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Can my highly active dog be tired and need a break like an athlete?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | spayed | 1 year and 5 months old | 75 lbs

Black Lab; 17 months. Spayed; all shots. Seems a little tired, but eats and drinks. Still begs for food. Been playing hard all summer. River, ocean, dog park. Almost everyday. Could she just need a break? No fever. Stomach isn't tender. She hasn't had a break all summer. Can dogs want to take a break? Sort of like athletes? It's possible she could've ate something, but she has an appetite and still drinks water regularly. Her stools seem fine. She just seems slightly pooped.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Davis

Veterinarian

Published on September 9th, 2017

Yes she may need a rest. With agility dogs and other canine athletes we recommend one day off a week for rest with only short walks and no heavy activity. These dogs also get a month off during the year to just relax and be a dog. This helps them recover from long bouts of strenuous physical activity. If you give Belle a week or two of reduced activity and plenty of rest and she doesn't get her energy back then I would bring her in for an exam. They will check her for joint pain and run a blood panel to rule out metabolic issues. She's probably fine from your description so let her be lazy for a while and see how she does. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Belle.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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