How Often Should You Walk Your Dog?

Whether you’re a new dog parent or a veteran, it’s completely normal and healthy to be wondering – how often should you walk your dog? Here’s a deep dive into how frequently – and how long – you should walk your dog each day, based on factors like breed and age. And even better, how to keep them safe if they bolt the leash while you’re out together.

Key Takeaways

Walks are a daily necessity, but the amount varies.
While veterinarians generally recommend walking a dog 3-4 times a day for at least 15 minutes, the ideal schedule depends on factors like your dog’s breed, age, and health.

Consider your dog’s environment.
Remember to consider your living space and the weather conditions to ensure your dog is safe and comfortable during walks.

A Tractive smart dog tracker can help.
Strapped to your dog’s collar, you can now track their calories burned, distance covered, active minutes, and even vital signs. Plus, if your dog runs off mid-walk, you can track their every step in real-time to find them again.

Always know your buddy is healthy & safe

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How often should I walk my dog?

On average, vets recommend walking the dog 3 – 4 times per day for at least 15 minutes.¹ However there are a couple of factors that come to play when deciding how often you walk your dog.

No matter their age, breed, or size – every dog needs regular physical activity.² Walking your dog daily helps keep them healthy – both physically and mentally. Regular dog walks can even help reduce any behavioral problems you experience with your buddy. But how often you should walk them depends on things like their:

Breed

Every dog belongs to a particular breed, each of which has specific activity needs and limitations. For example, for some small dogs, one walk a day might be enough. This generally isn’t the case however for high-energy dog breeds.

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 make the trip twice as fun. Aim for 30 minutes to 2 hours of exercise each day – or 2 to 3 daily walks.

💡Pictured here is Opie, a high-energy Shepherd mix whose Tractive device clocks in a whopping 300-500 minutes of activity per day! “We thought we were crazy for a while,” says his mom, Autumn. “Then, we discovered Tractive and were relieved to find out we weren’t crazy – Opie really was the most active dog around.”

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Low energy dog breeds

On the other hand, some dogs are low energy breeds and need less exercise daily. These include:

• Bassett Hounds
• Pekingese
• Yorkshire Terriers
• Bulldogs
• Mastiffs
• Great Danes
• Newfoundlands

Sheep & cattle dogs

These dog groups have a higher need for activity:

• Sheepdogs, such as Sheltie Sheepland or Border Collie
• Cattle dogs, such as Bouvier des Flandres

Dogs belonging to this group need a minimum of 2.5 hours of intense activity per day. Translated into walks, this can easily mean at least 4 walks a day, 20-25 minutes each. Since dogs belonging to this category are also very intelligent, don’t forget to challenge them mentally as well. Reserve at least 30 minutes every day for intelligence game sessions with them.

Terriers

This dog group may be small, but these four-legged friends also need a quite large amount of exercise. Terriers need at least 1.5 hours of activity every day. Consider a friendly walking schedule of 3 walks per day, 20-25 min each.

Hunting dogs

Breeds belonging to this group definitely need an activity challenge. Here are a couple of examples:

• Dalmatians
• Greyhound
• Beagles
• Pinschers
• Schnauzers
• Greyhounds
• Whippets
• Setters

For dogs bred for hunting, 1.5 hours 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, as long as you do it step-by-step and considering the age of your dog as well. Try and aim for 3 walks a day of at least 30 minutes, plus training and play.

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. Small companion dogs may only need about 30 minutes of exercise per day.

Age

Puppies, for example, might seem to have an endless amount of energy. But even they aren’t able to walk as long as older dogs. They may also need more frequent potty breaks. So stick with short but frequent walks for puppies.

Younger dogs (under 5 years old) typically have a lot of energy, so they often need more exercise than adult and senior dogs.

Middle-aged and senior dogs may have health issues that slow them down. They might be eager to walk a lot, but not have the stamina to keep up. Keep all this in mind when considering how often to walk your dog.

Lifestyle

Other factors in your living situation and lifestyle affect how often you should walk your dog. Like, for example:

• How active you are
  Dogs tend to mimic the activity and routine of their caregivers. (Aka, us.) So if you’re generally sporty and your dog tags along for your runs, swims, and hikes, they won’t need as many walks. On the other hand, if you’re more inactive, chances are your dog will be too. So it’s very important to walk daily.
• Living space. If you and your dog live in a small apartment with not much space to move around, you’ll need to walk them more often. On the other hand, if you’ve got a big backyard with space to roam, your dog needs fewer walks. (Just watch out for an active dog who might jump the fence.)

Your environment

Ever felt lazy to go out on a walk seeing the miserable weather outdoors? You wouldn’t be the only one. But turns out, the weather – and your environment as a whole – does affect how often you should venture outdoors with your dog.

