Rottweilers are quite the active dog breed and are full of energy and stamina.
They bring a lot of people joy, including their owners, as they tend to be goofy and cuddly; they also have a large personality to fit their physical size.
As these dogs are large and have the energy to match, they require a good amount of exercise. So, ask yourself: is your Rottweiler walking enough?
A healthy adult Rottweiler needs to be walked for thirty to sixty minutes two to three times a day. A senior Rottweiler should only walk thirty to sixty minutes once a day, and how much a puppy Rottweiler needs to walk depends on its age. As a rule of thumb, take the puppy’s age in months and multiply it by 5 minutes.
Why do you need to adjust your walking time according to your Rottweilers age?
If you are not able to walk your Rottweiler, are there any other exercises or activities that you can do with them to keep them healthy and get rid of their excess energy?
Let us find out.
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How Much Should A Rottweiler Walk?
Rottweilers are big dogs that have the energy and stamina to match; in fact, Rottweilers are considered a high-energy dog breed. These powerful dogs need a lot of exercises to keep them fit and healthy.
Rottweilers are a high-energy dog breed and may need some vigorous exercises to drain that energy, but they also require daily walks.
Walking is considered a moderate activity for Rottweilers, and it is useful for the always needed potty breaks.
Walking is also an excellent way to provide some mental stimulation for your Rottweiler, and it is also a good way for them to socialize with other dogs and humans.
So, exactly how much should a Rottweiler be walking to stay at a healthy weight?
If your Rottweiler is a healthy adult, then you need to take them for a walk two to three times a day, and these walks need to be between thirty and sixty minutes long.
If you are able to, your Rottweiler will also greatly benefit from a hike or two on the weekends as this will give them more opportunity to walk off-leash and interact with nature.
Walking in nature also provides more muscle building and mental stimulation than just a walk around your neighborhood.
Can A Rottweiler Walk Too Much?
Even though Rottweilers are an active dog breed and are full of energy, you do still need to be careful with the amount of exercise you give them, as they can be over-worked if you are not paying attention.
Healthy adult Rottweilers do need a good amount of exercise every day to keep them trim and healthy, but as Rottweilers grow older, you need to slow down a bit.
The older a Rottweiler gets, the less exercise they will need, and if you do not adjust their exercise routine, then they can be over-worked, which can lead to injury.
If your Rottweiler is a young adult, then you also need to watch how much you exercise them as their bones and growth plates, ligaments, and muscles are still developing.
If the Rottweiler is over-worked during this crucial development time, this can cause injury as well as permanent lameness.
So, if your Rottweiler is a senior, then you should only walk your Rottweiler for between thirty and sixty minutes a day, once a day.
Anything more than one hour could lead to injury for your Rottweiler.
We also recommended that you split this hour of activity up throughout the day for potty breaks for your Rottweiler, and not just one hour of continuous exercise.
If you have a young adult Rottweiler, it needs to walk for thirty to sixty minutes no more than twice a day.
If you are a happy and proud owner of a healthy adult Rottweiler, then you should not walk your dog more than three times a day for thirty to sixty minutes per walk.
How Far Should A Rottweiler Puppy Walk?
Anyone who has had a Rottweiler from when they were young knows that a Rottweiler puppy is just a ball of energy. They will play and continue playing until they cannot keep their eyes open anymore.
These cute little energy balls do require some exercise, just like an adult Rottweiler, but they require a lot less.
You want to ensure that you do not over-work your Rottweiler when he or she is a puppy; otherwise, you risk them getting seriously injured or even causing permanent lameness in their legs.
A great way to get some good moderate exercise in with your Rottweiler puppy is to walk them.
Walking them also helps train them to do their business outside and not inside, which you of course want to avoid.
But how far should you walk your Rottweiler puppy?
Use this rule of thumb to make sure that your Rottweiler gets the optimal amount of exercise: take your puppy’s age in months, and multiply this by 5 minutes.
For example, if your Rottweiler puppy is five months old, then your puppy will need 25 minutes of moderate exercise once or twice a day, but do not exceed twice a day.
So, however far you can get in 25 minutes at a bit of a brisk pace when you finish the walk at your starting point, then that’s how far you should walk your puppy.
Socializing Your Rottweiler Is Very Important
We can’t talk about walking your Rottweiler without bringing up socializing your pup as well.
We cannot emphasize the importance of doing this enough – it is very important!
Related article: How To Socialize Your German Shepherd
Properly socializing your Rottweiler will ensure that your pup grows into a happy and well adjusted adult.
Early socialization will make sure that your Rottweiler will never bark or bite out of fear, which is a real risk for improperly socialized dogs.
We like to say that socialization isn’t an option, it’s every dog owner’s duty – especially when it comes to larger and more powerful breeds like Rottweilers.
Be sure to check out this excellent video below – the trainer talks you through some very important points that you won’t want to miss if you are new to Rottweiler ownership.
Alternative Exercises To Walking For Rottweilers
There are times, however, when we cannot walk our Rottweilers.
This could be because we get busy with work or we have a difficult day, and we are tired when we get home; whatever the reason, you still need to give your Rottweiler some exercise when you get home.
Here are some alternative exercises to walking for your Rottweiler.
A great way to exercise your Rottweiler with little effort on your side is to play fetch with them.
Throw your dog’s ball as hard as you can to ensure they get a chance to run, and always give them praise when they bring the ball back. This is also a great bonding exercise for you and your dog.
And if you don’t feel like getting all slobbery by touching a drooled on tennis ball, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
Check out the Chuckit! ball launcher. It will also save you a sore arm from repetitive throwing, whci your Rottweiler will most likely demand!
Additionally, of you have some energy you can always set up an obstacle course for your Rottweiler to work through.
This obstacle course does not have to be extravagant, just something simple like this one from Outward Hound – it’s a great way to exercise your dog and train your dog and build up your bond.
You can also blow some non-toxic bubbles for your Rottweiler to chase around the garden, as they do have a blast trying to pop them all. We love using these from Bubbletastic! And get this, the bubbles are peanut butter flavored!
Final Thoughts
Walking is a great way for your Rottweiler to get in some moderate, low-intensity exercise that is easy on the joints.
You just need to ensure that you do not over-work them as this can lead to some injuries and even permanent damage to their legs and joints if you over-work them at different stages of their lives.
It is easy to avoid these situations as you just need to time your walks according to your Rottweilers age.
Also, remember that there are a other ways to get your Rottweiler moving other than walking – so experiment, and most of all, have fun!