Adequate physical exercise is fundamental to companion dog welfare, yet many dogs are significantly under-exercised, leading to obesity, frustration, and behavioral problems.
Exercise is not merely a physical health requirement for dogs but a fundamental expression of their behavioral nature. Dogs are adapted for sustained physical activity and social engagement across varied environments. Chronic under-exercise creates a state of motivational frustration that manifests as hyperactivity, destructive behavior, demand barking, and anxiety. The combination of adequate physical exercise, mental stimulation through training and scent work, and social engagement with humans and other dogs creates the conditions for positive emotional states and good behavioral welfare. Exercise requirements vary enormously by breed, age, and individual temperament.