It is not necessarily true that small dogs need less exercise than larger breeds so it is a good idea to think about what your dog was originally bred for when thinking about what sort of exercise it will need.

For example, greyhounds are sprinters so they will benefit from short off-leash runs rather than going for one long walk on their leash, whereas terriers are bred to root out vermin so they will enjoy scratching about in undergrowth. Retrievers will enjoy a game of fetch with their favorite toy.

If you have an active breed such as a border collie your dog will need some sort of mental stimulation as well as physical exercise so you should consider taking your dog to obedience or agility classes to keep it from becoming a bored, problem dog with a weight problem.

Because human walking speed is obviously a lot slower than the natural pace of a dog all dogs will benefit from being off their leash during exercise. In a safe, traffic-free area dogs will gain much more out of a 30-minute off-leash session than they will if they are restricted to a half-hour walk along the sidewalk on their leash.

You do need to be sure that your dog will return to you when called before you let it off the leash. If this is not the case you need to join in a good training class. Always remember to take your scooper with you and use it when necessary.

Puppies need exercise which is controlled so they will build up strong muscles. You do need to be aware that puppies’ joints are still developing and their bones are quite soft so boisterous games that make them twist and turn quickly are not a good idea, particularly in larger breeds. Don’t forget that puppies also need plenty of sleep time.

To some extent healthy adult dogs will determine their own exercise routines but they do need to build up their exercise tolerance gradually, so do not expect them to suddenly be able to go for a ten mile hike if their normal walk each day is only a few minutes round the block.

One of the benefits of exercising your dog regularly is that as well as your dog benefiting from the exercise you are also gaining the rewards of a good walk, so not only does your dog remain fit and healthy but so do you. So what are you waiting for – take your dog for a brisk jaunt now!!!