When you watch your dog snoring away on the couch or patiently sitting by his bowl awaiting the next meal, it's hard to believe that Fido is descended from the grey wolf.

Modern-day wolf packs can travel 30 miles a day in search of food, as Jean Hofve, DVM, and Celeste Yarnall, PhD, note in their book, Paleo Dog. Despite all that roaming, play is important to wolves, the authors add. "If you watch a wolf pack on one of those great nature shows, you'll see that wolves play often. Play fulfills both psychological and social roles by strengthening the bonds among pack members and providing a release of energy."

Over time, we humans have altered many of the traits that dogs once shared with their ancestors, says Louise Murray, DVM, vice president of the ASPCA Animal Hospital. But while dogs may not require as much exercise as wolves, they still need time outdoors to expend mental and physical energy. Some pet parents wrongly assume, Murray says, that if a dog has access to a backyard, she's getting exercise. But your dog doesn't run laps in the yard by herself—or do much of anything, besides waiting for you to come outside to play or let her back inside, says Murray.

A Good Dog Is a Tired Dog

There are lots of excellent reasons to exercise your dog:

• Exercise helps reduce or eliminate common behavior problems, such as digging, excessive barking, chewing, and hyperactivity.
• Exercise helps keep dogs healthy, agile, and limber.
• Exercise reduces digestive problems and constipation.
• Exercise helps timid or fearful dogs build confidence and trust.
• Exercise helps dogs feel sleepy, rather than restless, at bedtime.

Of course, you are probably already reaping some health benefits just from owning a dog. Researchers from Michigan State University found that one out of two dog owners exercise an average of 30 minutes a day, at least five days a week, while only about one in three people who don't own dogs get that much regular exercise.

Personalized Exercise Regimen for Pooch

The amount and type of exercise your dog needs will depend on his age, size, breed, and individual traits. Dr. Hofve recommends visiting the veterinarian to have her recommend an exercise regimen for your pet.

"Exercise plans are typically developed by evaluating various factors, such as age, energy level, body shape, and condition, and preexisting health concerns," agrees Murray. "For example, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever will have very different exercise needs than a 10-year-old pug, a stout brachycephalic (having a flat, wide skull shape) breed who tends to exhibit more difficulty with panting."

Once you ID the right exercise plan for your dog, avoid trying too much too soon. "Just like humans, a dog cannot go from couch to marathons overnight," Murray says. "It is important to start slow and build up endurance. Pay attention to your dog. If they are exhibiting signs of stress or pain, do not force them to continue."

To stay motivated, choose a type of exercise that will be fun for you and your dog. "If you are a runner, then run with your dog; if you walk or hike, do the same," suggest Dr. Hofve and Yarnell.

Exercise Improves Mental Health

Many studies have found that exercise is good for our minds as well as our bodies. Cardiovascular exercise helps reduce anxiety and depression, says Ernie Ward, DVM, a certified personal trainer and author of Chow Hounds: Why Our Dogs are Getting Fatter: A Vet's Plan to Save Their Lives. "Neither humans or dogs are getting sufficient exercise," says Dr. Ward, but he stresses that diet—how much your dog eats and what he eats—will largely determine whether you and your dog maintain a healthy weight. "Numerous studies show that the major cause of obesity is excess food intake," he says. "It's really important to focus on the food bowl."

The stakes are high: Obesity can cause a wide variety of preventable diseases, including diabetes and many forms of cancer, costing dogs quality of life and shortening their lives, Dr. Ward says. "And it costs pet owners in terms of unnecessary and avoidable vet care," he adds.
How much exercise is enough? "You know when you are getting enough exercise," Dr. Ward says. "Walk your dog every day. Listen to your body and what your pet's body is telling you. When we listen, the answers are all there."

Exercise Advice From Paleo Dog:

1. Always take a bottle of purified water for you and your dog.
2. If your dog is older or has joint disease, don't overexercise him or her.
3. Some experts recommend limiting exercise for giant-breed puppies to 15- to 20-minute walks until their joints are fully mature (12 to 18 months of age). This helps prevent osteochondrosis, a group of painful joint diseases that also affect humans.
4. Never exercise your dog immediately after she eats. Many breeds are susceptible to bloat. The risk goes way up for dogs exercised on a full stomach.
5. Take your buddy to a dog park for off-leash exercise. Be sure he is trained to reliably come when called before you give off-leash privileges.
6. Let her swim! Some breeds are natural water dogs and require no training or acclimation to water, but even dogs that aren't bred for water activities can learn to swim.
7. Dog sports like agility, flyball, obedience, rally obedience, musical freestyle, and tracking can give you and your dog a whole new world of fun exercise and competition to explore.

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The matter of your dog’s exercise, the puppy exercise guidelines; the amount and kind of exercise your dog needs to take depends on his age, size, weight, breed, and individual traits. We also recommend you for visiting the nearest vets to practice their recommended exercise for your pet. You can visit the site to check the most effective exercises for your puppy.