Care
How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Actually Need?
The honest ranges
Working and sporting breeds (collies, shepherds, pointers, huskies) genuinely need one to two-plus hours of varied activity daily; most companion breeds thrive on 30–60 minutes; flat-faced and giant breeds need modest, heat-aware exercise. An under-exercised dog invents jobs you won't like.
Sniffing counts double
A 20-minute 'sniffari' where the dog chooses the route and reads every lamppost tires the brain more than an hour of forced marching. Decompression walks on a long line are the most underrated exercise in dog ownership.
Mix the portfolio
Walks plus something for the mind: food puzzles, training minutes, scent games ('find it'), fetch with rules, tug with an out, swimming for joint-friendly effort. Five minutes of nosework can equal a long walk in satisfaction.
Adjust for the individual
Puppies need frequent short play, not forced runs on growing joints; seniors need gentler, more frequent outings; recovery and arthritis change the plan. Watch your own dog: a good exercise day ends in a happy flop, not a wired evening or a limping morning.
If the day is coming
Ease The Paw coordinates in-home pet euthanasia across South Africa — we find and book the vet, arrange the cremation and handle the keepsakes, so you can simply be present. A flat R950 covers the coordination and your keepsake memorial; the vet and cremation are billed separately at their own rates.
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Celebrate your pet every day
A gentle, private community for pet lovers: share photos, track their care with our breed-aware coach, and lean on us when the time comes.
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