What Counts As Exercise?

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

This feels likes a strange question to ask.  Ludo doesn't give me any indicators that he isn't getting enough exercise aside from occasionally being restless and me having to instigate a game, but I'm trying to find his form of exercise because he's not very good at fetch--he'll chase after things but won't bring them back and if he does bring something back, he loses interest after a couple throws.  I think he'll like neighborhood walks once he's had all his puppy shots but isn't a tremendous fan of the laps we do around our yard (he tries to go inside every time we reach and entry-point to the house).

In puppy preschool, the trainer mentioned that chewing was exercise and I should have asked then (but didn't) if it was just as good as fetch, in terms of getting exercise-- to me, it didn't seem like it possibly could be, but Ludo LOVES chewing on antlers and nylabones and rope toys-- anything really.  He also really loves eating out of kongs and West Paw toys and I know that those are mentally tiring.

I know he's a puppy and I'm not sitting here sweating this question or panicking about Ludo not getting enough exercise, I just want to help him find something that he loves that also really tires him out. 

Thanks so much.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

If you have stairs, going up and down them would be lots of exercise and you can incorporate stay and come  using stairs.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

I thought we had to wait on lots of stairs until skeletal growth was complete due to joint issues, am I too much of a worrier or is this right? Ludo is really young, right?

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

My understanding was that they can go up and down then so long as you aren't running them (meaning pulling them on a leash) and everything in moderation. My vet explained it as if your sitting at the top just throwing a toy, or half way down so they are only doing half flights, if the puppy needs a break they will take one. Or in any case its obvious when they start to slow down and stop then. He said it's similar to running, a puppy can be out running in the back yard and they will take a break as needed and this running is normal and fine because they stop themselves to rest. But if you have them out for a run on a leash they won't take a break because they feel compelled to follow you and this is were the excessive pounding on their joints can cause damage. I'm not sure if I explained/worded this wel, hopefully I did!

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

While both my boys were waiting for the vet clearance to go to the dog parks I would throw a tennis ball up and down the stairs (I'm sure my downstairs neighbors hated me). It took a while for the whole "bring the ball back" to catch on but when they were little guys they would run up and down the stairs a few times and need a nap. Hope this helps!