Regular appropriate exercise is essential for canine physical and psychological health. Both under-exercise and inappropriate exercise for the dog's age, breed, and health status are common welfare problems in companion dogs.
Dogs that receive insufficient exercise frequently develop behavioral problems including destructiveness, excessive barking, and anxiety that reflect genuine psychological frustration and poor welfare. However, exercise must be appropriate to the individual dog's needs — over-exercise in puppies, brachycephalic breeds, and dogs with health conditions causes physical harm. Understanding breed-specific needs and adapting exercise to the dog's individual capabilities and health status is essential. Mental enrichment through training, scent work, and social interaction contributes significantly to overall wellbeing and should complement physical exercise.