Keeping Dogs Active: Meaningful Exercise Instead of Overworking Them

What does "engagement" mean in dogs?

Engagement for dogs encompasses all activities that challenge the animal mentally, physically, or socially without causing stress or overwhelming it. It is part of a daily routine tailored to the dog’s needs and not a stopgap measure against boredom. From a technical standpoint, we distinguish three dimensions: physical exercise, cognitive activity (search games, problem-solving, training tasks), and social-emotional engagement (shared experiences, observation, chewing and licking activities).

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question, "How much exercise does my dog need?" It depends on the breed, age, health, personality, and stage of life. What all dogs need is quality over quantity: the right kind of stimulation in the right amounts, with plenty of rest periods.

Background and Academic Context

Research on enrichment and enrichment activities for dogs has been well established since the 1990s. Hubrecht (1993) demonstrated that dogs provided with enrichment activities develop fewer stereotypical behaviors. In a widely cited review, Mehrkam and Wynne (2014) demonstrated that behavioral differences between breeds are real but vary greatly from dog to dog—generalized breed-specific activity recommendations fall short.

Research on frustration and arousal is particularly relevant. McPeake et al. (2021) developed the Canine Frustration Questionnaire and demonstrated that many dogs labeled as having a “lack of stimulation” actually suffer from chronic overexcitement—not from too little, but from too much of the wrong kind of stimulation. Highly active activities such as ball-tossing or using a treat wand can increase cortisol levels and permanently raise arousal levels (Riemer et al. 2019).

At the same time, cognitive and exploratory activities are well documented: sniffing activates the parasympathetic nervous system and reduces stress (Duranton & Horowitz 2019). Chewing and licking have a self-soothing effect (see also Kong).

Vitomalia-Position

We recommend a balanced mix with a clear emphasis on low-stimulation, cognitive-sensory activities. We reject the myth that "a tired dog is a good dog." Overtiredness leads to irritability, poor sleep, and, in the long term, chronic stress.

Activity does not replace exercise, social interaction, or bonding—it is a building block, not the foundation. For most adult dogs, 17–20 hours of rest per day is normal (Adams & Johnson 1993).

When does exercise become important for dogs?

It becomes relevant whenever a dog’s need for activity isn’t met by daily life—during walks that offer little stimulation, for puppies in the learning phase, for senior dogs (where mental stimulation becomes more important), and for dogs with high activity needs (herding dogs, hunting breeds). A lack of stimulation can manifest as destructive behavior, excessive barking, or restlessness.

Practical application

1. Assess your needs: What does the dog bring to the table (breed, age, health)? What does daily life look like? Where are the gaps?
2. Plan a mix: Each week, include a combination of physical activity, cognitive tasks (search and thinking activities), social interaction (shared experiences), and quiet activities (chewing, licking).
3. Prioritize low-stimulation activities: sniffing, search games, food dummies, light mantrailing, and retrieval games at a calm pace.
4. Limit high-energy play: Use balls and teaser wands only occasionally, not every day. For reactive dogs, it’s best to avoid them altogether.
5. Actively promote quiet time: Allow for a cooling-off period after activity. A dog that is immediately encouraged to keep moving after every activity will never learn to calm down.
6. Measuring success: Does the dog sleep well at night? Is he relaxed in everyday life? Does he calm down quickly after getting excited? If so, the mix is a good fit.

Common Mistakes and Myths

• "A tired dog is a good dog." Overtiredness leads to irritability and sleep problems, not relaxation.
• "10 minutes of mental work is equivalent to a 1-hour walk." That's an oversimplification. Mental work complements physical activity, but it doesn't replace it.
• "My dog gets bored when he has nothing to do." Rest is not a deficiency. Adult dogs need many hours of rest each day (Adams & Johnson 1993).
• "Throwing balls is exhausting." It raises arousal levels. Studies on cortisol response (Riemer et al. 2019) show that such activities tend to increase stress rather than reduce it.
• "Herding dogs need herding work." They need tasks, but not necessarily sheep. Alternative activities like search games or trick training satisfy their genetic need to solve problems.

State of the art in 2026

The evidence on enrichment is robust. Consensus: variety beats repetition; cognitive activity reduces stress; overstimulation is a real and underestimated phenomenon. Open questions: optimal dosage per life stage, long-term effects of cognitive engagement in old age, individual differences in genetic cognitive demands. Initial findings (Wallis et al. 2017) suggest that cognitive engagement in old age may have a neuroprotective effect—similar to dementia prevention in humans.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much exercise does my dog need each day?

Rule of thumb: 1–2 structured activity sessions per day (5–20 minutes each) plus walks that include time for sniffing around. More is rarely better.

What should I do if my dog seems bored?

First, check the underlying causes: Is there enough physical activity? Social interaction? Is sleep quality good? Are there varied activities available? Often, the problem isn’t a lack of something, but rather an imbalance.

Are educational toys worthwhile?

Yes, as part of the mix. Important: appropriate difficulty, variety—don't do the same thing every day.

What's best to wear when it rains?

Sniffing blanket, food-finding games indoors, short trick-training sessions, chew toys. While mental stimulation doesn’t replace a walk, it’s a great way to keep your dog occupied for 1–2 days.

Related terms

• Utilization
• When
• Nose work
• Mantrailing
• Calmness in Dogs
• Stress
• Frustration tolerance

Sources and further reading

1. Mehrkam, L. R., & Wynne, C. D. L. (2014). Behavioral differences among breeds of domestic dogs: Current status of the science. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 155, 12–27.
2. McPeake, K. J., Collins, L. M., Zulch, H., & Mills, D. S. (2021). The Canine Frustration Questionnaire – Development of a New Psychometric Tool. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 234.
3. Riemer, S., Heritier, C., Windschnurer, I., et al. (2019). A Review on Mitigating Fear and Aggression in Dogs and Cats in a Veterinary Setting. Animals, 9(11), 951.
4. Duranton, C., & Horowitz, A. (2019). Let me sniff! Nosework induces positive judgement bias in pet dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 211, 61–66.
5. Adams, G. J., & Johnson, K. G. (1993). Sleep-wake cycles and other night-time behaviours of the domestic dog. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 36(2–3), 233–248.
6. Wallis, L. J., Range, F., et al. (2017). Aging effects on discrimination learning, logical reasoning and memory in pet dogs. Age, 38(1), 11.