Working as a canine physical therapist for the past decade, I’ve noticed something fascinating: different dog breeds have completely different joint problems. What works for a Great Dane won’t help a Dachshund, and exercises perfect for a Border Collie might actually harm a Bulldog.
When pet owners ask me, “What exercises should I do for my dog’s joints?” my answer is always the same: “Well, that depends on what kind of dog you have.” Joint health is consistently one of the top concerns I hear from dog owners, but most don’t realize how much breed differences matter when designing exercise programs.
The good news? Research backs up what I’ve seen in my practice—targeted exercises that address breed-specific vulnerabilities can dramatically improve mobility, reduce pain, and slow down joint deterioration. But you need to know what you’re targeting.
Understanding What Makes Your Dog’s Joints Vulnerable
The Big Guys: Large and Giant Breed Challenges
If you have a Lab, German Shepherd, Great Dane, or similar large breed, you’re probably already worried about hip or elbow dysplasia. There’s good reason for that concern.
These big dogs face a perfect storm of joint challenges. Their puppyhood growth is incredibly rapid, with bones often growing faster than the ligaments and tendons that support them. It’s like building a house where the frame goes up before the foundation is completely set. Add their substantial weight to this developmental mismatch, and you have a recipe for joint problems.
I always tell owners of large breeds to picture their dog’s weight distribution: about 60% on the front legs and 40% on the back legs during normal standing. That uneven loading pattern puts tremendous stress on their front-end joints, especially the elbows.
Genetics plays a huge role too. Breeds like German Shepherds, Rotties, and Great Danes have inherited tendencies toward dysplasia and arthritis. Many owners are shocked when I diagnose joint issues in their 1-2 year old dogs, but that’s often when problems first appear, even if obvious limping might not show up until later.
The Little Guys: Small and Medium Breed Issues
Small dogs generally catch a break when it comes to joint timing—they typically don’t develop serious problems until around 6-8 years of age. But they have their own unique vulnerabilities.
Take Dachshunds, for example. That adorable long back and short legs? It’s basically a structural engineering challenge. Their elongated spines make them particularly susceptible to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), which affects not just the spine itself but overall mobility and joint function.
And if you’ve got a tiny breed like a Pomeranian, Chihuahua, or Yorkie, you’ve probably heard about luxating patellas—where the kneecap slides out of position. What fascinates me is how even tiny joint misalignments in these small dogs can cause dramatic pain and mobility issues simply because their skeletal structure is so delicate to begin with.
Tailoring Exercises to Your Dog’s Build
For Large and Giant Breeds: Protecting Those Vulnerable Hips and Elbows
When designing exercise programs for large breeds, my goal is always to build muscle support around their vulnerable joints without adding mechanical stress. It’s about creating a natural “brace” of muscle without pounding those joints.
Hip Helpers for the Hip Dysplasia Crowd
Water therapy is absolutely miraculous for large breeds with hip issues. I’ve seen dramatic improvements in dogs who seemed destined for surgery. Here’s why it works: in an underwater treadmill, about 62% of your dog’s body weight is supported by the water, dramatically reducing impact. Plus, the warmth decreases pain while improving joint mobility.
For land-based exercises, I recommend this progression to my clients:
- Start with controlled leash walking—just 20 minutes, 2-3 times daily
- Slowly work up to 45 minutes over several weeks
- Add weight-shifting exercises (15-25 repetitions)
- Progress to three-legged standing (10-20 repetitions per side) for hip stability
One of my favorite prescriptions is hill walking. It might seem counterintuitive to have a dog with hip problems walk uphill, but gentle inclines activate those crucial gluteal muscles that support and stabilize the hip joint—all while maintaining controlled motion. Start with just 5 minutes on moderate slopes and gradually build to 10-15 minutes as strength improves.
Elbow Protection That Actually Works
Elbow dysplasia is trickier to address, but I’ve had great success with Bernese Mountain Dogs, Rotties and German Shepherds using specific flexion/extension and pronation/supination movements. Initially, these should be passive range-of-motion exercises (where you move the joint for them), starting with 10-15 repetitions. As they build strength, they can graduate to active resistance exercises.
Swimming is another fantastic option for elbow protection. It allows full range of motion without any weight-bearing stress. I typically recommend 10-15 minute sessions, 2-3 times weekly. The transformation in elbow function can be remarkable, especially in younger dogs.
For Medium-Sized Breeds: The “Physiotherapy Pyramid”
Medium-sized dogs benefit from what I call the “Physiotherapy Pyramid” approach—starting with basic stability exercises and working up to more challenging activities as joint function improves.
Balanced Strength for the Active Breeds
Border Collies and other athletic medium breeds need preventative work, especially if they do high-impact activities like agility or herding. One of my go-to exercises is cross-leg standing: have the dog lift one paw, then cross the diagonal paw in front of the remaining stance leg. This odd-looking position dramatically improves proprioception and joint stability. Have them hold it for 5-10 seconds and repeat 5-8 times per session.
Cavaletti training—walking over evenly spaced poles or bars—is something I recommend to almost all my medium breed clients. It’s incredible for improving joint awareness and encouraging proper weight distribution. Start with poles at shoulder width and just 2-3 inches high, then increase both height and complexity as coordination improves. The changes in gait patterns are often visible within just a few sessions.
