How do I know if my new puppy is getting enough exercise?
First-time owners struggle to figure out the right balance of walk duration and frequency for a puppy's age and breed. Guessing wrong leads to overstimulated puppies, leash aggression, and the constant worry of either under-exercising an active dog or doing something wrong.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from October 2026.
- This comes up 24.4× more often in r/puppy101 than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Switching from two long walks to multiple shorter walks throughout the dayDid this help you?
- 2Stepping on the leash and putting the puppy in a down stay until they calm downDid this help you?
- 3Sitting on a bench outside to observe surroundings when the puppy gets overstimulatedDid this help you?
- 4Driving to a nearby park and rotating locations for sniff walksDid this help you?
- 5keeping the cat closed in a guest bedroom with food, water, and a litter boxDid this help you?
- 6asking online communities and forums for step-by-step pet care adviceDid this help you?
- 7watching animal behavior videos online to understand pet needsDid this help you?
- 8Asking online communities for recommendationsDid this help you?
- 9Guessing based on past experiences with older catsDid this help you?
- 10Asking online communities for shopping lists and raising tipsDid this help you?
- 11asking for pragmatic insight and day-to-day experiences from current dog owners on online forumsDid this help you?
- 12Searching for children's books or guides about dog safety and behavior.Did this help you?
- 13Leaving the instrument on the floor for a few days to let the puppy sniff and investigate without soundDid this help you?
- 14Holding the instrument without playing it once they stop caring about its presenceDid this help you?
- 15Playing a single soft strum while the puppy is eating something high-valueDid this help you?
- 16Starting drums by gently tapping with fingers on one drum very quietly while someone gives treats upstairsDid this help you?
- 17Giving them dental treatsDid this help you?
- 18Letting them sniff the toothbrushesDid this help you?
- 19Using frozen treats and lick mats during groomingDid this help you?
- 20Starting slowly by having them lick dog toothpaste off a finger or silicone fingertip toothbrush before progressing to a regular toothbrushDid this help you?
- 21Doing extensive research independently.Did this help you?
- 22Asking experienced owners or breeders for lists of recommended gearDid this help you?
- 23Using a secure crate or a harnessed seatbelt attachment for car safetyDid this help you?
- 24Bringing towels for potential car sickness or accidentsDid this help you?
- 25Asking online communities and subreddits for shopping recommendations and lists.Did this help you?
- 26taking a urine analysis with the vetDid this help you?
- 27cleaning the fake grass and crate floor once a weekDid this help you?
- 28Feeding the puppy baby formula or regular milk as a temporary substitute for specialized dog food.Did this help you?
- 29Feeding meals inside the crate with the door open to build positive associations.Did this help you?
- 30Following a strict 1-hour awake, 2-hours nap schedule throughout the day.Did this help you?
- 31Using fake grass pads for indoor potty options prior to full vaccinations.Did this help you?
- 32Observing the puppy for the first three days to track digestion timing.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“My family is considering getting a dog for the first time, but we're not sure what typical day to day life looks like with a dog.”source ↗
“more like what we'd need to budget time and energy wise if we were going to move forward with getting a dog.”source ↗
“I am composing a list should we proceed with adoption.”source ↗
“What do you reccomend to buy as first time dog owners. A full shopping list of the necessities please”source ↗
“Hello I’m about to get my first dog and he’s a yorkie chihuahua mix and about 4 months old. Does anyone have advice on how to train him, what to get him, any tips or tricks?”source ↗
“My nephews are coming to my home for Christmas and we just adopted a 1.5 year old rescue! She’s still settling in with us, so I know she may not be fully trained (especially around kids, which we don’t have) by the time they visit.”source ↗
“Does anyone have any recommendations? I imagine I’ll need atleast one book for the 8 & 6 year old, and then a different one for the 2 year old.”source ↗
“I remember thinking that if I had it to do over, there were certain things I would try to get them used to as kittens so they'd be fine with it when they were older, but now I can't remember what those things were lol.”source ↗
“My husband and I have never had a pet. We are housing a cat after a friend suddenly passed away yesterday.”source ↗
“We know nothing about keeping a cat.”source ↗
“Should we let her roam the house or keep her in the guest room? If we let her out, is there anything we need to prepare for before doing so? We are afraid of losing her.”source ↗
“What kind of cat food is "good" or what should we stay away from?”source ↗
“Is taking her to the humane society the better option? Are cats generally cared for there or is it more that they're thrown in a pen?”source ↗
“My partner and I are viewing some border collie puppies mid October! We've done extensive research and all, but wondering if you guys have any advice/ knowledge!”source ↗
“Do you have any questions that we should ask, anything we should be looking for, any behaviour signs to look for, anything the breeder may ask, just basically anything that would be useful to know and add to our current list.”source ↗
“Yesterday she was either going out to pee every 20 mins or going out squatting with no pee coming out.”source ↗
“Our vet has us taking a urine analysis and we wait for results tomorrow.”source ↗
“I am not 100% sure its a UTI but it probably is and its because we didnt clean enough.”source ↗
“Does anyone have any shared experiences ?”source ↗
“But this is my first time so I’m still unsure on what the steps should be.. like once I get her home, do I stay outside first to let her pee / poop or bring her straight home?”source ↗
“I feel like I know stuff in general but still unsure about what the schedule should look like & how to get myself familiarized with her needs.”source ↗
“I’m struggling to find the balance of how many walks she should get per day and how long she should be out for.”source ↗
“she’s started to get extremely overstimulated on these so I’m not sure if she should maybe do more shorter walks instead of two longer ones?”source ↗
“she’s started completely flipping out on me randomly while we’re walking. Growling, barking, and launching herself at me and the leash teeth first.”source ↗
“Are there any musicians who figured out good/safe ways to introduce your instruments to your new pups?”source ↗
“We have 11 week old schnauzer/lab/chow mixes and I tried playing a little acoustic this morning with some Steely Dan and the little one wasn't having it.”source ↗
“They haven't really experienced thunder or fireworks with us yet, so I don't want to be the first booming sound that scares them and have them worried when I'm playing drums.”source ↗
“I just can't figure out a good way to make teeth cleaning training easy for them.”source ↗
“I am personally struggling because our spaniel seems to be able to go on much longer walks, wants to run a lot, and I feel like we are limiting him”source ↗
“I'm super nervous about everything. I have bought the food/treats and a couple toys already but I'm not sure what would be needed exactly.”source ↗
“I feel like I dont know what I'm getting into.”source ↗
“I had similar problem with my acoustic and a puppy last year.”source ↗
“Do I need just a regular crate to go in the backseat or do I get specifically a travel crate for the car ride?”source ↗
“What kind of crate is recommended for pickup? I’ll definitely make sure to get one after seeing multiple recommendations for one!”source ↗
“Thanks for the tips! I’m also wondering how I’ll know her schedule initially. If she is making noise, idk how to differentiate between food/water/potty and I also don’t know if she’s eating a “normal” amount”source ↗
“I really need some advice on how to keep him happy!! I want my dog to be happy all the time and since it’s my first time owning one I want to do everything right.”source ↗
“What do I bring with me to pick her up? What kind of collar would fit an 8-9 week old rough collie puppy?”source ↗