How Often Should I Walk My Dog?
A general rule is you should walk your dog 3-4 times per day for at least 15 minutes. This rule can vary according to your dogs breed, age, size and health conditions, and his eating habits. Smaller dogs might only need 1-2 walks per day, but high energy breeds will require more than that.
Activity Level Needs by Dog Breed Groups
Every dog belongs to a particular dog breed group, each of which has specific activity needs and limitations. Check how much activity your four-legged friend really needs, based on their dog breed group:
High-energy dog breeds:
- Border Collie
- Australian Shepherd
- Dalmatian
- Irish Setter
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Weimaraner
- Labrador Retriever
- Siberian Husky
Outdoor adventures are the perfect way to bond with these breeds. Whether you go for a walk, hike or run, your canine buddy will bring the energy!
Dogs belonging in this category are very intelligent, so don’t forget to challenge them mentally as well. As for walks, these high energy pups need at least 4 walks a day, 20-25 minutes each.
Activity Level of Terriers
Small, lively, strong temper and trainable – this is how one would describe Terrier dogs. This dog group may be small, but these four-legged friends also need a quite large amount of exercise.
A walking schedule of 3 walks per day, 20-25 minutes each. Consider adding some mental activity games for this group as well. 20 minutes a day should be challenging enough to keep them fit.
Activity Needs for Hunting Dogs, Pinscher, Schnauzer and Greyhounds
Breeds belonging to this group, such as:
- Dalmatians
- Greyhound
- Beagles
For them, 1.5 hour of daily walks and exercising is the minimum requirement. Since these dog breeds are also pretty fond of running, feel free to start a running practice with them.
Activity Level for Companion Dogs
Chihuahua and similar breeds are typically what we nowadays call companion dogs. As these dogs are not high-energy breeds, avoid challenging them with hours of intense activity. Instead, use smaller time periods for fun games and short daily walks to keep them physically fit.
Some dogs can be negatively affected by too much activity, such as the short-haired breeds. Since they have less fur, they can overheat easily and can suffer from breathing difficulties. In the winter they can get cold very quickly. Take these breeds for very short and easy walks.
We hope this guide will help you determine how much you need to walk your pooch! If you have any suggestions, we would love to hear from you!