Toy breeds such as Chihuahua need to exercise just as larger breeds do, and will receive just as many benefits from it, which are numerous. So how much exercise does a Chihuahua need? in order to meet their needs and stay in ideal shape.
A Chihuahua will need around 30/40 mins of daily exercise. they can generally get sufficient exercise in a very limited space. Simply running around following their owners, is often enough exercise for this happy toy breed. Short, brisk walks or simple fetch games will maintain your Chihuahua’s weight and keep them in good condition.
But you should avoid over-exercising your Chihuahua. and there are some precautions to take into account. That’s why today on Chihuahuas Land we prepared this article for you that will satisfy your curiosity about how much exercise a Chihuahua needs and what’s the best way to do it.
Benefits of exercise for your Chihuahua
Chihuahuas are a very energetic breed, but their energy level is not as high as other dogs that are extremely active, even so, they cannot be kept in a sluggish condition, although they are suitable for a calm life at home or in flats, they need their exercise and physical activities to keep them active and healthy.
There are various reasons to provide regular daily exercise for your Chi, we made a small list for you below.
- It helps your Chi maintain muscular tone, which in turn helps them maintain good posture and allows the muscles around the hips and knees to be strong and supportive.
- Providing your Chihuahua with a daily exercise routine is beneficial for the heart and reduces the risk of developing heart disease.
- Exercise is crucial to your Chi’s diet rhythm as it aids in stimulating your dogs’ appetite. as well helps the metabolism to function properly.
- It permits the discharge of any pent-up energy, thereby giving you a more disciplined and well-behaved dog. Dogs that are regularly exercised outdoors will show less destructive behaviors at home.
- It enables a dog to fully engage its canine senses (hearing, smell, sight), which can often lead to a more fulfilled dog emotionally.
- Outdoor exercise It will expose your Chihuahua to stimulation, which will eventually leads to less unwanted reactions (i.e. barking at other dogs, or other people).
Exercise is really beneficial for your Chihuahua and it is also great for you too, as it creates a stronger connection between you and your Chihuahua. However, be careful not to overdo it and exhaust your Chihuahua.
Avoid excessive exercise for your Chihuahua
While, of course, you never want to drive a dog of any age to excess exercising, you will certainly want to pay special attention not to allow your young Chihuahua puppy to overdo it too much during the age of 8-weeks to 10-months.
This is a period of accelerated growth for a Chihuahua, and very excessive exercise can impact the growth plates. The growth plates are slightly soft areas at the end of the bones; the cells there are constantly dividing, allowing those bones to grow properly as the puppy matures to adult size. Once growth is achieved, the plates then close.
If your Chihuahua puppy is subjected to too much physical pressure, there can be potential damage to these plates which can lead to deformed or shortened limbs. However, keep in mind that walking and playing are not usually considered excessive. You will want to avoid long, full runs or strained activity when the puppy has reached its endurance limit.
Your Chihuahua should receive all of his/her puppy vaccination shots before going for a walk or out in any public area. Until this point, a chihuahua puppy is not fully protected from certain diseases that can be contracted in areas where there have been or are other dogs or wildlife.
How Much Exercise Does a Chihuahua Need Really?
At a minimum, healthy puppies over 6 months old, who took all their puppy shots. as well as adult Chihuahuas are to be walked once a day for 20 minutes, at a pace that is considered brisk for their particular build.
Ideal daily exercise for Chihuahuas is 2 walks per day, each lasting 20 to 30 minutes or more, performed at a pace considered brisk for your particular dog. Additional supervised and controlled cardio sessions can be added 1 to 3 times per day.
However, Your Chihuahua might be a special case. as they might suffer from obesity, heart problems, or other health problems that could require a special set of activities to do in order to fulfill their exercise need. It’s always to check with your vet for recommendations and advice.
Perfect Time to Exercise your Chihuahua
While some humans like to exercise in the morning, others prefer to go for a walk at lunchtime, and others like to work out in the evening time, your Chihuahua may be the same. It’s your job to figure out what time of day your dog would like to exercise.
Determining how much exercise does a Chihuahua need and the appropriate time to exercise is really beneficial and a great mood booster for your dog.
How do I exercise my Chihuahua
When it comes to how to exercise your Chihuahua the skies are the limit, use your imagination, figure out what your Chihuahua loves to do most and what they enjoy. for some puppies simply following their owners around the house will make them reach their threshold. For adult Chihuahuas, it might be a few play sessions a day.
We will list for you a few things you can try that may work well with your Chi:
Walking: Just as simple as taking small walks around your neighborhood or at a park. your Chihuahua will love it and it’s a good start to build their stamina, strengthen their bone structure, and set up the mood.
As we mentioned, your Chihuahua puppy should have all of his puppy shots before going for walks. to make sure he’s well-protected from the outside world.
There are some things to consider while walking your dog, Like, The weather for example. In the summer, where it’s known to get pretty hot in some areas. you will need to schedule your walks to avoid the hottest times of the day. ensure that your Chihuahua’s paws are shielded from hot walking surfaces. The same goes for winter, make sure your dog is warm and safe from the cold.
Fetch: This is the simplest and most effective way to give a dog a proper workout. Stock up on some mini tennis balls and have a 15-20 minute fetch session every day. If you can schedule this to happen at times when your dog normally gets fidgety and hyper, it would be so much better.
Agility courses: This provides an exciting but challenging environment in which you will learn to direct your dog over, around, and through all kinds of obstacles. Your local SPCA may offer these courses and all sorts of gyms and dog fitness training facilities also offer them. Dogs of all different breeds, sizes, and ages can do this and you’ll never know how much fun it can be until you try it.
Toys: Just like Chihuahuas, sometimes the best things come in small packages. Toys can be a good source of fun and exercise for your Chihuahua, no matter what age, Your dog will love them. Just make sure you choose the proper toy that suits him.
The list of things you can do with your Chihuahua can go on and on. you just need to pick something that makes you and your Chi happy. and does the job right, Remember a well-exercised Chihuahua is a well-disciplined chihuahua. As they get to let go of all that pent-up energy that might result in unwanted behaviors.
Final Thoughts
You’ll be amazed when you find out just how much energy your Chihuahua is. You will need to take your Chihuahua for regular walks twice a day, but you should not exercise him for more than 45 minutes a day, as his physical condition is not capable of withstanding exhausting exercise. Knowing how much exercise a Chihuahua need will help you find the right formula.
However, it will always be pleasant for your Chihuahua to indulge in some playtime, after all, you don’t want your Chihuahua to be idle and become overweight, as this can result in health problems. Keep in mind, if your Chihuahua is not receiving the exercise or attention he needs on a day-to-day basis, he will seek out other ways to vent his pressures and frustrations by revealing his naughty side by destroying your house, tearing up your mail, or redesigning your rooms with toilet paper.
