Exercise: matching the activity to the dog in front of you
The advice to "walk your dog more" hides how different two dogs’ needs can be. This is how to work out what yours actually needs.
How much is enough
There is no universal number, and any article that gives you one is guessing. A twelve-year-old bulldog and a two-year-old border collie can live in the same house and need almost nothing in common. Breed sets the ceiling, age sets the floor, and the individual dog decides where in between they sit.
A more useful test than minutes: what is your dog like two hours after the activity? Settled and sleepy is right. Still pacing, whining or bringing you toys means they did not get enough, or did not get the right kind. Sore, reluctant to move, or stiff the next morning means it was too much.
Tired is not the same as satisfied
You can exhaust a dog by throwing a ball a hundred times, and many owners do, because it is the fastest way to make a dog lie down. But repetitive high-speed fetch is closer to a treadmill than to enrichment, and for some dogs it builds an adrenaline habit rather than settling them. A dog can be physically flat and mentally still buzzing.
The activities that genuinely satisfy a dog usually involve deciding something — where to go, what that smell is, how to get the toy out. Ten minutes of problem-solving often does more for behaviour at home than half an hour of running in a straight line.
Sniffing counts, and it counts a lot
A walk where your dog is allowed to stop and read every lamp post is doing far more for them than a brisk march on a tight lead. Scent is the dog’s primary sense, and using it is genuinely tiring in the way that concentrating is tiring for us. A twenty-minute "sniffari" where the dog picks the route can leave a dog more settled than an hour of heel work.
This is also the single easiest adjustment for owners who are short on time or physically limited. You do not have to walk far. You have to let them sniff.
Puppies, seniors and joints
Growing dogs have soft growth plates, and repetitive high-impact work — long runs on hard ground, jumping down from heights, forced stairs — can do damage that shows up years later as arthritis. The old rule of thumb is five minutes of formal walk per month of age, twice a day, with free play on soft ground on top of it. It is rough, but it errs in the right direction.
At the other end, senior dogs usually need the same activity split into more, shorter pieces, on softer surfaces. Swimming and slow sniffing walks are kind to old joints. Stopping exercise altogether is not kindness — muscle loss makes everything worse.
Heat, and knowing when to stop
Dogs cool themselves by panting, which stops working well in humidity, and flat-faced breeds start at a disadvantage. If the pavement is too hot for the back of your hand for five seconds, it is too hot for paws. Heavy panting with a wide tongue, drooling, glazed eyes or wobbling are not signs of a good workout — they are early heatstroke, and it is a genuine emergency.
Stop the session while your dog still looks like they could do more. That is the version they will be pleased to repeat tomorrow.
Every mission in this category
These are the missions Wogi draws from for this category, sized to your dog’s age, energy and training level. You can practise any of them on your own.
Fetch sprint
Get your dog running with a high-energy game of fetch for 10-15 minutes.
30-minute walk
Take a longer walk to burn off energy and explore the neighborhood.
Stair climbing game
Use a staircase (safely) for a few rounds of up-and-down to build strength.
Splash time
Let your dog play in shallow water or a kiddie pool to cool off and have fun.
Tug of war
Play a structured game of tug, practicing "take it" and "drop it" cues.
Frisbee toss
Throw a frisbee or soft disc for a high-energy retrieving game.
Hiking trail
Take your dog on a longer hike or trail walk to explore and burn energy.
Backyard agility
Set up a simple obstacle (a low jump or weave poles) for a quick agility session.
Jog or bike alongside
Go for a light jog or bike ride with your dog running alongside on leash.
Sniffari walk
Let your dog lead a slow walk driven entirely by their nose — no rushing.
Digging zone
Give your dog a designated spot (sandbox or dirt patch) where digging is allowed.
Ball pit play
Fill a kiddie pool with balls for a fun indoor or backyard play session.
Flirt pole game
Use a flirt pole (a toy on a pole and string) for a fun chase-and-catch workout.
Backyard obstacle course
Set up cushions, cones or boxes for your dog to weave through and climb over.
Tunnel play
Use a play tunnel or a taped-up box tunnel for your dog to run through.
Jump through a hoop
Hold a hoop low to the ground and encourage your dog to jump through it.
Water fetch
Toss a floating toy into shallow water for a splashy retrieving game.
The other guides
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Wogi looks at your dog’s age, energy level and training level and chooses the day’s missions for you. The free plan covers obedience, exercise and bonding.
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