All Goldendoodle owners are well aware that this dog is one active dog. Obviously, it needs different kinds of animations, both mentally and physically. But, how much exercise does a Goldendoodle need? Like, on a daily basis?
How can you know your dog is active enough?
Energetic dogs like Goldendoodles are likely to show some unwanted behaviors if they lack exercise. So, if you want a healthy and well-behaved Goldendoodle, you will need to provide it with enough exercise.
Let’s get to the point and find out all about Goldendoodle exercise needs.
How Much Exercise Does A Goldendoodle Need?
Disclaimer: I am analyzing the exercise needs of a standard Goldendoodle in this article.
Breeding two amazing dogs together – the Golden Retriever and the Poodle – gave us the amazing standard Goldendoodle.
This hybrid dog is affectionate, loyal, and friendly, just like its parents. These lovely characteristics make this dog a great family companion, watchdog, and a service dog.
One more important thing about this dog breed is that they are highly active. So, a Goldendoodle is a joyful and energetic dog that requires a lot of exercise.
How much exercise are we talking about? An adult Goldendoodle will need an hour or two of exercise each day. So, quite a lot!
If you are thinking of welcoming a Goldendoodle into your home, you should consider whether you will have enough time for this dog with a high activity level.
Goldendoodle puppies won’t need this much exercise. It is important to start slowly, with short exercises; at the beginning, it will be enough for this mixed dog to exercise 15 to 20 minutes per day.
If a young dog starts exercising too much too early, this could negatively affect its growth.
Only when your Goldendoodle becomes an adult, this is when you should start exercising it from one hour to two hours per day.
According to the Goldendoodle growth chart, these dogs are considered fully grown at the age from 12 to 14 months.
How Does Goldendoodle’s Exercise Needs Change With The Dog’s Age?
As I already mentioned, your Goldendoodle’s exercise needs will change as your dog matures.
For example, a 3-month-old Goldendoodle will need short exercises 2 to 3 times per day.
10-minutes long exercises will be perfectly enough for this young dog.
You can extend the amount of exercise to 20 minutes when your dog will be 6 to 12 months of age.
In the period of 12 to 18 months, your Goldendoodle will need more exercise, approximately 30 to 60 minutes per day. At this time, you can exercise your dog twice instead of three times per day.
Just to be sure your dog is fully grown, you can wait until your Goldendoodle is 18 months of age, and then start exercising it for one to two hours on a daily basis. You can divide this into two exercise sessions per day.
What Are Some Good Exercises For Goldendoodles?
Exercise is crucial for your Goldendoodle’s health and well-being. One more important thing is choosing the right kinds of exercise for your crossbreed.
Let’s take a look at some of the good exercises for Goldendoodle dogs.
1. Importance Of A Good Walk
How often we walk our dogs is essential for their health, body weight, and even our mutual bond.
If you ask me, walks are somewhat neglected as a form of dog exercise; it is true that some other exercises are more demanding and bring more benefits to the dog’s muscles, but a walk should definitely be an indispensable part of your daily life with a Goldendoodle.
A short walk in the morning or in the evening is something that I definitely recommend to all owners of this dog.
2. Fetch
Playing fetch is one of the most basic, but, at the same time, the most efficient ways of exercising a dog.
This exercise includes only your dog’s ball or some other toy – you simply throw this item, and wait for your dog to bring it back.
This is something many Goldendoodles love to play for hours! This is also a great form of Goldendoodle training – playing fetch will enable you to exercise your dog and, at the same time, teach it obedience.
3. Hide And Seek
Hide and seek is another great game that will make your dog both physically and mentally active.
The only thing to do here is to take your dog’s favorite toy and hide it. After this, you will wait until your Goldendoodle finds its toys.
This is a nice way for your dog to use its amazing smell to find its toy. Don’t forget to praise your Goldendoodle after it successfully finds the hidden item! Positive reinforcement is especially important in dog owners’ attempt to raise well-obedient and healthy dogs.
4. Tug Of War
If you want your Goldendoodle to exercise, and to also have a lot of fun, I suggest you the tug of war game
All you need is a rope that your Goldendoodle won’t tear easily.
The game works so that you take one end of the rope and hold it, while your dog holds the other end of the rope in its mouth. This is something dogs can play for hours, and you can use this game to teach your dog obedience.
If your Goldendoodle is hyperactive, and likes to chew your socks, or any part of your clothes or shoes, tug of war is a great way for your dog to use up its enormous energy, and to satisfy its desire to chew.
5. Toys
Let’s not forget one of all dogs’ favorite ways of exercise – playing with toys!
If you want to keep your Goldendoodle entertained while you are away, you should provide it with enough interactive toys.
This way, your dog will still have some form of exercise even if you are not there. More importantly, your Goldendoodle will be less likely to become frustrated or bored.
So, always leave your dog with some of its favorite toys!
What Happens If A Goldendoodle Lacks Exercise?
Clearly, exercise is very important for Goldendoodles. But, what happens if this dog lacks exercise? Are any serious consequences possible?
Yes, there are. First of all, if a Goldendoodle doesn’t exercise enough, it will become a bored and unhappy dog. Frustrated dogs are likely to show destructive behavior, like, chewing, digging, or tearing apart your furniture, clothes, shoes, etc.
Also, a Goldendoodle that eats normally, but does not exercise in the way it is supposed to, is likely to become obese. Obesity in dogs can lead to many additional health issues.
If you are unsure whether your Goldendoodle is obese, you can find some useful information in our Goldendoodle feeding chart. You can use it as a guide for feeding your dog.
Remember that food of high quality, and regular exercise are equally important for your dog’s healthy weight, and good health in general.
What Happens If A Goldendoodle Exercises Too Much?
Exercising should be one of the essential parts of your puppy schedule. But, you need to be careful not to exaggerate with exercising your Goldendoodle.
Yes, these dogs are highly active and energetic, but they are not supposed to exercise for the entire day. These dogs need to rest, too.
I already mentioned that young puppies might get hurt if they start with too intense exercise from an early age.
But, adult Goldendoodles can also be in danger if they exercise too much. How can you notice your dog should slow down with its activities?
If your dog looks tired, if it’s panting excessively, and seems to avoid stairs, or even refuses a walk, which it normally adores – your Goldendoodle probably exercised too much lately.
So, I suggest you take my advice on the desirable amount of exercise in accordance with your dog’s age.
Excess exercise can be just as bad as the lack of exercise for your dog’s health.
To Sum It Up
I hope this article made you understand better how much exercise does a Goldendoodle need.
The truth is – these dogs need plenty of exercise, and they will be a better choice for people who have enough time for a dog with high-energy levels.
For your Goldendoodle to grow up healthy and happy, you should be careful not to overdo the exercises when the puppy is still very young.
You should also find a perfect amount of daily exercise for your dog; lack of exercise can make this dog frustrated, but too much exercise will also won’t be good for your dog’s health.
Exercise should be an essential part of your Goldendoodle’s daily routine – so, try your best to make it fun and diverse!