My crated 4-month puppy is sleepy. Does he need more exercise?

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.

For his age the time he spends at a stretch in a crate is fine. You're doing a great job with making sure he gets out to go potty and exercise. When he's at the park, make sure he plays hard and gets tired, so throw the ball or run with him to make sure he gets tired. Making sure he gets plenty of exercise will ensure a little destructive behavior as possible, since a tired dog is a happy dog. Get him some kind of toy to keep him occupied in his crate as well. Kong toys are fantastic, they offer heavy-duty chewing and can also be thrown for him to fetch, dogs will even entertain themselves with a Kong toy by dropping it, the shape makes it bounce erratically. In time, he may be able to come out of the crate as he comes to understand that you will come back to him.

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.

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.

Hello. A 2 year old un-neutered male dog will require LOTS of exercise to tire him out. You may just have to exercise him more. Also, neutering will decrease the amount of restless energy he has and is a good idea for other health concerns as well. Try taking him for longer walks, playing with the ball so he gets a lot of running in. Be careful not to perform any of these when it is very hot out, if it is more than 25-30 degrees do not run your dog.

Hi! How exciting! And yes, they do need lot's of exercise. I would avoid places where he can encounter other dogs, especially puppies. The biggest threat is parvo for puppies, and he'll have some immunity from the 2 vaccines, but until a few days after his last vaccines, I would avoid places that other puppies have been or might be encountered. Also make sure he's on a good dewormer (check with your vet what is appropriate for where you live). Have fun with your new puppy!

This is really common for his age! Try to keep him up later if possible but just remember he is young and has a hard time holding it for too long. Also he has a lot of energy which will improve as he gets older. Finally if y'all have a doggy day care in your area you may try to take him there once or twice a week to see if it helps to expend more of his energy.