Have you ever wondered how much exercise does dachshund need to be healthy? Because dachshunds are inclined to weight gain-related issues. It’s important to provide them enough exercise to keep their weight in a healthy range. If they are not provided enough exercise, they become overweight easily, which can lead to back-related issues like IVDD. That’s why regular exercise is essential for them.
In today’s blog, I will provide you with a guide on how much exercise your dachshund needs to be healthy, whether you have a standard or miniature dachshund.
How much exercise does a dachshund need?
Since standard and miniature dachshunds differ in size, their exercise need can vary depending on their body size. Below are the exercise needs of both miniature and standard dachshunds.
Miniature dachshund exercise needs
There isn’t a huge difference between a standard and a miniature dachshund, but due to their small size differences, their exercise needs vary.
Generally, if your miniature dachshund is in a healthy weight range, 30 to 40 minutes of normal walking and playtime is enough for them.
Standard dachshund exercise needs
Standard dachshunds are slightly larger than miniature dachshunds, so they generally need a bit more exercise. Typically, 30 to 60 minutes of daily playtime and walktime is enough for a dachshund.
How much time is enough for your dachshund puppy
As a dachshund owner, it’s important to understand their developing joint and spines. Dachshunds have a more fragile back compared to other dog breeds due to their long body structure. If we don’t pay attention to their sensitive back and let them engage in high-intensity activities like running and jumping from a height, they might have back injuries. That’s why dachshunds should only be given low-intensity activity like leash walking. We have already created a detailed blog about the best dachshund exercise, you can check it out after this one.
If your dachshund puppy is 2 months old, you can provide them with a 20-minute daily walk and normal playtime, and if your dachshund’s age is more than 2 months, you can provide them a 20 to 40 minutes of daily exercise that is enough for them.
Potential risks of High-Intensity Exercise in Dachshunds
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
Dachshunds have a unique appearance because of their long back and short legs, which makes them unique but also more prone to back-related issues, IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease). Because of this, it’s important to choose their exercise by keeping in mind their fragile back that can’t absorb much shock. Leash walking and controlled off-leash playing are best for your dachshund.
Joint Injuries
Another risk of high-intensity exercise is joint injuries. Whether you’re overweight or even at a normal weight, activities like running and jumping can put strain on your joints, which can potentially lead to further joint-related issues.
Overexertion and Heat Stress
High intensity exercise like running, jumping can cause overexertion and heat stress on the dachshund, because of their short leg. They need to take more steps to cover the same distance as other long-legged dogs. This results in higher energy output and results in exhaustion.
Another reason for their heat stress is their poor heat dissipation system; they have fewer sweat glands compared to other dog breeds, and their body has less surface area to exchange heat. As a result, providing them a high-intensity exercise can easily lead to overexertion and heat stress.
Delayed Growth or Damage in Puppies
By the age of 12 to 18 months, their muscle isn’t fully developed. If we introduce high-intensity exercise before their muscle fully mature, it can lead to muscle imbalance, poor posture, and problems with coordination. That’s why we only provide them an exercise after their muscles have fully developed.
Safer exercise for your dachshund
Leash walk
Leash walking is a convenient exercise for your dachshund because it doesn’t require much effort from the owner and it doesn’t put any strain on their back, You can even take your dachshund along with you when you’re going to the supermarket and shops.
Controlled off-leash play
We can let our dachshund off leash for playing in a properly fenced area, This is a safe exercise that doesn’t put strain on your dog. Keep in mind that the area should be properly fenced so that your dog can’t escape and run away from it.
Conclusion
Dachshunds are a breed that easily become overweight, so it’s important to manage their weight to keep them healthy. To do this, we need to choose an exercise that doesn’t put strain on their fragile back. Although standard and miniature dachshunds belong to the same dog breed but their daily exercise needs differ slightly because of their different size.
