Exercising With Your Dog – Keeping Tails Wagging at Every Age

Vitabiotics is proud to partner with Battersea, one of the UK’s leading animal welfare charities. We make a donation for every pack of SuperDog supplement sold. With each pack you buy, you’ll help support Battersea’s vital work for the dogs and cats who need them.

Exercising with your dog isn’t just about keeping them fit—it’s one of the most rewarding ways to build a stronger bond, engage their brain, and boost both of your well-being. Whether you're enjoying a scenic walk, a gentle game in the garden, or a quiet stretch indoors, movement together nurtures physical health and emotional connection. From playful pups to senior sidekicks, here’s how to make exercise a joyful, lifelong routine you share.

🐕 Why is Exercise Important for Dogs & Benefits of Exercising with Your Dog

Exercise is essential to your dog’s physical and mental health. It helps them maintain a healthy weight, supports their heart health, builds strong muscles and joints, and can help reduce the risk of issues like arthritis and obesity. Just as importantly, it’s a great outlet for mental stimulation, helping to ease anxiety, reduce boredom, and improve behaviour. A well-exercised dog is often calmer and more focused—and you’ll likely find benefits yourself. In a world where we’re constantly on the go and balancing many responsibilities, exercising with your dog is not only a great way to build a strong and healthy relationship with them, but it also means you can save time throughout the week.

If you have concerns about your dog’s health or you're unsure how much activity they should get, especially after injury or with age-related conditions, check in with your vet to tailor a safe, effective routine.

🐶 How Much Exercise Does A Dog Need?

Your dog’s ideal activity level depends on a few key factors:

• Breed: Energetic breeds like Collies or Spaniels thrive on high-intensity workouts, while toy breeds may need gentler activity.
• Age: Puppies benefit from short, playful exercise sessions, while adult dogs need more structured walks, games, and challenges. Senior dogs do best with shorter, frequent outings and low-impact options.
• Health & Recovery: After illness or injury, ease your dog back in gently to rebuild stamina and prevent setbacks.
• Personality: All dogs need a daily walk, but their ideal adventure varies. Some love a long countryside hike, while others are happiest with a trip to the park and some brain games at home. Tune into your dog’s preferences, and yours.

The best part is you’re getting active alongside them—and adding movement, fun, and fresh air to your day too.

🐾 Exercises to Do with Your Dog—From Strolls to Games

Shared activity can be tailored to suit both your fitness levels and your dog’s age or ability. Here are some fun, beneficial ways to move as a team:

• Daily Walks: Mix brisk walks with leisurely sniff-sessions. It’s great cardio for both of you and a powerful mental workout for your dog, as it provides them with lots of enrichment to engage their senses and keep their minds occupied.
• Running or Jogging: Great for healthy adult dogs and active owners. Start slowly, avoid hard surfaces, and stop if your dog seems tired.
• Swimming or Paddling: Excellent low-impact exercise for dogs with joint issues—and a refreshing activity to enjoy together in the warmer months!
• Hiking: Explore nature side-by-side. Choose dog-friendly trails, bring plenty of water, and make sure to take breaks often.
• Training Sessions: Practicing commands or learning new tricks sharpens your dog’s brain and strengthens your bond. Just 5–10 minutes a day can be highly beneficial.
• Interactive Play: Tug-of-war, gentle fetch, or hide-and-seek with toys combines movement with amusement and focus.
• Agility and Flyball: Perfect for high-energy dogs—agility offers physical and mental stimulation, while flyball provides fast-paced fun for athletic dogs (joint health permitting).
• Puzzle Toys and Brain Games: On rainy days or when quiet time is needed, indoor games can keep your dog stimulated—and you can join in with praise, rewards, and teamwork.

🧓 Exercises for Older Dogs (or Senior Dogs)

Older dogs may move more slowly, but they still love—and need—regular activity to stay mobile and mentally alert. Gentle, low-impact routines are best. Take shorter walks more often, let them set the pace, and avoid extreme weather. If they get tired, take breaks together or cut the outing short.

Keep things familiar to reduce stress, especially if their sight or hearing is fading. Soft play, scent games, and light training are fantastic for older minds. And if you're exercising indoors, puzzle toys or slow treat searches help keep them sharp while keeping you involved.

Try joint-friendly options like hydrotherapy or supported walks—and don’t underestimate the value of just sitting outside together, taking in the world side-by-side.

🛠 Support for Less Mobile Dogs

As your dog ages or faces mobility challenges, a few simple adjustments can help keep them comfortable and active:

• Use support harnesses to help with short walks.
• Add ramps or pet stairs for easier access to sofas, cars, or raised beds.
• Lay down non-slip rugs on slippery floors.
• Consider physiotherapy or massage for joint relief.
• Take short car rides to favourite walking spots if longer walks aren’t an option.
• Check nail growth regularly, as less walking may mean nails wear down more slowly.

These tips can help your dog stay active—and allow you to keep sharing that special time together.

✅ Dog Safety During Exercise

Whatever the activity, safety comes first:

• Use a well-fitting harness or collar and always have up-to-date ID tags.
• Avoid throwing sticks—opt for safe, durable dog toys.
• Don’t over-exercise puppies or dogs with joint issues.
• In hot weather, stick to early mornings or evenings and always bring water.
• In winter, use reflective gear and consider a warm coat for your dog.

Listen to your dog’s cues. If they seem tired, overwhelmed, or disinterested, scale things back and try again another day.

🦴 Support for Joint Health

Larger dogs and certain breeds may need extra joint support due to their size and build. SuperDog Joints & Bones is designed to support active movement at every stage of life. It is also important to protect your dog’s joints as they age.

It combines Green Lipped Mussel and MSM to help maintain joint health and keep surrounding cartilage and tissue healthy, while Glucosamine and Chondroitin work together to cushion joints and support collagen production. Added Omega-3 fatty acids help keep joints supple—so your dog can stay active, comfortable, and ready to move with you.

Support for General Health

To help support your dog day to day, SuperDog Health & Vitality offers your dog a blend of 25 nutrients to promote their overall health and wellbeing. As well as love, care and attention and plenty of exercise, a varied balanced diet and a sufficient intake of essential vitamins and minerals play a key role in keeping your dog healthy and happy.

It combines a range of essential vitamins including A, C, D and E to help protect your dog against the harmful effects of free radicals, plus essential minerals zinc and selenium to support your dog's natural immune system. It also contains Linseed oil, a source of Omega-3 fatty acids which can help maintain a glossy coat and healthy skin

Final Thought

Exercising with your dog isn’t about logging miles—it’s about shared moments, mutual wellness, and that quiet satisfaction you both feel after a good walk or play session. Whether you’re jogging through the park, sniffing your way down the street, or enjoying a slow indoor game, each activity builds trust, boosts health, and keeps tails wagging.

However you move, move together! 🐾

*Vitabiotics is proud to be a long-term supporter of Battersea. Vitabiotics donates 35p plus VAT of every pack of SuperDog sold. This will help fund their vital work supporting dogs and cats in their centres and around the world.