Poodle Exercise Requirements

It is the best type of exercise for this breed for several reasons:

1) It is low impact. When your Poodle will be performing an action daily and essentially forever, you want that activity to offer all of the benefits without putting undue stress on the body. Repeated strenuous exercise puts stress on the joints, overtaxes muscles and can cause injury.

2) It can be adjusted as needed. Once you fall into a routine of walking your Poodle often enough and for long enough periods of time(more ahead), his cardiovascular health, stamina and muscle strength will gradually improve… as this happens, walking speed can be incrementally increased so that your Poodle receives the same amount of body conditioning. 

3) It is easy to do. The only things that you will need is a leash and harness (more ahead) and some patience if your Poodle needs some practice to keep his behavior in line (more ahead). Also, with few exceptions, you can walk a dog during any season (we will discuss winter, rain, heat, etc. in just a bit). 

*** In regard to toy Poodles, some owners question if walking really does equal a good workout because the toy Poodle is so tiny… those little legs can only carry them so far… does this really help? We must remember that the expenditure of energy is proportional to a person's/ dog's size. In other words, while you may be walking very slowly, if your toy Poodle is trotting along beside you at a moderate pace, your dog will be receiving moderately challenging exercise in comparison to your stroll. 

Regular light exercise can relieve joint discomfort that is common with older dogs, helps the senior dog maintain muscle mass and offers all of the benefits that it does with a senior dog's younger counterparts. 

Osteoarthritis is not uncommon for senior Poodle; though light exercise can often help alleviate symptoms and this will be something that you'll want to speak with the vet about. You'll want to monitor the older dog to see how he deals with duration, cutting back as needed or slowing down the pace.  

Health Exceptions - There are some health conditions, of course, that will necessitate a cease in exercise and others that require certain exercise as part of the treatment program. A good example of this is luxating patella (slipped kneecap). During recovery, strict bed rest is often prescribed along with medications to reduce swelling and help with pain. However, afterward many vets will suggest strengthening exercises, most notably walking the dog uphill, to help build muscles that surround the knees. Always check with your Poodle's vet during and after any health issue for exercise restrictions and instructions. 

Pregnancy - In general, healthy pregnant Poodles should be taken for walks and exercised as normal up until the last week of pregnancy. Easy yet consistent exercise during pregnancy helps a female dog stay well-toned which is believed to help with labor and delivery. In most cases, exercise can gradually resume 2 to 3 weeks after giving birth. 

If your Poodle acts a tad crazy when you try and walk him/her, you're not alone. However, avoiding walks will not help resolve the issue. Many dogs will bark madly at anything that's within their line of sight… people, other dogs, cars, birds, squirrels, etc. The key to all of this is that a dog reacts that way when the element is intriguing or if it gives the dog concern. And both of those attitudes will fade more and more as the dog is exposed to the elements.

If you've ever seen a dog barking like mad when being walked, if you could fast forward 6 months (and the owner consistently kept taking the dog out along the same route that whole time), you'd see a very different dog. That dog would be socialized to every aspect of the outside world and those perceived threats would no longer cause alarm. 

The best thing to do is to ignore the barking (and your neighbors that are giving you funny looks) and with your Poodle safely on a harness (not a collar) and the leash kept short, keep walking at the set pace.  Walk with determination and without pause, no matter how hyper your dog acts... with the harness, you won't hurt him as you continue on, ignoring his vocalization. Any time that the barking stops (for even just a count of 5 if it is severe), give enthusiastic praise while simultaneously reaching into your pocket to dispense a small treat as you continue on the path. 

Exercising in hot, humid weather is certainly a concern for this breed and for all dogs. However, with some planning, you can continue to make sure that your Poodle stays active enough during the summertime. Here are some tips:

Do always use caution; if you feel it is just too hot out to safely walk your Poodle, look to alternative activities (more ahead).

While some dogs are super active in the house, most do need to have scheduled walks. When veterinarians suggest exercise guidelines, this is taking into account that a dog is going to be moving about the house. By heading outside, you will accomplish many things: You'll know that your dog is meeting the requirements of up to an hour of exercise per day. It is also an opportunity to socialize your dog, work on heeling and spend quality time together. 

 

Here are some tips:

1) Summer Tips: If it is the summer heat that is getting in the way, setting up a kiddie pool in a shaded area of the yard can be just the trick to get a dog moving. As with most activities, your enthusiasm will play a role in how much fun your Poodle has. Another great option is to set up a sprinkler. Most dogs love the thrill of chasing after osculating water and this can be a great way to offer a bit of cardio in the summer.  

