Walking Your Dog and Factors to Consider

There are many benefits to your dog’s overall health and well-being when it comes to walks. Learn how often you should be walking your dog, and some factors to consider.

Walk Vs. Bathroom Break

Walks are longer excursions that offer your furry pal some exercise, whereas bathroom breaks are short trips so your dog can relieve itself. Dogs need a minimum of three bathroom breaks a day, though puppies, younger dogs, and elderly dogs frequently need extra breaks. While bathroom breaks are essential, they don't give enough physical exertion to meet a dog’s exercise requirements, so dog owners should also make time for walks.

Factors to consider when planning how often you walk your dog

Dog’s Age

Dog walking requirements vary depending on your dog’s age. Young dogs need further exercise than middle-aged dogs (between the ages of five and eight) and elderly dogs (nine years and older).

Your dog’s breed

Your dog’s breed determines the volume of exercise they require each day. Dogs bred for work or competition, like Labrador retrievers and German shepherds, are active dog breeds that require long walks of an hour or two each day. Smaller breeds like pugs and English bulldogs need shorter walks of twenty to thirty minutes a day.

The size of your dog

For smaller dogs like terriers, Chihuahuas, or toy poodles, short walks around 30 minutes is plenty. Medium sized dogs like cocker spaniels and boxers have a little more stamina than smaller dogs, and need at least 40-80 minute walks per day. If you own a larger dog breed such as  Australian shepherds, husky’s, border collies, golden retrievers, and Great Danes, you will need to walk them about 30-minutes to 2 hours per day.


Making sure your dog gets enough exercise per day is essential to their overall health and longevity. If you find yourself too busy to walk your dog the amount they require, contact us today to ask about our dog walking packages.