Huskies are incredible creatures that thrive in the cold, though they adapt to any weather they live in. What amazes me about them isn’t just their leadership and pack skills, but their strength and power. They expend a ton of energy, made to work and/or play a LOT.
That’s why Siberian Huskies, just like all dog breeds, require exercise to maintain good emotional and physical health. But how much exercise does a Siberian Husky need, exactly? There isn’t an exact number of minutes or hours, but it’s important to learn the proper amount to prevent overexertion.
Read on to learn all about the exercise requirements of a Siberian Husky!
How Much Exercise Does a Siberian Husky Need?
We all know that Huskies require a LOT of exercise since they are working dogs. They are also known for their activeness and high energies, which need to be expended properly. If not, it can cause boredom and frustration, leading to messy homes from trying to expend energy chewing through furniture or running around rooms!
However, too much exercise can also be bad for their health, leading to heightened injury risk and exhaustion. So how much exercise does a Siberian Husky need?
Like all dogs, they need exercise every day, though a bit more than usual. Active dog breeds like the Husky require a bit more than two hours of exercise daily, depending on their age.
How do you spend two hours exercising your Husky though? Well, they need more than just the usual walk! There are three main forms of exercises that your Husky needs DAILY.
The Daily Walks
All dogs need to be walked every day, both to expend their energies and to relieve themselves. These walks can also help stimulate your Husky’s mind, as they come across different sights, smells, and dogs along the way.
As much as possible, you should walk your Husky for at least 30-45 minutes every day. This depends on your schedule and how long your Husky can go for.
You can either do one long walk, or two shorter walks daily, whatever your schedule allows. Make sure to make this into a routine, as Huskies live on this! If you want more resistance for your Husky, you can consider using a dog backpack or weighted vest to tire them out and work on their strength.
I highly recommend that you go for daily walks rather than one whole long walk during the weekend. This can tire your Husky out while still boring them at home during non-walk days.
Purposeful High-Intensity Exercises
As mentioned, Huskies are extremely strong, energetic, and with a lot of stamina. Because of this, they need more than just daily walks to expend their energy. They also need high-intensity activities to work on their strength and endurance to maintain their muscles!
You can spend 5-15 minutes a day on such activities, which can help support their joints. When doing so, it can prevent injuries and bone-related illnesses that weaken their bodies as they age.
Here are some fun high-intensity games and exercises you can play with your Husky:
- Play fetch to burn that pent-up energy, using a good ball. This trains their sight, focus, and hunting skills
- Frisbee is a more advanced game that requires more skill, timing, and coordination. This helps with the Husky’s agility and flexibility
- Consider setting up a mini obstacle course in your yard, either using household items or purchasing agility sets
Mental Stimulation and Training
Dogs require outlets for their minds, especially intelligent dogs like Huskies. It’s best to challenge their minds to make it efficient for training, which has them maintain good behavior in and out of their homes. Like high-intensity exercises, they require about 10-15 minutes of this daily.
Here are some good ideas to exercise your Husky’s mind beyond training:
- Invest in puzzle toys that can also give out treats to encourage your dog to play
- Teach your dog new tricks and commands beyond the usual sit and stay, such as learning specific names and words in the household
- Scenting and nose games are also a good way to test their hunting and scavenging skills. Try giving them something scented and hide it for them to hide
Find out more about the exercise requirements of a Siberian Husky from this informative video:
Wrapping It Up
Giving your Siberian Husky the exercise he needs is one of the ways to maintaining his health. Avoid giving him too little or too much of it, daily walks are more than enough for your Siberian Husky. But don’t forget to give him playtime and proper training as well!
Hopefully, this article answers your question, “how much exercise does a Siberian Husky need?” So begin exercising your Siberian Husky the right way and make sure to include good training now!