Your dog is your best friend. Therefore, any good dog owner is willing to do what it takes to offer them the best life possible. There’s nothing better than when their tail is wagging, and they’re grinning up at you, so finding ways to provide them with those moments of happiness are crucial. While caring for your dog is a big responsibility, it can also be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling.
Ensuring that your dog is getting enough daily physical activity is an integral part of maintaining their health. While life can certainly become hectic from time to time, it’s important not to neglect such a simple element of your dog’s routine. Dog walks are a great and easy way to accomplish this need, affording both you and your dog some fresh air and the opportunity to stretch your legs. But how many walks does your dog need in a day? And how long should those walks be? Let’s explore below!
How often should you walk your dog?
When it comes to measuring how often you should be walking your dog, it’s important to focus on the overall time, rather than the frequency of those walks. It’s also crucial to consider the size and breed of your dog. Pugs and French Bulldogs, for example, are much smaller, and their flat faces make long periods of exercise difficult on their breathing. Huskies and Retrievers, meanwhile, are larger and are designed to thrive in physical conditions, so they demand a greater amount of exercise.
Therefore, it’s recommended that you take your dog’s size into account when deciding how often you should be taking them for walks. In general, little dogs need about 30 minutes of walking per day, which can be broken down into two 15-minute segments. While this may not be necessary, your own time restraints or your dog’s ability to walk steadily for 30 minutes may require this division. Additionally, walks with a smaller dog may be more leisurely, and a calm stroll around the neighbourhood may be more than sufficient.
Medium-sized dogs tend to vary when it comes to a time limit, as some are more athletic than others. Therefore, experiment with anywhere between 40 and 80 minutes until you find a timeframe that works for your pup. Unlike smaller breeds, medium-sized dogs should be able to keep up with you and comfortably maintain the same pace.
Large dogs are definitely more of a wild card when it comes to deciding how long you should be walking them; some are more laid back than others, and age will eventually play a factor. Larger, energetic dogs can walk up to 10 miles a day, so carving out at least two hours for dog walks may be in your daily schedule. While this isn’t always feasible each and every day, it’s important to give them at least 30 minutes of exercise.
Therefore, there isn’t a number of times you should be walking your dog. Rather, determine the amount of time required to walk your dog, and see how that fits into your schedule and your dog’s lifestyle. While some may prefer to go for an extensive walk, others may opt to break it down into smaller sections throughout the day. There’s no wrong way to do it, as the most important part is simply getting your dog outside.
Ultimately, you will begin to learn what works best for your pup as you continue to take them out on walks. Just like people, each dog is unique, so what suits one furry friend may not make sense for another.