How much exercise?

[MattMagnolia]

My dog is a little terrier type, 16 months old. He is very active and excitable and I’ve never seen him tired. Today he had an hour out running free with friends’ dogs, missed his usual nap because we were out, then spent over two hours madly chasing balls and sticks. We were at a big park and everyone wanted to play football with him.
Now he’s flaked out and I wonder if it’s bad for him to exercise so much?

[adaline]

For a small dog at 16 months I'd say it really doesn't matter how much he gets - you're only advised to restrict it while they're young and the joints are forming.

Ours is 18 months now and a medium breed - we don't restrict his walks at all anymore.

[BiteyShark]

When mine (cocker) was fully grown we never restricted exercise unless he had injured himself or was ill.

Mine can be on the go all day at daycare and on walks. Other days he lounges about at home.

[Jouska]

I wouldn't restrict exercise but 2 hours of madly chasing and ball throwing will not be good for any dog or their joints.

Stick injuries are pretty common and can be horrendous (and expensive) ball throwing causes a huge amount of stress on the joints with the twisting and turning on the dogs body.

[LochJessMonster]

You need to think about mental stimulation as well as physical. Are there any agility classes near you? Great way to exercise both body and mind.

Also look at things like slow feeders, food toys, snuffle mats, lickimats etc - things that work his brain.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

Sounds like my terrier x at that age really. I always find that playing with other dogs is the quickest way to tire him out, so we opt for the more dog heavy parks.

[joystir59]

Sounds normal for a small terrier. Our 6 yr old JRT spends his time similarly. 1.5hr off lead walk this morning, followed by half HR chasing the hoover around the house barking his head off and several hrs chasing up and down the stairs, in and out of the garden in response to various imagined sounds

[joystir59]

He's been flaked out all afternoon though, just starting to wake up for another walk right now