Adequate exercise is a fundamental welfare requirement for dogs, but exercise provision varies enormously across the companion dog population — and the right type, frequency, and duration of exercise depends heavily on breed, age, and individual temperament.
Exercise is not merely a physical health requirement for dogs — it is a psychological and behavioural welfare necessity. A dog that cannot run freely, explore by nose, or engage its body in purposeful activity is not meeting its full welfare potential regardless of how well-fed and medically cared for it is. The chronic under-exercise that characterises the lives of many companion dogs in urban environments contributes directly to the anxiety, frustration, and destructive behaviour that leads to relinquishment. At the same time, the push toward excessive exercise in working breeds can cause physical harm. The welfare optimal is species-appropriate, breed-specific exercise that matches the dog's individual needs across its life stage — a responsibility that owners must actively manage rather than assume is being met.