How Much Play Does a Dog Actually Need?

"A tired dog is a good dog" is an old line because it holds up. Most chewing, barking and zooming-around-the-living-room behaviour is energy with nowhere to go. The good news is that the fix is less about hours of exercise and more about the right kind of activity.

Why a walk alone often isn't enough

A leash walk at human pace is great for the body but light on the brain. Plenty of dogs come home from a forty-minute walk and are ready to go again. What tires a dog out is a mix of physical effort and mental work: chasing, deciding, sniffing, problem-solving.

What makes play tiring

• Movement they can't predict. A ball that rolls in a straight line is solved in a minute. A toy that changes direction keeps them thinking.
• Short bursts. Several five-to-ten-minute sessions beat one long one. Stop while your dog still wants more.
• Using the nose. Hiding treats around a room is surprisingly draining for a dog, in a good way.
• Something to chew. Chewing is a natural way for dogs to settle, and a good chew toy gives them a job while you're busy.

How much, roughly

It depends hugely on age, breed and health. Young, working and herding breeds usually need far more than a senior lap dog. Rather than chasing a number, watch your dog: if they settle easily in the evening, you're in the right range. If they're restless and inventing their own entertainment, add another short session.

When you can't be there

An interactive toy helps with the gaps. The Voice Ball moves and makes sound on its own, so it keeps going when you stop throwing. For dogs who need to chew, the squeaky teeth-cleaning chew toy gives them something appropriate to work on. Cats get the same benefit from short bursts with a toy that moves like prey, like the chirping bird toy.

No toy replaces time with you, but a good one fills the ten minutes you don't have.