How Much Exercise Does a Havanese Need? Vet Reviewed Facts & FAQ
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The Havanese is a cute, spirited dog breed that originated in Cuba. These pups are practically irresistible, thanks to their jovial and charming personalities. Whether you’re still deciding on a dog breed, or you’ve already settled on the Havanese, you need to understand the exercise requirements of this breed so you can be fully prepared to meet the needs of your dog. Typically, a healthy adult Havanese needs at least 30 minutes of daily exercise, but this could change depending on the individual dog.
What Exercise Requirements Does a Havanese Have?
All dog breeds need daily exercise, the Havanese is no exception to this rule. Most Havanese need at least 30 minutes of exercise daily. Examples of exercise activities include a brisk walk, an engaging romp in the yard or house, a game of fetch, a small hiking adventure, or playing with other well-socialized dogs. As 30 minutes is recommended as a general minimum, you may spend more time exercising your dog – 60 minutes or more of daily exercise may also be perfectly fine. Increased interaction, exercise, and playtime with your dogs is encouraged, as long as you aren’t overexercising them.
Overexercising your Havanese can be stressful for your dog. It can also lead to overexertion, which is especially dangerous in hot weather or rugged environments. In general, dogs will work to keep up with their people and canine companions, so if your Havanese feels like they are struggling to keep up with you, then they still may try to push onward.
It is important to keep an eye out for signs that your dog is being overexercised. Dogs aren’t as effective at thermal regulation when compared to humans. If you overexercise your Havanese, they may starting showing some of these signs.
- Panting very heavily
- Breathing heavily with lots of chest movement
- Struggling to keep pace with you
- Seeking shelter or water more than usual
- Stopping to rest more frequently
- In extreme cases, your dog may suddenly collapse
Does a Havanese Need a Fenced Yard?
No, Havanese can be excellent apartment dogs. Having off-leash time in a safe environment can be beneficial to your dog, but it isn’t essential for your Havanese to have their exercise needs met.
Always make sure that your Havanese is only allowed off their leash in safe and approved areas, though. These are small dogs that can easily be injured or killed by other animals, people, vehicles, and other environmental dangers.
What Kind of Exercise Does a Havanese Need?
There are a lot of forms of exercise that your Havanese may benefit from. Going for a brisk walk is a good way to help your Havanese get enough exercise, but even things like running through the house or playing ball in the backyard can help your Havanese burn excess energy, too. Some Havanese even participate in dog sports and activities, like obedience and agility trials.
The weather isn’t always ideal for outdoor activities, so you may have to get creative during less-than-ideal weather. While physical exercise is recommended in even small quantities every day, mental exercise can also help tire your Havanese out. Puzzles and games can be great ways to tire out your Havanese without going overboard on exercise.
Using puzzles and training games to feed your dog its meals can help burn some energy while your dog is doing something they’d typically be doing anyway. You may also try nose work and other engaging activities that don’t require a lot of exercise but that will help tire your pup out.
Final Thoughts
Havanese are dogs with moderate exercise needs, so plan to spend at least 30 minutes to an hour daily exercising your Havanese. Walks, games, toys, and even short hikes or swims can help keep your Havanese active. Just keep in mind that it’s your responsibility to pay attention to the signs from your dog indicating that they are getting tired and need a break.
Featured Image Credit: Sandra Huber, Shutterstock