Lastly, swimming is a great exercise that puts very limited stress on the body… However, do keep in mind that not all Poodles automatically know how to swim well. While the Poodle was bred to be a water dog, retrieving fowl from lakes and ponds, that was quite a while ago and today's modern Poodle may need practice to feel comfortable in water. Stay super close to your dog … and using a canine life vest is always a good idea. After swimming, be sure to shampoo and rinse the coat well, as any chlorine residue can cause excessive dryness as well as discoloration of the coat. 

2) Indoor Exercise: Nothing beats a brisk walk, however playing a rousing game of fetch or Hide n' Seek inside (or outside) can be enough to qualify as exercise as long as you keep the pace going well and time the session. Hiding a treat and getting excited about your dog trying to find it can be a great alternative to walks because it not only gets a dog in motion, it also satisfies his/her urge to sniff and seek out food. Make it more challenging as your Poodle catches on, following him about the house to keep him on track and keep him moving. For fetch, all you need is a long hallway and a ball.  

 As we mentioned above, your attitude and level of eagerness will play a huge role in how receptive your Poodle is and how much energy the dog puts into playing. 

5) Always use a harness. It cannot be overstated how vital it is to have your Poodle wearing a harness any time that he is on leash. If a leash is connected to the collar, this places stress on the neck which can cause injury, including collapsed trachea. This is especially true for toy Poodles, though it does apply for miniatures and standards as well. Not only do you have the weight of the leash, there is the element that if the puppy or dog jumps to the side, runs ahead, gets wounded up in the leash, etc. this can cause instant injury. A harness will distribute weight across the back, chest & shoulders and not just on the neck. You will also find that it is much easier to control a Poodle when he is wearing a harness, which makes walking a more pleasant experience. 

6) Bathrooms needs come first. Particularly relevant when house training, it's never a good idea to let a Poodle pee and poo along the way when you could have had the dog use the designated bathroom area first. It's always best to first bring your dog to his/her spot to do their business and then head out. When you return home, allow your Poodle another opportunity to pee and poo in the bathroom area before being brought back into the house. 

A: As long as you bring your Poodle for regular walks and are making sure that he meets the exercise requirements for this breed, there is nothing wrong at all with having your dog in a stroller.

In fact, if you have a super busy day of running around, but are worried that your Poodle can't keep up, using a stroller or a quality canine sling (these are so great, have a look at some by looking to 'Carriers & Slings' in the Poodle Specialty Shoppe) is better than leaving him home alone for the day if you have that option.   

A: It is true that too much exercise is not good for puppies; however this has gotten really exaggerated by some sources. Puppies are naturally very active and this is a good thing! Being sedentary is not advantageous for any dog, of any age. 

The only type of over-exercise that interferes with growth plates is severe exertion that would cause the puppy to pant and really struggle to keep up….Exercise that taxes the body and puts strain on the dog. And this would have to occur on a regular basis to cause a problem. 

Normally playing and running about the house is expected and helps a puppy grow up healthy. Just do not push the pup to do more than he shows enthusiasm for, taking breaks or calling 'time' after 20 minutes or so. By the way, teaching weave pole obstacles is a great idea and can be super fun for both of you. 

A: The first thing to keep in mind is why a dog does this. Imagine that you spent your days surrounded with only dogs… no humans at all, just canines. Then as a brief respite, each day for 20 minutes, you are let out into the world to exercise and during that time you actually get to see other people. BUT, you are not allowed to interact with them. You are instructed to keep walking and ignore them. Would you go a bit nuts after a while? 

So, the point of this that many owners need to remember, is that a dog will bark at other dogs out of frustration. Many times, this is not an aggressive maneuver at all and it does not mean that the barking dog is misbehaving. It can often be resolved by just allowing your dog to meet the other dog. 

Some owners worry and think "If my Poodle is barking like crazy just seeing a dog, I don’t trust him to go up to a dog!" However, in most instances, everything will be just fine. If your Poodle did nip, that would then be another topic. But you'll never know how he does with other dogs, unless you give him chances (with a variety of dogs) and allow him to learn to socialize while out for his daily walk.  

We'd suggest calling out to the other owner with a friendly, "Hi, do you mind if my dog says hello to your dog?" Unless the other dog has a history of aggression (or the other person is rude) the answer will be a 'Sure!". At that point, allow the dogs to be dogs. Without interference, they should be allowed to sniff each other. Yes, it will be the rear ends. That is where their scent glands are located and this relays information back and forth regarding: health status, mood and gender. 

In some cases, the dogs will then back away, which is your cue to thank that owner and continue on your way….and other times, the dogs may want to play. 

As long as the other person doesn't mind, a short bout of playing is just fine and will allow your Poodle an opportunity to learn canine socializing. Do always keep a close eye on your dog, with the leash in hand, ready to pull him toward you should the other dog get too rough (another reason why a harness is the better choice over a collar when on leash).