Is my 6-month-old puppy lethargic from too much exercise or play?

For puppies that are still eating and drinking but lethargic and no signs of GI issues I would be suspicious of a couple of things: 1) puppy is just sleeping more now because he is still growing, Pitt Bull terriers and other large breed dogs can go through pretty fast growth spurts and this can definitely cause pups to sleep more. 2) If puppy is overly lethargic and running out of breathe easily or becoming intolerant to exercise or play I would be suspicious of a cardiovascular abnormality. I would recommend you schedule an appointment to have a vet do a heart auscultation (listen to the heart with microscope) to ensure your pets heart does not have any arrhythmia's or murmurs.

Yes, he’s still a puppy and needs rest with lots of exercise. Playing and having him run free are fine exercise but It’s best not to run distances with him as his bones are still growing. Providing steady daily exercise is best. Training is also mentally tiring but good for Bertie. As long as he’s eating and drinking fine it doesn’t sound like this is anything to be overly concerned about. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Bertie.

Let him rest, make sure he has plenty of fluids, and feed him normally. If he gets worse, not eating or drinking, then please bring him in for treatment right away. He could be dehydrated, just exhausted, or have some muscle or bone pain from the run. Puppies shouldn’t run with their owners until their bones are fully grown, usually about 18 months old, depending on the breed. They can run around plenty on their own, just not a run at a steady pace for miles until they are grown up. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for puppy.

At 60 minutes twice daily, you are doing a little more exercise than Sammi needs at the moment. Puppies do not require as much [exercise](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-start-an-exercise-routine-with-your-dog) as adult dogs. Over exertion may lead to lifelong [orthopedic issues](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-common-orthopedic-conditions-in-dogs). The general recommendation is 5 minutes of exercise per month of age twice daily until fully grown, which for most dogs is about 1 year of age, although larger or giant breeds may not be fully grown until about 2 years of age. I recommend cutting back to two 20 minute walks per day, increasing it by 5 minutes each when she is 5 months, and so on. Because she has a lot of energy, you can work on [obedience training](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-obedience-commands-every-dog-should-know) with her (teaching her to sit, stay, lay down, etc.). That will use up some energy, and have the positive effect of [training](https://www.petcoach.co/article/new-dog-survival-guide-tips-for-training) her.

What a cutie! I would follow his lead in the amount of exercise he needs. You are correct in that going running or prolonged jogging in a young dog is not a good idea, as their growth plates are still developing, so we recommend waiting until they are over a year old. Walks, however, and playtime outside with you are fantastic. If he is seeming like he is overly tired or not enthusiastic to continue walking, this would be a cue to slow down/stop. As he gets continued exercise his endurance will increase, just like a person starting to exercise.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If you feel that Bailey has lost energy and is not as playful as she used to be, I would recommend having her checked out by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. In regards to exercise, anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours per day is sufficient for exercise for most dogs. If there are other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, discomfort, inappetance or decreased appetite, etc. then there may be something more serious going on. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

The rule of thumb for vigorous exercise in puppies is five minutes per month of age. At four months of age, Diesel should not run more than 20 minutes up to twice a day. If you do run him, then I would cut down on the play time. This is because too much play and exercise can be detrimental to his growth. Good luck, I hope this helps!