How long should I walk my dog?
Get a daily walk plan for your dog's breed, age, and energy level: total minutes, how to split them, and roughly how far to go.
Pick a breed (or "Mixed breed") to see a daily walk plan.
How much exercise does a dog need?
Most healthy adult dogs need 30 minutes to 2 hours of exercise a day. The biggest factor is what the breed was built to do. Herding and sporting dogs were bred to work all day. Companion breeds and short-nosed dogs need far less. After breed, age, size, weight, and health adjust the number.
| Energy level | Typical daily exercise (adult) | Example breeds |
|---|---|---|
| Very high | 90–120+ min | Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Siberian Husky, Vizsla |
| High | 60–90 min | Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Beagle |
| Moderate | 45–60 min | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Miniature Schnauzer, Cocker Spaniel, Whippet |
| Low | 30–45 min | French Bulldog, Shih Tzu, Basset Hound, Great Pyrenees |
| Very low | 20–30 min | Bulldog, Pekingese |
"Exercise" includes more than walking. Fetch, swimming, tug, training cues, and sniffing all count. Mental work is often what finally settles a high-energy dog.
Puppy walk times by age
The most common rule of thumb, popularized by the UK Kennel Club, is 5 minutes of structured walking per month of age, up to twice a day. It's a starting point, not a hard limit. Free play in the yard doesn't count toward it, and every puppy is different.
| Age | Per walk | Per day (2 walks) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 months | about 10 min | up to 20 min |
| 3 months | about 15 min | up to 30 min |
| 4 months | about 20 min | up to 40 min |
| 5 months | about 25 min | up to 50 min |
| 6 months | about 30 min | up to 60 min |
| 8 months | about 40 min | up to 80 min |
| 10 months | about 50 min | up to 100 min |
| 12 months | about 60 min | up to 120 min |
Small breeds graduate to adult routines sooner. Large and giant breeds should skip jogging, long hikes, and lots of jumping until their growth plates close: roughly 12 to 18 months for large dogs and 18 to 24 months for giants. Ask your vet when your puppy can safely walk in public. Usually that means after the full vaccination series.
Walking a senior dog
Older dogs still need daily exercise, just gentler. Most seniors do best with two or three shorter walks at an easy pace, often half to three-quarters of their adult total. Gentle, regular movement helps stiff joints and keeps weight down. Watch for lagging, limping, heavy panting, or a long recovery afterwards, and mention it to your vet.
How far should I walk my dog?
Count minutes, not miles. Sniff-heavy walks might cover only 1.5 miles an hour, while a brisk walk covers around 3. A 30-minute walk is usually 1 to 1.5 miles. Fit, high-energy adults can build up to long hikes, but increase distance gradually (about 10% a week) and check paws and joints as you go.
Signs your dog needs more (or less) exercise
Probably needs more
- Chewing, digging, or barking out of boredom
- Zoomies and restlessness in the evening
- Pulling hard on the leash at the start of every walk
- Weight creeping up
Probably needs less (or a vet check)
- Lagging behind or sitting down mid-walk
- Limping or stiffness afterwards
- Very heavy panting, especially in short-nosed dogs
- Sleeping much more than usual the next day