How long should you walk your dog each day? For a healthy adult dog, allow anywhere from 20 minutes to over 2 hours of exercise a day, spread across at least one or two walks. The range is wide because the right amount depends mainly on your dog’s breed, age, health and temperament. Here are the benchmarks from veterinary charities, and how to adapt them to your own dog.
General benchmarks for an adult dog
The PDSA, the UK veterinary charity, points out that a dog’s exercise needs depend on its breed, age, health, fitness and personality. It does, however, offer a few benchmarks:
- most dogs need at least one or two walks a day, unless your vet advises otherwise;
- some breeds need a minimum of one to two hours of exercise a day;
- working breeds need considerably more.
On its breed pages, for example, the PDSA states that a Golden Retriever needs a minimum of two hours of exercise a day. Small companion dogs, on the other hand, generally manage with less, as long as they go out regularly.
How long, depending on the type of dog
Rather than thinking only about size, consider what the breed was originally bred for: an energetic little terrier may need more activity than a large, laid-back dog. In its guide to choosing a pet, the PDSA nevertheless gives general benchmarks by size, to be adjusted to your dog.
| Size | Example given by the PDSA | PDSA daily benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Small dog | Yorkshire Terrier | Between 20 and 60 minutes |
| Medium dog | — | Around 1 to 2 hours |
| Large dog | Labrador Retriever | Over 2 hours |
This is exercise in the broad sense: walking, games, running free in a safe space. It does not have to be done all at once: two or three outings a day often work better than a single long walk.
Quality matters as much as quantity
A walk is not just about physical exercise. The PDSA recommends mixing periods of brisk walking to burn energy with slower moments when your dog can sniff and explore, which is good for its mental wellbeing. A dog that has been able to sniff at its own pace often comes home calmer than one that has been marched along without stopping.
A few ideas to make walks more interesting:
- vary your routes to offer new smells;
- allow “sniff breaks” on a familiar route;
- include short training exercises (recall, heelwork) with rewards;
- top up at home with brain games: the PDSA mentions puzzle feeders and snuffle mats.
According to the PDSA, dogs with excess energy often become frustrated and stressed. If your dog pulls a lot on the lead, part of the answer lies in training and equipment: our article No-pull harnesses: do they really work? looks at what you can expect from them.
Puppies: less, but more often
A puppy is not walked like an adult dog. The PDSA advises:
- waiting until your puppy is fully protected by its vaccinations before taking it out for walks;
- two or more gentle walks a day, with playtime in between;
- low-impact exercise while bones and joints are growing, limiting jumping and fast-paced walking;
- letting your puppy lead the way and never pushing it beyond what it can do. It warns that too much exercise while puppies are growing can be just as harmful as too little.
You will often come across the “5 minutes per month of age” rule. It is a rule of thumb: it has not been validated by studies and does not take account of differences between breeds. It is best used as a safeguard rather than a target.
What a study says about exercise in large-breed puppies
A Norwegian study (Krontveit et al., 2012) followed 501 puppies of four large breeds (Newfoundland, Labrador, Leonberger, Irish Wolfhound) up to radiographic screening for hip dysplasia. Puppies that walked on stairs between birth and 3 months had a higher risk of dysplasia. Conversely, off-lead exercise on soft, moderately rough ground during the same period was associated with a lower risk. This is an observational study limited to four breeds: it shows associations, not cause and effect. For a good start, see also our article Puppy harness: from what age?
Older dogs: little and often
A senior dog still needs to get out, but in a different way. The PDSA advises regular, gentle exercise in short sessions spread through the day: joints stiffen when they go unused for a while. Choose a fairly short route in case your dog gets tired, let it set the pace, and give it a rest if it stops or lies down. Older dogs also cope less well with extreme temperatures: in hot weather, move walks to cooler times of day; in very cold weather, a coat may help.
How to tell whether the amount suits your dog
Figures are no substitute for watching your dog. A few useful clues:
- Not enough: a dog that is restless at home, struggles to settle or is constantly looking for something to do may be lacking physical or mental exercise.
- Too much: a dog that lags behind, stops or lies down on walks, or is stiff the next day needs shorter or gentler outings.
- Build up gradually: if you want to lengthen walks, increase them little by little.
If in doubt, particularly for a dog that is overweight, unwell or getting older, ask your vet for advice. And for comfortable walks, a harness that fits your dog’s shape properly helps a great deal: you can browse our dog harnesses and their size guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is one walk a day enough?
The PDSA mentions at least one or two walks a day for most dogs. For a small, not very active dog, one outing topped up with games may be fine; for most dogs, spreading exercise over two or more outings is easier to keep up and also allows regular toilet breaks.
Can the garden replace a walk?
Not really. A garden is good for play, but a walk brings new smells, encounters and variety, which are useful for your dog’s mental wellbeing.
Can I let my dog off the lead so it burns more energy?
Yes, provided its recall is reliable. The PDSA advises training recall at home first, then in an enclosed garden or park, before letting your dog off in an open space, and keeping it on the lead near roads, in built-up areas and around livestock. It also advises against extendable leads.
Sources
- PDSA. Exercising your adult dog. PDSA.
- PDSA. Exercising your puppy. PDSA.
- PDSA. Exercising your senior dog. PDSA.
- PDSA. Choosing a pet. PDSA.
- PDSA. Golden Retriever. PDSA.
- Krontveit R. I., Nødtvedt A., Sævik B. K., Ropstad E., Trangerud C. (2012). Housing- and exercise-related risk factors associated with the development of hip dysplasia as determined by radiographic evaluation in a prospective cohort of Newfoundlands, Labrador Retrievers, Leonbergers, and Irish Wolfhounds in Norway. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 73(6), 838-846.