Exercise for puppies and young dogs in Australia
Updated 2026-10-16. General information, not veterinary advice.
Ask your vet. This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Exercise needs and limits depend on your dog’s age, breed, size and health, so ask your vet for advice that suits your dog, especially for large or giant breeds, flat-faced breeds and dogs with any health concerns.
A tired puppy is a happy owner, but more is not always better. Growing bodies need movement, sleep and variety, not endless marathons. Here is general guidance to help you find a sensible balance.
Puppies need more rest than you think
Young puppies sleep a lot, often many hours a day, and short bursts of play are normal. Overtired puppies can become nippy, wild or whiny. Plan rest periods, such as a nap in a crate or pen after play, and do not force more activity when your puppy wants to stop.
Avoid overdoing it
Puppies’ bones and joints are still developing. Many vets suggest being careful with:
- Long, forced walks or runs. You may see rules of thumb about minutes of exercise per month of age. These are only rough guides, so ask your vet what is right for your puppy.
- Repetitive high-impact activity, like endless ball chasing, frisbee jumps and sharp turns.
- Jumping on and off furniture, cars or high decks, and long stairs for very small or very large puppies.
- Running alongside bikes, joggers or vehicles.
- Slippery floors. Add rugs or mats where your puppy plays.
Signs your puppy has had enough include lagging behind, lying down on walks, heavy panting, limping, or becoming silly and unfocused. If you see limping, stiffness or reluctance to move that lasts, see your vet.
What kinds of exercise suit young dogs
- Short lead walks where your puppy can sniff and explore at their own pace. Sniffing is real work for a dog and a great way to tire a brain. Our loose-lead walking guide helps make walks pleasant.
- Free play in a secure yard with you, on soft surfaces such as grass.
- Gentle games like hide and seek, find-it with treats, and tug played by rules.
- Training sessions. A few minutes of recall, mat or tricks practice can be as tiring as a walk. See reliable recall.
- Supervised play with vaccinated, friendly, appropriately matched dogs. Large rough dogs are not good playmates for small puppies. See socialisation.
- Swimming in safe, shallow, supervised conditions, if your vet is happy. Watch for currents, blue-green algae, cold water and tiredness.
- Enrichment, such as lick mats, snuffle mats, puzzle feeders and safe chews. See teething and safe chews.
Before vaccinations are complete
Puppies are more vulnerable to some serious infections until their vaccinations are complete. Ask your vet exactly what is safe and when. Common options include your own secure yard, carrying your puppy to see the world, and controlled meetings with healthy, vaccinated dogs. Avoid places where many unknown dogs go until your vet says it is okay.
Hot weather and pavement safety
Australian summers can be dangerous for dogs.
- Walk in the cool parts of the day, early morning or after sunset. Skip walks on hot or humid days.
- Test the ground. Press the back of your hand on the pavement, sand or asphalt for several seconds. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for paws. Hot surfaces can burn pads quickly. Stick to grass, shade or dirt tracks.
- Bring water and offer it often. Never leave a dog in a parked car.
- Know the signs of overheating: heavy panting, drooling, bright red gums, weakness, vomiting, wobbly walking or collapse. This is an emergency. Move your dog to shade, call a vet immediately and follow their instructions.
- Take extra care with flat-faced breeds, thick-coated dogs, overweight dogs, puppies and older dogs, and ask your vet about their risks.
- Sand and sun. Beaches can be hot, and light-coloured or thin-coated dogs can sunburn. Ask your vet about sun protection.
- Ticks and snakes are seasonal risks in many areas. See our tick, heat and snake safety guide.
Breed and size matter
A Kelpie or Border Collie may need a very different mix of activity from a Staffy, Groodle or a giant breed. Large and giant breeds can be more vulnerable to growth-related problems if over-exercised, and flat-faced breeds can struggle with heat and breathing. Ask your vet what your puppy’s breed and growth pattern mean for exercise now and as they mature. You can explore our breed pages for general information, but your vet knows your dog.
Mental exercise counts
If your dog still seems wired after a walk, add brain work rather than miles. Scatter feeding, sniff walks, short training games and calm chews tire a dog out without stressing joints. Teach your dog to switch off too, since resting is a skill. Our settling guide has a mat routine that works for puppies too.
Adolescence
Between about six months and two years, many young dogs have loads of energy and less self-control. Keep up training, keep exercise varied and low-impact, and stay patient. If your dog is destructive, hyperactive or reactive despite good routines, speak to your vet and consider a qualified trainer.
FAQs
How much exercise does my puppy need?
There is no one number. It depends on age, breed, size and health, so ask your vet. In general, puppies need short, gentle bursts of activity, lots of rest and plenty of mental stimulation.
Can I take my puppy running or jogging?
Many vets advise waiting until a dog has finished growing before regular running, because young joints and bones are still developing. Ask your vet when it is suitable for your dog's breed and size.
Is it okay to walk my puppy before vaccinations are finished?
Ask your vet which places are safe before your puppy is fully vaccinated. Many owners use carrying, their own secure yard and carefully chosen visits in the meantime.
Why is my young dog still so hyper after a walk?
Exercise alone does not always tire a dog. Mental work, such as sniffing, puzzle feeders and training games, helps a lot. Rest matters too, and some dogs need help to settle.