Is it possible to over exercise a dog?

[CarolDanvers]

I’ve a two year old Scottie. He probably gets around two to three hours plus exercise a day, simply because he comes with me most places and I always take the opportunity to give him a good run off lead if I see a suitable area.

I know that physically he doesn’t really need that much and some days it’s not sustainable to exercise him that much but he always gets two 30 minute walks no matter what. On the days he doesn’t get two to three plus hours he’s hyped up and stressed, lots of licking his lips and yawning and hyper alert and it’s a bit of a problem; he’s also jumpy with guests and round the kids - they’re big tall teens so I am not too worried but still...Should I maybe chill out and try to give him similar timed routine walks every day? Obviously I wouldn’t follow that religiously, I am very outdoorsy and sometimes he will come on all day walks with me. It’s just on a day to day basis I can’t commit to three hours plus of exercise. I noticed over Christmas when things were quiet and we weren’t out and about all the time, that after about a week he chilled out and wasn’t so hyped up and trying to get my attention for a walk. Just wondered if overstimulation mentally from walks was a thing? Because physically he could go all day and not seem to feel it.

Thanks for any thoughts

[mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork]

I've never had a Scottie but there is one near me and he is lucky if he gets to go up the road and back. My own dog is much bigger than a Scottie (a long-legged Staffie cross) and she gets 2-3 hrs a day but sometimes only 2. I think I've read (probably in The Doghouse section), in the replies to someone else's post re their puppy, that it is definitely possible to over stimulate your dog with too much exercise. I would suggest you reduce it to 2 hours on the days that you can do more exercise and see if you can possibly turn the 30 mins walks into 45 mins each or perhaps use a dogwalker for a middle of the day walk in addition to your walks? When I am working full-time I do about 40 mins per walk morning and evening with a dogwalker for an hour's walk middle of the day.

[Penninepain]

I have two labs.

Their main walk is early (thinks 5am ish), and they are off lead for between an hour and an hour and a half.

9.30ish, they get half an hour, off lead, chasing balls.

3ish they get 20-30 minutes on lead.

In between times, they sleep, or eat.

When we are going out ourselves, we often take them, which adds another 90 minutes or so walking, on lead, so nowt exciting, and they are a total pain in the arse all night. Everytime anyone stands up they are in your face, 'where we going, where we going'.

So yes, they can get over stimulated, just like toddlers.....

[CorianderDestroysFamilies]

I’ve got a westie cross and I’ve been warned not to over exercise her by the vet. She’s 5 and for the last 2 years I’ve had to limit her walks to 5 miles tops (and only 1-2 times a week) as she starts to limp after this.

[ImMeantToBeWorking]

We have a 1.5 year old Collie x GSD. If he is out farming for the day herding cattle and sheep, running the fields etc. he wants to play play play all evening. He will bring over every toy he has and nudge them closer and closer until you throw one of them. He will want to play tug-o-war with them too and will not settle.

Last night I was meeting my walking buddy a little later than usual, so I ate my dinner before we went walking. He had had 30mins walk off lead that morning and then was outside for the day while I was in work. He ate his dinner and then fell asleep on the couch and then didn't want to go out when it was time to go walking, just lay there looking at me for a few mins before he reluctantly got down off the couch and stretched.

So yes they can dentally get over stimulated.

[pinlot5]

Take bottle & bowl water with you. Those individuals who run dog to exhaustion at side of bycycle, are blindly ignorant. And selfish cruel.
!

[MarigoldGlove]

It’s ten months later and nobody has mentioned a bike!🙄

[CherryPavlova]

I suspect you can over exercise if it’s a sudden burst for an unfit dog, just like humans.
Ours is a high energy, high exercise, never tired Dalmatian. Usually he runs 8-10 miles in the morning, has a 45 minute off lead walk at lunchtime and then another walk and ball play around 5pm for at least an hour.Thats about his minimum if we want him to not be pacing around and unsettled in the evening.

We’re just back from holiday and he did more because he was running alongside bicycles to village bakeries and just for fun. On some days it was probably about a fifteen mile run for him plus additional runs and general pottering.

Yes, he has water. Yes, he loves it. No, he’s never shown any signs of exhaustion. Then again Dallys were bred to run beside carriages. They love following horses and bicycles and, in our case, boats.