How active is your dog?

How active is your dog, and how can you tell?

So, you think your dog is active.

A lot of people have dogs who enjoy a brisk stroll around the neighborhood a few times a day and they’ll think this means they have a highly active pet. And while we hate to burst bubbles around here, that’s not an accurate assessment of activity level. Going for one long walk, or even multiple, per day does not mean your dog is highly active. Even playing fetch or going on runs daily with your dog does not mean they have a high activity level!

We know this may be surprising news, so keep reading to learn about what really makes a highly active dog, how to assess your dog’s actual activity levels, and what their unique needs are based on how active they truly are.

What does “active” really mean when it comes to our dogs, and why does it matter?

Understanding what kind of activity level your dog really has is critical in understanding how much and what kind of exercise they need, and how much food you should be giving them every day. While every dog is an individual with unique personalities, energy levels, and needs, here are four general categories that dogs fall in when it comes to their activity.

The couch potato. They’re essentially sedentary and their activity level is very low.

No shade to these dogs or their cushy lifestyles, we love them just the same! If your dog is getting fifteen minutes or less of daily walking time, in total, they would fall in this “couch potato” category. This includes dogs who have mobility issues, who may be overweight, and those who just really don’t feel like getting a workout in.

The “once around the block will do the trick” type. Their activity level is still considered “low”.

If you take your dog on relatively short, infrequent strolls, they probably fall within this category. These dogs get around thirty minutes to an hour of daily walks, making their activity level “low”.

They enjoy long walks on the beach (for an hour, every day). These dogs have an average activity level.

This is where it gets a bit tricky. These dogs enjoy long daily walks or hikes, but they are for longer stretches of time, say about an hour per day, plus they’ll play the occasional game of fetch or go for a run.

The sporty, high-energy type. They have the true high-activity levels.

These are working dogs. Think police dogs, search and rescue dogs, cattle dogs, or even dogs who participate in sporting events that require rigorous training regimens. These dogs complete several hours or more of intense work, every day. This is a rare case, and most household pets won’t fall into this category.

How do I know how much food my dog needs everyday based on their activity level? 

Giving your dog the appropriate amount of food based on how active they are will help to keep them at a healthy weight, protecting their joints and long-term mobility. To figure out how much food your dog should be eating every day based on their activity level, use our feeding calculator. However, it’s important to note that the feeding calculator determines an average, and every dog is an individual. In addition to activity level, a dog’s individual metabolism, age, neuter status, and more all play into how many calories they need per day. So, if they’re still too chunky or too thin while eating the amount they’re “supposed” to eat, then this feeding amount should be adjusted to maintain a healthy weight. And if drastic adjustments are needed, be sure to first work with your veterinarian to rule out underlying health conditions that could affect their weight.  

And remember, the above categories include adult dogs only; puppies and their activity levels are a different story and puppies generally should not be heavily/purposefully exercised. Check out this blog to learn more about how to feed your puppy a raw diet. 

If you have any questions or need more one-on-one support, you can always get in touch with our team of raw feeding experts directly by sending an email to help@carnos.com.