For Small Breeds: Delicate Solutions for Delicate Joints
Small breeds need exercises that respect their often delicate joint structures while addressing their common problem areas.
Keeping Little Kneecaps Where They Belong
For those tiny breeds prone to luxating patellas (Poms, Chihuahuas, Yorkies), lateral thigh strengthening is crucial. My favorite exercise is controlled sideways stepping—having them step sideways across their body while keeping their head pointing forward. This strengthens the lateral thigh muscles that help keep the kneecap properly tracked. Start with just 5-10 steps in each direction, 2-3 times daily.
Four-legged balance work on slightly unstable surfaces (like cushions or balance discs) activates those small stabilizing muscles around the knee joint. Begin with just 10-15 seconds of standing, gradually working up to 30-45 seconds as stability improves. I’ve seen dogs with frequent patellar luxation episodes reduce their incidence by over 50% with consistent balance work.
Protecting Dachshund Backs (Without Bubble Wrap)
For Dachshunds and other long-backed breeds, I focus relentlessly on core strengthening and back protection. Controlled climbing using specially designed ramps or stairs builds back and core muscles while minimizing stress on the intervertebral discs. For puppies, I limit this to 5 minutes per month of age, twice daily. For adults, consistency matters more than duration—regular climbing sessions maintain those protective core muscles.
Gentle stretching routines focusing on back muscles help maintain flexibility without pressuring vulnerable discs. Hold each stretch for 15-30 seconds, repeating 2-3 times per session, with sessions 2-3 times daily. The key word is gentle—no bouncing or forcing movement.
Special Cases: When Your Dog’s Built Differently
Flat-Faced Friends: Exercise for Bulldogs, Pugs and Other Brachycephalics
Bulldogs, pugs and other flat-faced breeds present a unique challenge: they need joint exercise but have breathing limitations. I’ve found swimming to be excellent for these dogs—it provides joint conditioning without respiratory stress—but keep sessions short (5-10 minutes) and closely supervised.
For land exercises, timing matters as much as type. Schedule activities during cooler parts of the day to minimize breathing difficulty. Short, frequent walks (10-15 minutes, 3-4 times daily) on soft surfaces work better than single longer sessions that might trigger breathing problems.
Back from the Brink: Post-IVDD Recovery for Dachshunds
For Dachshunds recovering from IVDD episodes, structure is everything. Starting two weeks post-surgery, I put my patients on weekly underwater treadmill sessions for a minimum of eight weeks. This controlled environment allows movement while supporting the spine and dramatically reducing re-injury risk.
Balance training using physio balls or discs helps rebuild core strength after IVDD. We start with just front paws elevated on a stable surface for 10-15 seconds, eventually progressing to all four paws on increasingly unstable surfaces as recovery proceeds. This approach targets those critical core muscles that protect the spine during everyday activities.
Making It Work: Practical Guidelines
Regardless of your dog’s breed, certain principles apply to all joint-focused exercise programs:
Consistency Beats Intensity Every Time
Research consistently shows that moderate daily exercise produces better joint outcomes than intermittent intense activity. The “weekend warrior” approach is terrible for dogs with joint vulnerabilities. In my practice, dogs getting regular daily exercise have significantly lower lameness scores than those exercised irregularly.
For dogs with hip arthritis, I’ve observed that those getting more than 60 minutes of total daily exercise show better mobility than those getting less than 20 minutes. But—and this is crucial—that exercise should be divided into shorter sessions (15-20 minutes each) rather than one marathon session that leaves them exhausted and sore.
When increasing exercise, follow this rule: duration before intensity. For previously inactive dogs, increase exercise time by no more than 5 minutes per week, and only increase intensity after duration goals are met. This measured approach allows supporting muscles to strengthen at a pace that protects vulnerable joints.
Watch, Adjust, Repeat
No exercise plan is perfect from the start. You’ll need to monitor and adapt based on your dog’s response. Signs of excessive fatigue, increased limping, or reluctance to exercise mean you need to dial back intensity or duration. On the flip side, dogs showing improved mobility and enthusiasm can gradually progress to more challenging exercises.
I always tell owners to assess pain not just during exercise but 24 hours afterward. Delayed soreness often indicates excessive stress on vulnerable joints. Any exercise that consistently produces pain should be modified or eliminated.
The Bottom Line
After years of designing breed-specific exercise programs, I’m convinced they’re one of our most powerful tools for managing and preventing joint problems. By targeting the unique vulnerabilities of different breeds—hip and elbow issues in large breeds, patellar problems in small breeds, and back concerns in long dogs—these specialized approaches protect exactly where protection is needed most.
Understanding both breed-specific vulnerabilities and your individual dog’s needs is key to success. When properly executed with appropriate frequency, intensity, and progression, targeted exercises can dramatically improve joint function, reduce pain, and enhance quality of life.
While it’s ideal to start these programs early as prevention, don’t be discouraged if your dog already has joint problems. I’ve seen remarkable improvements in dogs of all ages when the right exercises are introduced. Your dog’s joints will thank you for taking the time to address their specific needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.