Havanese Exercise Needs: All You Need to Know

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Havanese Exercise NeedsIt is important as a dog owner to make sure that you are providing your dog with the right care. This means making sure they are getting enough of the right food, enough mental stimulation, enough grooming, and, of course, enough exercise. Each breed differs in its needs when it comes to exercise. Things like genetic predispositions to certain conditions, size, coat, and other biological features help us to understand how much exercise our dogs need.

In this article, we will take a look in detail how much exercise a Havanese needs as well as how to best provide it.

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How Much Exercise Does a Havanese Need?

How much exercise your Havanese will need will depend largely on their age. Typically, an adult Havanese will need around 45 to 60 minutes of dedicated exercise on a daily basis, but this will differ for puppies and senior dogs.

Puppies

Despite what many people assume, puppies usually require less exercise than adults. Most Havanese puppies will be worn out from just indoor playtime and exercise in the first couple of months. From the second month onward, you can begin to implement walks for exercise.

At 2 months old, your Havanese will only need around 10 minutes of dedicated exercise each day. This will then increase in 5-minute increments each month. So a 3-month-old Havanese puppy will require 15 minutes, and a 4-month-old will require 20 minutes. Continuing in such a pattern will help to exercise your puppy without causing them any injury or discomfort as their joints and bones grow.

Adults

Havanese adults require 45 to 60 minutes of exercise as well as regular playtime. They may be small dogs, but they are relatively high energy, and failing to keep them well exercised may have consequences for both you and your furry friend.

Seniors

It may well become evident as your Havanese ages that they aren’t handling a full hour of walking or exercise. If that is the case, reduce your walking time until your Havanese seems comfortable. You may also find that you have to walk slower to accommodate your dog’s age, or that you have to walk on flatter ground.

If you’re unsure what to change as your dog ages, check in with a vet. They will be able to see if there are any health issues you need to allow for in your dog’s exercise regime.

5 Ways to Have Your Havanese Exercise

If you’re not sure how to get in a whole hour of exercise with your dog each day, here are a few suggestions on how to get your Havanese moving.

1. Walking

Walking has a great range of benefits for both you and your Havanese. It is easy, requires minimal equipment, and can be fit around pretty much any lifestyle. There is a reason that most dogs get excited when the lead comes out – they love walks!

2. Jogging/Running

If you want to step your walking up, or perhaps you already run or jog alone, why not take your Havanese on a jog or a run? It will help your dog to burn off a good chunk of energy, and will also help you to feel fitter. Running releases endorphins in both us and the dogs, so you’ll feel much better after a good jog too!

Combine this with some agility training to enhance your Havanese’s exercise even more!

3. Fetch

Sometimes, we aren’t feeling up to a run or a walk, but our pets still need some exercise. If that’s the case, why not play a game of fetch? It will get your Havanese running around the garden or house and will allow you to play with them without having to wear yourself out.

Simply throw your Havanese’s favorite toy and then tell them to fetch, and they’ll be running up and down the garden, house, or local park for as long as you’ll play. It is important if you’re doing this in public that they have good recall skills, though.

4. Tug of War

Havanese are incredibly playful, so you can do this with pretty much anything, but it is recommended that you use one of their toys. Simply give them one end of their rope, and you take the other, and pull! Be careful you aren’t pulling too hard, and if your Havanese becomes too aggressive, take the toy away and move on.

This is an exciting way for your Havanese to exercise, and it allows you to stay indoors. It’s perfect for bad weather days, when you are sick, or if you’ve just really not found time in a day to take them out.

3 Risks of Your Havanese Not Exercising Enough

Just as with people, not exercising enough in one way or another has its negative effects including the below.

1. Gaining Weight

Just like us, if your Havanese doesn’t get enough exercise, they are going to put on weight. This can cause health issues later in life and can make them less likely to want to exercise. Should this continue, you should take a trip to the vet for professional advice.

2. Destructive Behavior

If your Havanese isn’t getting their energy out, you may find that they develop destructive behavior. This is simply their attempt to get the energy out, but it can cause issues at home and can be hard to handle.

3. Depression

Dogs are completely capable of developing depression, and many dogs will develop such mental health conditions when they experience a lack of mental and physical stimulation. This can cause a change in temperament.

2 Risks of Your Havanese Exercising Too Much

On the other hand, stretching your Havanese’s energy too far has its risks too.

1. Pain and Injury

If you suddenly up your pet’s exercise, you may notice that they are showing symptoms of sore muscles and stiffness. This is caused by overexertion, just as in people, and can result in them refusing to eat or drink due to movement, refusing to move, and whining.

They might also experience wear on their paw pads, which may result in infections and limping. All of which can lead to further health issues if not handled correctly.

2. Heat Sickness

Dogs cannot sweat. Instead, they pant. Sometimes this proves ineffective, and dogs can overheat. This can lead to sickness and dehydration and it can even be fatal in some situations. It is recommended for this reason to avoid exercising your dog in the heat.

Summary

Havanese definitely need a good amount of exercise each day, varying from 45 to 60 minutes for the typical adult. But it is important that their owners ensure they don’t overdo this, especially for puppies, as it can result in pain and injury.

Likewise, owners should ensure that they provide sufficient stimulation for their pets in order to avoid weight gain and future health concerns.

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