Got a puppy recently or getting one soon? Wondering what exercises are safe, beneficial, and which ones to avoid? This guide outlines age-appropriate activities for puppies, from 3 weeks to adulthood, based on the development of their body. By following these guidelines, you can help your puppy grow into a strong, healthy, and well-coordinated adult dog!
3 Weeks Onward: Mental and Neural Development
Early activities focus on cognitive growth and body awareness. Encouraging active participation helps puppies engage their minds and develop their neurological systems. Slow-paced activities enhance body awareness and coordination, while brain games stimulate cognitive growth.
Activities to Consider:
Snuffle mats
Slow feeders
Licky mats
Kongs or other food-dispensing toys
Hide and seek
2 Months Onward: Balance and Proprioception
Balance and proprioceptive work form the foundation for all future movement and exercise as your puppy's brain and motor control develops at this stage. Early exposure to different surfaces and textures is essential, followed by progressive challenges like unstable surfaces and water activities as your puppy matures. Introducing walking in shallow water is beneficial for proprioception, starting with 5-minute bouts and gradually increasing to 15 minutes by 6 months old.
Activities to Consider:
From 2 to 4 months:
Exposure to different surfaces (grass, gravel, pavement, etc.)
Tactile stimulation through touch and grooming
Explorative walks (15–30 minutes)
Introduction to walking in shallow water (5 minutes at a time)
From 4 to 6 months:
Walking over obstacles, poles, or narrow surfaces
Increase exploratory walk duration up to 60 minutes
Walking and swimming in water for short durations (10–15 minutes at a time)
4 Months Onward: Stretching and Flexibility
Active stretching supports joint mobility, prevents stiffness, and reduces injury risks as your puppy's soft tissue and joints continue to develop. These exercises also serve as an early assessment tool for movement irregularities as your puppy grows. Stretching is also beneficial for warming up and cooling down before physical activities.
Activities to Consider:
From 4 to 6 months:
Hip and back stretches with forelimbs raised on elevated surfaces
Shoulder, back, and neck stretches with hind limbs raised
From 6 months onward:
Introduction to passive stretching for forelimbs and hind limbs
Consider attending our Canine Stretch and Massage Workshop to learn how to stretch your puppy safely as they grow
6 Months Onward: Skills Training and Development
Essential skills help puppies navigate their environments, interact socially, and participate in sports or work roles. Training should focus on three key areas: learning/problem-solving, social skills, and sport/work-specific abilities. While basic skills training can start at 2 months, complex or physically demanding skills like motor skills should begin only after 6 months (Ramos & Otto, 2022), while still avoiding high-impact activities. If you encounter training difficulties, working with a certified dog behaviour/fitness trainer can be beneficial.
Activities to Consider:
From 2 to 4 months:
Teaching basic problem-solving
Socialization with dogs and humans
Exposure to new environments
Introduction to leash walking and basic obedience (sit, down, recall)
From 4 to 6 months:
Progressing basic obedience skills in new settings
Introducing work/sport-specific skills (retrieving, tracking, agility groundwork)
From 6 months until growth plates close:
Advanced obedience training (e.g., complex behaviour training, distance recall)
Gradual progression of sport/work skills
*Continue to avoid high impact activities until growth plates have fully closed
9 Months Onward: Strength Training
Strength training helps puppies develop a strong musculoskeletal system and reduces the rate of joint degeneration as they age. However, it should only begin after 9 months (for smaller breeds, bigger breeds can wait up till 12 months), once the musculoskeletal system is more developed. Exercises should target your puppy’s specific needs, whether for daily movement, sports, or work, and should be introduced progressively to prevent injury. If your puppy has congenital conditions such as patella luxation, elbow dysplasia, or hip dysplasia, consulting a certified canine physiotherapist (like us!) is highly recommended before commencing strength training.
Activities to Consider:
Hind Limb Strengthening:
Hind paw targeting to different positions
Forelimb elevation on steps or balance equipment
Walking backward over different surfaces
Forelimb Strengthening:
Paw targeting and hi-fives
Hindlimb elevation while moving forelimbs
Handstands (advanced)
Whole-Body Strengthening:
Walking over raised poles
Postural transitions (stand-to-sit, sit-to-down, etc.)
Speed-based transitions (sit-to-recall, down-to-recall)
Swimming
Only in Adulthood: Endurance Training
Endurance training involves repetitive movements, which can lead to strain injuries if introduced too early. It should only begin in adulthood after growth plates have closed (Ramos & Otto, 2022), and only if your dog has achieved a strong foundation of proprioception, flexibility, and strength.
Smaller breed mature faster than larger breeds. You may use the below information (Lewis, G. 2019) as a rough guide. However if you want more clarity, do seek advice from your vet.
Toy breeds (e.g. Chihuahua, Toy Poodle): mature at 6 to 12 months
Small breeds (e.g. Dachshund, Pug): mature at 8 to 12 months
Medium breeds (e.g. Beagle, Cocker Spaniel): mature at 8 to 18 months
Large breeds (e.g. Labrador, Golden Retriever): mature at 11 to 18 months
Giant breeds (e.g. Great Dane, St Bernard): mature at 12 to 24 months
The type of endurance training should align with your dog’s specific needs, whether for sports, work, or recreational activities. For example, the endurance demands of an agility dog differ greatly from those of a dog that enjoys beach days with its owner.
Activities to Consider:
Running or swimming for cardiovascular and muscular endurance
Sport/work-specific endurance training (e.g., agility jump repetitions, extended tracking sessions)
Gradual increases in intensity and duration
Final Thoughts
By following this structured timeline, puppy owners can ensure a well-rounded physical development plan that supports long-term health and performance. Another important thing to note - WEIGHT MATTERS! Keeping your puppy lean and in a healthy weight category throughout puppyhood and even throughout his/her life will go a long long way. Remember, preventive care is always better than rehabilitation!
For more guidance on safe and effective puppy exercises, feel free to reach out or visit us at Nimble Paws Physiotherapy Clinic.
References:
Ramos, M. T., & Otto, C. M. (2022). Canine mobility maintenance and promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 52(4), 895–911. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2022.03.001
Lewis, G. (2019). Musculoskeletal development of the puppy: Birth to twelve months. Animal Therapy Magazine, (15), 41–44. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Georgia-Lewis/publication/333118590_Musculoskeletal_Development_of_the_Puppy_Birth_to_Twelve_Months/links/5cdc8200299bf14d959c443d/Musculoskeletal-Development-of-the-Puppy-Birth-to-Twelve-Months.pdf
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