• Hot weather
  When it gets warmer outdoors, it’s a good idea to avoid walking around mid-day – or when the sun’s at it’s peak. Steer clear of areas without shade and try and walk around evening time, when it’s cooler. (Or there’s a bit of a breeze or cloud cover.)
• Cold weather
  Most dogs can safely withstand temperatures above 45°F (7°C) – anything below, and you’ll see them get uncomfortable. Make sure to dress warmly and protect your dog’s paws from ice, salt, and snow. (Yes, even if you’ve got a snow-loving dog breed.) Also, given how it gets darker earlier in autumn and winter, invest in reflective gear to help your dog stay visible.

Health

Last but not least, you should consider your dog’s health when deciding how often to walk your dog. Dogs in great health may be able to enjoy long walks – up to two hours or more. On the other hand, dogs with health problems like obesity or diabetes will likely have challenges walking.

Some brachycephalic (or flat-nosed) dog breeds, like pugs, Bulldogs, and Boxers might be reluctant exercisers. The shape of their heads makes it difficult for them to breathe – so they’re vulnerable to health problems like sleep apnea. Make sure to get the green light from your vet before beginning your daily dog walks.

Tips for walking your dog safely outdoors

Before you head outdoors, here are a couple of safety tips for a stress-free walk together with your buddy.

• Dog ID tag
  Make sure your dog’s collar includes an ID tag with your contact details. (In case they run away.)
• Microchip
  A microchip works like a permanent ID tag for your dog. (So more secure than a dangling ID tag that might fall off.) Now if they run away and are picked up by a vet or animal shelter, your dog’s microchip helps them identify you as the rightful owner.
• Weather
  Stay informed on how to handle hot weather when you’re out on a walk with your dog – and also how cold is too cold for dogs.
• Gear
  Always bring water if you’re going for a longer walk. Also consider dog booties, a jacket, or reflective gear if necessary – especially if you’re walking your dog in the dark.
• Leash and harness
  Most places around the world have laws that require you to walk your dog on a leash. Make sure to check your local laws or wherever you’re visiting and ensure a specific spot is a designated off-leash zone before letting your buddy run around unleashed.

Where a smart dog tracker can help

While a regular leash and a good sense of direction are a dog parent’s best friends, a smart dog tracker can provide some serious backup, both on your walks and for your dog’s overall health. The Tractive smart dog tracker goes way beyond just showing you where your dog is. It also gives you a complete picture of their activity and well-being.

Health Monitoring and Activity Tracking

The Tractive app comes with great Health Monitoring features that give you a deeper understanding of your dog’s day-to-day activity. The device, which clips right onto their collar, uses a built-in sensor to track their movements around the clock. This means you can see all sorts of helpful insights, like:

• How far they’ve gone
  The tracker can show you the exact distance your dog has covered, whether it’s on a long weekend hike or just zooming around the yard.
• Calories burned
  By using your dog’s profile (like their weight and breed), the tracker can estimate how many calories they’ve burned, which is super helpful for managing their diet and keeping them fit.
• Vital signs
  Tractive also keeps an eye on vital signs like their heart and respiratory rate. This can act as an early warning system for potential health issues. If there are any unusual patterns in your dog’s activity or sleep, you’ll get a health alert, so you know when to check in with your vet.

Real-time GPS Tracking and recording your walks together

Beyond the health stuff, the Tractive tracker also gives you peace of mind whenever you’re out and about. It provides real-time GPS tracking, so if your dog happens to get off-leash or bolts after a squirrel, you can switch on LIVE Tracking in the app to see their location with updates every few seconds.

The Tractive app also includes a cool Walk feature. This lets you record your walks with your dog, saving all those memorable routes you’ve explored together. The feature uses your phone’s GPS to map your path, building a history of your adventures that you can look back on anytime.

All this – and more – on one device, built with love for dogs and for your peace of mind as a dog parent.

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Follow every step with unlimited range Live Tracking. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them happy & healthy with Activity & Sleep Monitoring. Get Health Alerts if something seems off.

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Your furry friend’s health and wellbeing means as much as to us as it does to you. So we’ve made it a priority to only share medically-relevant content on our blog.

This post was checked, double-checked, and medically verified by Georgia-based vet, Dr. Dwight Alleyne.

Originally from Long Island, New York, Dr. Alleyne began his career at a no-kill animal shelter before becoming a licensed veterinary technician. He graduated from Cornell University Veterinary College in 2006 and completed an internship at Purdue University. Now practicing in Georgia, Dr. Alleyne specializes in soft tissue surgery and ultrasounds. He also writes pet health articles on his website, “The Animal Doctor Blog” (www.anmldrblog.com).