimming

Swimming is another great way to exercise your golden retriever and it will let you both stay cool on a hot summer day.

Retrievers tend to be natural swimmers and because of their special coat, do not feel the cold and dry off quickly so can partake in cold winters as well.

If you arent lucky enough to have a private pool, bring your dog with you for a day at the lake after making sure its dog-friendly. You can even just invest in a small kiddy pool, fill it up, and watch your dog go crazy.

If you do plan on swimming with your golden, remove any collar or other apparel they may be wearing and always keep an eye on them to make sure they are safe. While these dogs are typically excellent swimmers, accidents can happen, especially with a collar getting snagged. You can even find a doggy life vest if you want to be extra safe.

When swimming with a puppy or recently-adopted golden that isnt used to the water, take it slow. Also, make sure to give your dog a thorough bath after swimming in a lake or pool to get rid of chlorine, dirt, and other items that can cause irritation.

Using The Treadmill

Even if you have a small house, you arent limited to walking or jogging your golden outside. Many dogs can be trained to get comfortable on a treadmill.

Start off by simply having them in the same room as the machine while it is on so they can get used to the sounds and sights. You can then turn off the treadmill, get them to stand on it, and give them a treat. After they seem comfortable, turn it on at a very low speed and encourage them to stay on with treats.

Over time, you should be able to increase the speed of the treadmill to the point where your golden retriever can eventually get a good workout on it. If they have problems getting used to it, try standing in the front of the treadmill and giving them the occasional treat for motivation. Remember to always supervise your dog when they are on a treadmill and never tie them to it.

Dock Diving

Photo Credit: Depositphotos.com / TeriVirbickis

If you discover your dog is one of the many golden retrievers who cant get enough of the water, then try taking them dock diving.

This is simply a combination of swimming, diving, and fetch. Grab a floating toy that your dog loves and throw it into the water. Wait for them to swim and retrieve it, then repeat the action. Many areas even have dock diving groups and you only need a safe area for swimming.

Before dock diving with your golden retriever, make sure they are a confident swimmer and check the area for potential dangers such as hidden rocks or other objects in the water.

Following A Laser Pointer

Cats arent the only animal that can enjoy playing with a laser pointer. In reality, dogs such as golden retrievers can have plenty of fun with these toys as well.

Simply shine it around the room or any other indoor space and watch them follow and chase the red dot. When using a laser pointer, always be careful to avoid shining it in your poochs eyes directly. If this happens, it can lead to retinal damage.

Hiding Treats

All dogs love treats and you can take advantage of this to give your golden retriever some exercise on a rainy day.

Take some of their favorite treats or testy dry dog food and hide them around your home in various places. Consider putting them underneath rugs, behind chairs, under tables, or behind doors. Your dog is likely to get exhausted looking for the treats and get a great workout in the process.

Your golden retriever may even get enough exercise from a toy that dispenses treats when they solve a puzzle, but it depends on the animal. Just remember to restrict yourself to a reasonable number of treats. Giving them too many can make them sick or defeat the point of exercising by leading to weight gain.

Tug Of War

Photo Credit: Depositphotos.com / elenathewise

Although tug of war is the perfect game for giving your golden retriever exercise inside, you can also play this game outside.

The concept is straightforward, but be sure to get a rope designed for dogs so it wont hurt their teeth or contain harsh chemicals.

You should only play tug of war with your dog if youre able to remain firmly in control. For some dogs, this will trigger aggressive or predatory behavior that is not good in a domesticated animal. If you notice these issues, stick to a different form of exercise for your retriever.

Playing Hide And Seek

If you are concerned about giving your golden retriever too many treats, you can adjust the above game to hide yourself instead of treats.

Distract your pooch by giving them their favorite toy to play with. As soon as they get distracted, go to another area of your house and hide. They will start to run all over the place looking for you, mildly exercising themselves.

If for some reason they dont start looking, give them the come command to start the search. Suddenly the game is not only exercise, but it also reinforces training.

Jumping

Jumping is another way to get your dog to burn plenty of calories even if you are stuck inside.

You can encourage your dog to jump in plenty of different ways. One option is to grab your golden retrievers favorite toy and squat down on the floor with it. Tap them on the nose so they know you have it, then stand up and hold the toy over your head. They will jump up to try to reach it. As a bonus, this method also lets both of you work on your leg muscles.

An alternative is to encourage your dog to jump up and down with the help of bubbles. Just make some non-toxic bubbles like you would for your children or buy a pre-packaged solution. Blow the bubbles up high into the air and watch your dog go for them.

This exercise method has even caught on enough that you can find bubbles for dogs in fun flavors like peanut butter and chicken. If you use bubbles, always make sure to pick non-toxic ones that are safe if they are ingested.