Pet parenting, Dog, walk, exercise, pet parenting tips

How often do you walk your dog?

Your dog's age, breed, general health and fitness, and even their personality all play a part in determining how long they need to go out for. How long you should walk for each day can vary from half an hour a day to over two hours, so this is a critical factor to consider when researching which breed of dog will fit into your lifestyle.

How many times each day should I walk my dog?

All dogs, no matter their breed, really benefit from at least one walk a day. Many owners prefer two or even three walks a day, making it easier to fit walking into your lifestyle, and helping your dog from becoming too tired to enjoy the latter part of their walk, or bored throughout the day.

Puppy walking

Exercise for a puppy needs to be built up gently and gradually as growing joints and bones can be easily damaged if exercise is overdone. Just as a young child wouldn’t cope with a very long walk, neither will your puppy!

Remember that it's not just walking that counts towards your dog’s daily exercise. Playing inside and outside is great for using up their excess energy, and so is a training session. It is important to remember that just being in the garden is no substitute for a proper walk, giving them the chance to socialise and interact with other dogs, and smell all those interesting smells that are out there!

By Shelley Harrison (KCI UK)