The Right Amount of Exercise & Sleep for Your Large Dog

Rest & Recover: Your Guide to Exercising Large Dog Breeds

Everybody loves large dog breeds, and it is easy to see why. Large breed dogs make us feel safer, and families often associate them with the idea watchfulness, with the idea that they will help guard home and hearth.

Large breed dogs are also known to be easy-going, gentle, and playful, with good temperaments. While you might think of large mastiffs or great Danes running wild in the country, even urban Millennials choose large dogs as companions, because greyhounds and great Danes adapt well to small apartment living, as long as they get a good long walk on a daily basis and get the right amount of sleep.

Large dogs are also highly teachable, and their natural intelligence allows them to retain commands from a young age. If, as an owner, you show confidence in being a leader, large breed dogs often respond well to training.

Of course, every breed of dog comes with its quirks and large breed dogs are no exception. While pet owners love the idea of a big, compassionate dog nearby, it’s important to remember that without proper exercise and sleep regimens, large breed dogs are susceptible to health issues.

Exercise – How Much is Too Much?

Every dog needs exercise, but when it comes to a physical outing, what will exhaust a Boston Terrier will barely be considered a warm-up for a border collie. A light, 30-minute stroll may be enough for a toy breed, but an energetic, bouncy Labrador or an inexhaustible Jack Russell will require a more rigorous routine.

It should also be noted that some genetic limitations will dictate the type of exercise your dog can handle. Pugs or other short nose breeds should avoid strenuous exercise that will tax their breathing, while narrow-bodied German shepherds and Dobermans should not be exercised immediately after eating, since these breeds are prone to bloating.

For larger breed dogs such as great Danes and Mastiffs, joint issues are often a problem. This creates a bit of a Catch-22, as it’s important to exercise your large breed regularly to help them maintain a healthy weight, but you can’t over exhaust them otherwise you’re worsening the problem.

Puppy Love

You should start a low to mid intensity exercise routine with your large breed dog from the moment you acquire them as a puppy. While it may be extremely tempting to take your large breed puppy on the run with you to the park, remember that until these breeds are adults, their skeletons are not fully formed or strong enough to support their weight at such high intensity.

While puppies need exercise, you should avoid excessive or intense physical activities until they are old enough to handle it, especially with large breeds.

Adult Dogs Love a Classic Walk  

Exercise with your dog can be as simple as taking a short trip down the street or visiting the local dog park. If you want to break a sweat with your dog, be creative — simply trying to run them right will never be the best option, especially for large dogs whose joints simply can’t take extreme prolonged activity.

Instead, mix up your walk with intervals of high-stepping or jogging to boost the heart rate and burn more calories. Also consider walking on different surfaces such as shallow water, fall leaves, snow, sand, or any other rough service. You can also use obstacles such as logs and benches to facilitate extra exercise through jumping, crawling, and bouncing.

Give them Good Sleep to Recover 

Of course, all his exercise will tucker out your large breed companion, and every dog loves a great bed in which to curl up at the end of a long walk, and you’ll love the orthopedic large dog beds we have available for every large and extra-large breed. Without the right bed, dogs can even develop sleep disorders just like we can!

Whether you have a Mastiff or a Newfoundland, your large dog will likely sleep approximately 12 to 14 hours per day. That’s a considerable amount of time and so it pays to invest in secure, comfortable indoor dog beds or outdoor dog beds that will accommodate your large breed dog.

An orthopedic, breed-specific bed from Mammoth Outlet will give your dog a peaceful night’s sleep because it forms to the contours of your dog’s body, giving them an unrivaled comfortable and customized sleep all through the night.

The larger the breed of your dog, the larger the bed you need, because without the room to fully stretch while they sleep, the stress all that exercise has put on their bones all day long won’t have a chance to properly heal. Visit our site to see how big a dog bed should be based on the breed of your best bud.

Orthopedic Beds Benefit Dogs as Well as Humans

Because large and extra-large dog breeds are more at risk for skeletal issues such as arthritis, hip dysplacia, Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), and Osteochondrosis Dessicans (OCD), specialty retailers such as Mammoth Outlet will help with these ailments.

Luckily, we have a number of breed specific beds that help to reduce the onset of these exact conditions.

Quality large dog beds from Mammoth Dog Beds are also stain, mildew, and water-repellant and come with anti-odor protectors. Our beds also come with removable covers for easy machine washable cleaning. Materials include canvas, Cordura, and other microfibers, all of which are strong enough to withstand a stretching or sleeping large breed dog, while still retaining a soft malleability to ensure a comfortable night’s rest.

You love your large breed dog, so why not take the time to ensure that they will be with you for years to come. The right exercise regimen, combined with the right bed to facilitate a proper night’s sleep will ensure that your dog lives a long, healthy, happy life.