How To Avoid Overexercising Dogs and Puppies

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Ensuring your dog gets enough exercise is key to their mental and physical health—but balance is key. Too much of a good thing is possible when it comes to exercise for both puppies and adult dogs.

Overexercising puts undue strain on a dog’s body. While it’s more likely to happen on warm weather walks, your dog’s personality can also play a role. High-energy pups and dogs obsessed with physical activity and games, like fetch, might not know when to call it quits. As a pet parent, it can be hard to gauge how much exercise is too much.

Here’s how to spot the signs of overexercise in puppies and dogs, what to do to help them, and how to avoid it in the future.
Signs of Overexercise in Puppies and Dogs

“Overexercising is when a puppy [or dog] does too much or too high impact activity,” says Dr. Catriona D’Aulerio, the medical director at the Veterinary Emergency Group in San Jose. She adds that too much exercise can cause overexertion, which can hurt a dog’s joints and bones and, in some cases, lead to heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

Overexercise symptoms and signs to watch out for in dogs include:

Adult dog vs. puppy

Some dogs are more prone to overexercising than others, with age playing a part, too.

For puppies, the risk of overexercise comes as naturally as play. “Puppies are often so playful that they don’t realize how overheated they are,” says Dr. D’Aulerio. “They’re not as well developed at maintaining a normal body temperature as healthy adults.”

A puppy’s growth plates are also still developing and more vulnerable to injuries, which you may be able to spot right away. “If they have injured a joint, they may be limping or not bearing weight on one leg,” says Dr. D’Aulerio. In extreme cases, she explains, a puppy may bite you because the pain is so severe.

In adults, overexercise most often occurs with dogs who have a laser focus on play. Fetch-obsessed dogs are notorious for overexercise injuries. And, as much as dogs love the game, the repetitive motion can be hard on their joints. These dogs typically don’t know when to stop, even when their favorite game starts to hurt them. That’s when pet parents can step in and help them take a break.

A German Short Haired puppy running towards the camera

BeeBuddy via iStock

What Happens If a Dog Exercises Too Much?

Overexercise can have both short- and long-term consequences for your dog’s health.

The immediate symptoms are often far more obvious, like lethargy, dehydration, stiffness, and soreness. “Dogs may show signs of wear on the pads of their feet,” adds Dr. D’Aulerio. “These can be quite painful blisters. Some dogs will keep running and playing until their paws are bleeding—if they’re having fun, they just don’t know when to stop!”

For some dogs, the worst of overexertion can show up later, with serious consequences depending on the dog. “Regular over-exercising can lead to joint strain and injuries,” Dr. D’Aulerio explains. “Certain breeds are more predisposed to elbow and knee conditions, but older dogs commonly have arthritis, and too much exercise can be detrimental to their joints.”

Other long-term problems include worsening heart conditions and behavioral changes from chronic pain, such as reactivity, aggression, and anxiety.

Ways To Help a Dog Recover from Overexertion

According to Dr. D’Aulerio, how long it takes a dog to recover from too much exercise varies. It primarily depends on the injury or illness your pup has experienced. Still, if you find that you’ve overexercised your dog, here are a few things you can do.

Rest

Rest comes in two forms: a total lack of exercise and gentle, short sessions to keep the muscles moving. Which is right for your dog will depend on your unique situation. “Some dogs will need regular, gentle, short walks, whilst others might need strict rest,” says Dr. D’Aulerio. “Go with the advice of a veterinarian who has examined your dog for the best rehabilitation exercises.”

Hydrate and cool off

Because overexercise is the leading cause of heatstroke in dogs, hydration and cooling are important in both its prevention and recovery. Dehydrated muscles are more prone to injury, so making sure your pup has enough water is essential both during and after play. To help your dog cool off in warmer weather, consider using a cooling bandana or vest.

Engage in low-impact activities

Physical exercise is not the only way to keep your pup active. “If you have an adult dog that struggles to know when to stop, you can try to tire [the dog] out by getting it to use its brain as much as its muscles,” says Dr. D’Aulerio.

For a low-impact, enriching activity, take your dog on a slow, sniffy decompression walk. Or give them a puzzle toy or play some mentally stimulating indoor games to work their big brain.

How To Avoid Overexertion

To avoid overexertion, learn about how much exercise your dog really needs on a regular basis. Generally, adult dogs require 10-40 minutes of exercise two or three times a day. The exact amount, however, will depend on factors like their size, age, breed, and health status.

To exercise puppies, the key is offering measured play time in limited quantities. “A good rule of thumb for preventing overexercise in puppies is to exercise them for 5 minutes for every month of their age, twice a day,” explains Dr. D’Aulerio. “So, a 5-month-old puppy gets 25 minutes of exercise twice a day.” As your puppy grows, you can safely increase puppy play time in those five-minute increments each month.

Knowing and spotting when your dog has had enough is also key, Dr. D’Aulerio adds. “Recognizing the signs of overexertion early, getting them on a leash, and keeping them calm is helpful, as is getting them somewhere cool if it is a warm day and they are getting too hot,” she says.

Encourage regular rest days

Remember: rest days are a key component of any fitness routine, whether you’re human or canine. Ensure your pup has adequate rest between play sessions so their muscles, joints, and bones can heal and stay healthy.

Rest doesn’t necessarily mean staying still, either. It can include gentle exercises (like a short walk) or alternative activities (like trick training) to engage different parts of the body.

Happy white dog with black eye patch running fast in park

Anna Zisk via iStock

Avoid certain exercise

It’s worth it to be choosy about your pup’s activity if it helps keep their muscles and joints healthy over the long run.

For young dogs who haven’t yet reached maturity, you’ll want to avoid any high-impact activities, like running together. Puppies and smaller dogs should never play unattended with adult or bigger dogs, either, as they may not be able to keep up. Realistically, puppy playtime should always be supervised anyway.

Adult dogs have more flexibility in what they can do, depending on their temperament, age, and physical health. Some pups are able to play fetch without a problem, for example. Other dogs can’t get through a single play session without risking injury, especially senior dogs. In general, most dogs should avoid extreme movement that requires a lot of them, such as running in long bursts, twisting or changing directions suddenly, and excessive jumping.

Ultimately, as a pup parent, it’s up to you to run a risk analysis and figure out ways your dog can safely engage in the activities they love. This may mean using a slow-rolling ball for fetch instead of flinging a tennis ball long distances. It could also mean shorter sessions of hard play with plenty of built-in breaks.

Limit time at play areas

Many dogs enjoy puppy play dates and trips to the dog park. However, playing with other dogs can increase the risk of overexercising. When dogs are actively engaged with each other, they’re less likely to notice they’ve pushed past their limit.

For some dogs, staying safe might mean staying away from dog parks altogether. A dedicated dog gym, agility course, or Sniffspot might be a better option. Alternatively, you might visit play areas during off-peak times when they’re less busy or just keep your visits short.

When To See a Vet

Dogs exhibiting heatstroke symptoms need to see a vet ASAP. “If left untreated, heatstroke can progress to lethargy, confusion, seizures, and death,” says Dr. D’Aulerio. “If you are at all concerned about your pet overheating, it is always best to get checked immediately with an emergency veterinarian.”

Dr. D’Aulerio also recommends seeing a vet for your puppy if they can’t settle down, are vomiting, have diarrhea, or seem to be in a lot of pain. If your dog is acting hurt after a particularly hard play session, you might also want to visit your primary vet. They can prescribe pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medication and make additional recommendations to treat whatever soreness or injury your dog might be experiencing.

The quicker your pup can be treated for overexercise, the sooner they’ll be back to playing—though maybe more safely this time.

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