Do we really need to “tire our dogs out?”
In our busy world, it might feel important to make the most of our outings with our dogs by really "tiring them out" - whether it's a fetch session, a long hike, a run, or the dog park. It’s understandable - we want our dogs to be healthy, have fun, and be able to sleep or rest through much of the day. But in most cases, I believe this mindset can do more harm than good.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “My dog loves daycare. He plays all day and crashes so hard when he gets home.” Or “my dog crashed so hard (after a game of fetch, a dog park visit, or a play date).” As if the crash is the goal, the evidence of time well spent. But is it?
Your dog sleeping hard all afternoon might feel convenient, or make you feel less guilty about having to go to work. But is it actually a sign that your dog feels good? We don’t know, because our dogs can’t tell us. But we do know that stress, discomfort, and pain can also cause exhaustion.
If, after intense play or exercise and the crash, your dog seems a little stiff or sore, or is even limping, this is a clear sign that their body was pushed past what felt good or sustainable. That kind of “tired” should never be the goal.
Dogs evolved for endurance, but even wild dogs spend the vast majority of their time resting, sniffing, air scenting, and conserving energy. Most modern companion dogs were bred for just that - companionship. They do not have the same physiology as the wild dogs and wolves they descended from, and they live in vastly different environments.
In low stress environments, dogs will naturally pace themselves and alternate between movement, sniffing, and rest. Their evolutionary wiring is to conserve energy and use it when it matters. But that ability can break down pretty quickly depending on the situation and the environment.
In highly stimulating environments like daycare, dog parks, or during intense play or fetch sessions, dogs don’t self regulate well. Adrenaline kicks in, and dogs can get caught in a pattern of high arousal behaviors. At that point, they’re not really choosing to keep going in a thoughtful way. They’re just carried by the momentum of the environment.
Just like kids at a birthday party, dogs take cues from the environment and respond to social pressure. If other dogs are running, chasing, and wrestling, it can be hard for a dog to opt out, even if they’re tired. The same thing happens with fetch. Many dogs will keep chasing a ball far past the point of fatigue or what is physically comfortable because the pattern is so reinforcing.
I see a lot of dog guardians get caught in this loop.
Their dog seems to “need” more and more intense activity in order to settle. But in reality, the dog is being put in situations where it’s really hard to modulate their arousal - and hard to come back down afterwards because of the cortisol and adrenaline spikes involved.
And in many cases, there are physical impacts too.
Early wear and tear on joints. Injuries. Chronic pain from all that high-impact movement.
And guess what makes it even harder to settle and get good rest?
Chronic pain.
We believe that a daily dog-directed outing in a low stress location is so critical to our dogs' mental and physical wellness. In our experience, this type of walk does far more to support calm, relaxed behavior at home than intense exercise ever could.
Another massive benefit is that these types of walks give us a chance to observe our dogs carefully, recognize how they're feeling, and better understand their behavior. We can then make adjustments to their lifestyle and activity that supports their health and well being over the long term.
Exercise and movement is an important part of a healthy life, and I'm not saying you should never do a beach day or a play date. But if we want our dogs to settle at home without needing to be exhausted, they have to practice settling in the absence of exhaustion.
Let's think of our dog's energy and excitement as a dimmer switch rather than an on/off toggle. If you’re on a sniffy walk and your dog wants to zoom around or play some recall games, great. If you’re at the beach and your dog charges into the water and runs the shoreline, amazing! Let them express that excitement. If your dog loves to fetch or tug, play for a few minutes, then give them a chance to do a different activity.
Balance moments of excitement with calm sniffing, exploring, or some low stakes training or pattern games. Build in frequent breaks. Practice downshifting. Over time, your dog will learn to move between those states more easily. And you'll get better at noticing their physical limitations or signs of fatigue.
Instead of "how do I tire my dog out," maybe we should ask "how do I give my dog what they need to feel fulfilled, so that they can rest comfortably later?"
I believe our goal should be to support our dog in regulating their own activity levels and honoring their physical limitations. It's not always easy, but I think it's worth it for our dog's long term health and quality of life.
A story from my own experience as a dog walker:
One of my first walking clients was a sweet, adorable cocker spaniel. He was what you’d describe as “high energy” and sometimes struggled with reactivity. His family signed him up for double daily hikes. Two hours a day of running, zooming, wrestling, and nonstop activity. He always seemed to have fun. And yes, he crashed when he got home.
For a while, the double hikes seemed to help with the energy and reactivity. But over time, it became clear that the added activity wasn't truly helping him. He seemed to need more and more stimulation to reach that same level of exhaustion.
I also wasn’t experienced enough at the time to notice the subtle signs of pain he was experiencing.
Eventually, he had a major pain episode at home. After a lot of investigation, he was diagnosed with double hip dysplasia (at just three years old). We all felt terrible for missing the signs, and it was a real wake up call.
We lowered his activity levels dramatically and shifted to lower stress outings once a day. He’ll likely deal with pain and discomfort throughout his life, but his owners are deeply committed to helping him live as comfortably as possible.
I’m grateful for this experience because it changed how I approached my hiking service. Rather than being a source of excitement, I started seeing myself as a source of safety and predictability.
Not only did this help the dogs have more relaxed outings, it helped me stay in a place where I could observe carefully, notice subtle changes, communicate better with guardians, and provide a more appropriate service overall.
I truly believe we don’t need to “amp our dogs up" or "tire them out." They are already wonderful, quirky, and unique as they are, and will find their own natural rhythms of excitement and calm. They just need more opportunities to be in the world as themselves.
