Adequate exercise is fundamental to companion dog welfare, with breed-appropriate activity requirements that vary enormously and are frequently unmet.
Dog exercise welfare is both a physical and psychological necessity. Physical activity maintains healthy body weight, cardiovascular fitness, and joint function. Equally important is the psychological benefit of exploration, sniffing, social interaction with other dogs, and the expression of species-typical locomotory behaviour. Off-lead exercise in safe areas provides qualitatively richer welfare benefit than equivalent distance walked on-lead. Breed-appropriate exercise assessment is important - working and hunting breeds have exercise requirements that many domestic environments cannot meet without creative management.