Resources
Exercise & Training Guide
A guide to keeping your puppy healthy, happy, and well-mannered through their first year and beyond.
Exercise by Age
Please Note
We are not veterinary or training professionals. Everything shared on this page is based on our own personal experience with our dogs and what we have found to work well for us. This is not professional advice. We strongly encourage you to do your own research and consult with your veterinarian or a certified trainer before making decisions about your puppy's exercise and training routine.
Keep exercise very gentle and brief. Free play in a safe, enclosed area is ideal. Short, calm leash walks of just a few minutes are fine. Avoid stairs, jumping, and rough play. Focus on exploration and positive experiences rather than structured exercise.
Short leash walks of 10–15 minutes once or twice a day. Continue free play in a safe area. Avoid prolonged running, jumping, or rough play. Mental stimulation through training and gentle enrichment is just as tiring as physical exercise at this age.
Leash walks of 20–25 minutes once or twice a day. Begin introducing slightly more varied terrain on walks. Continue to avoid high-impact activities like jumping, long runs, or rough play with larger dogs. Training sessions are a great outlet for energy.
Leash walks of 30–40 minutes once or twice a day. Gentle off-leash play in a safe, fenced area is appropriate. Continue to avoid repetitive high-impact activities. Swimming is a low-impact option if your puppy enjoys it.
Leash walks of 40–50 minutes once or twice a day. Most puppies are ready for more varied activity, but consult your veterinarian before starting high-impact exercise like jogging or agility. Continue monitoring for fatigue.
Most small to medium breeds are ready for more structured exercise after 12 months, once growth plates have closed. Consult your veterinarian about when your specific puppy is ready for higher-impact activities.
Training Guide by Age
Training is one of the best things you can do for your puppy and your relationship with them. Short, positive sessions are far more effective than long, repetitive ones. Always end on a success.
Foundation Skills
- Name recognition — teach your puppy to look at you when you say their name
- Sit — one of the easiest first cues to teach
- Come (recall) — begin in low-distraction environments
- Crate training — build positive associations with the crate
- Potty training — establish a consistent routine
- Leash introduction — let them drag a leash indoors before walking on it
- Handling and grooming — practice touching paws, ears, and mouth daily
Building on the Basics
- Down — a natural next step after sit
- Stay — begin with very short durations and build gradually
- Leave it — important for safety
- Loose-leash walking — begin working on not pulling
- Greeting manners — four paws on the floor when meeting people
- Continue reinforcing recall in slightly more distracting environments
Proofing & Real-World Skills
- Proof known cues in new environments and with distractions
- Place or go to your mat — a useful calm behavior
- Wait at doors and before meals
- Continue loose-leash walking in varied environments
- Begin introducing more complex tasks if your puppy is ready
- Consider enrolling in a group obedience class for socialization and distraction training
Every puppy learns at their own pace. If you are struggling with any behavior, consider working with a certified professional trainer who uses positive reinforcement methods.
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