So, confession time. Last week, I tried to convince my dog that our morning walk could be replaced with one of those “mental stimulation puzzle toys.” You know, the ones that influencers (with suspiciously perfect living rooms) swear will “tire your dog out for hours.” My dog solved it in eight seconds, looked at me like nice try, bozo, and proceeded to drag me toward the door. In pyjama pants. Inside-out pyjama pants. With a hole.
Anyway. That got me thinking about how often different dogs really need to be walked, because apparently, not all dogs accept ‘I’m tired’ as a valid excuse. Shocking, I know.
Oh wait, that reminds me… have you seen that meme where someone says their dog “does a zoomie once and thinks he’s an athlete”? That’s Mochi. And maybe your dog, too.
Alright, where was I going with this?
Oh yeah: how often you should walk your dog by breed, age, and energy level.
Let’s do this before my dog files a complaint with HR.
Why Walking Your Dog Even Matters (Duh, but also… let’s nerd out)
Walking your dog isn’t just “go potty, come back.” It’s like their entire LinkedIn profile: fitness, mental enrichment, networking with random dogs named Cooper, sniffing that one suspicious bush for 10 minutes… the whole package.
And because this is the hill I will die on:
Dogs aren’t built to be couch ornaments. Except maybe bulldogs. And my neighbor’s pug, Greg the Pug, who once refused to walk more than 12 steps and then staged a sit-in protest.
Walking keeps joints moving, brains active, and prevents your dog from doing that thing where they stare at you for three hours because they’re bored. You know the look. The chaos is imminent look.
How Often Should You Walk Your Dog by Breed?
Dogs are kinda like fandom categories. You’ve got your high-energy Marvel dogs, your chill Hallmark-movie dogs, and your “was this dog born tired?” dogs. Each category comes with different needs.
1. High-Energy Breeds (aka the I Have Regrets group)
Think: Border Collies, Aussies, Huskies, German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois.
These dogs wake up like, “Let’s climb Everest before breakfast.”
Recommended walks: 2 to 3 per day
Total time: 90 to 120 minutes minimum
These guys need jobs. Serious jobs. Like, “we heard you’re training for the Olympics” energy.
If you don’t walk high-energy dogs enough, they will 100 percent find hobbies on their own. Chewing drywall. Rearranging your couch. Writing Yelp reviews about you.
2. Medium-Energy Breeds
Your Labradors, Goldens, Boxers, Doodles (all 700 variations), and my cousin Lorenzo’s very dramatic Cocker Spaniel named Biscotti.
Recommended walks: 1 to 2 per day
Total time: 60 to 90 minutes
These dogs love walking but also love napping. A vibe.
3. Low-Energy Breeds
French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, Shih Tzus, older Pugs, and honestly anyone who gives off “retired millionaire” energy.
Recommended walks: 1 daily
Total time: 20 to 40 minutes
These dogs don’t want a fitness routine. They want vibes. They want snacks. They want to poop and go home.
Dog Exercise Chart by Age
(very official, incredibly scientific, totally not written while eating chips)
Age matters too. Puppies have chaotic energy, adults have systemized energy, and seniors have “don’t rush me” energy.
Puppies
- 5 to 10 minutes of walking per month of age
Example: 4-month-old puppy = 20 to 40 minutes total per day - Lots of short bursts, not long marathons
- Also, they stop every 12 seconds for… reasons
Adults (1 to 7 years for most breeds)
- 60 to 120 minutes per day, depending on breed
- Can handle longer structured walks
- Still get distracted by blowing leaves, because dogs
Seniors
- 20 to 45 minutes per day, broken into short segments
- Keep joints happy
- Watch for fatigue (and sudden decisions to lie down on your neighbor’s lawn)
Dog Walking Schedule for High-Energy Breeds
Let’s zoom in on this because, oh boy, if you’ve ever owned a Border Collie, you know.
Here’s a simple (and by simple, I mean “I spent too long making this”) schedule:
Morning
- 30 to 45-minute walk
- Include intervals or light jogging
- Or that thing where your dog sprints and you pretend you’re in control
Afternoon
- 20-minute enrichment walk
- Let them sniff everything
- Yes, even the gross stuff
Evening
- 30 to 45-minute structured walk
- Optionally: a backyard zoomie session that ends in chaos
If you skip any of these, your dog might decide to rewire your home electrical system.
Other Factors That Change How Often You Should Walk Your Dog
Energy Level (the built-in setting)
Some dogs are chill. Some dogs have Red Bull in their DNA.
Signs your dog needs more walks:
- Excessive barking
- Random zoomies at 11 pm
- Chewing things that are definitely not food
- Staring at you like they know your search history
- And while they’re walking, take notice if they’re stretching along the way.
Weather
Fun fact: I once tried to walk Mochi during a snowstorm, and he looked at me like I’d asked him to explain the stock market. Didn’t move.
Hot weather = shorter walks
Cold weather = depending on your dog, either shorter or “heck yes, let’s stay out forever.”
Health
Arthritis, heart conditions, and breathing issues matter.
If you’re unsure, talk to your vet or, you know, ask your dog. Mine communicates entirely through passive-aggressive sighs.
Let’s Nerd Out: Why Sniff Walks Count as Exercise
If you’re new to “sniff walks,” buckle up. They’re like the dog equivalent of doom-scrolling, but healthier.
Sniffing burns mental energy.
Mental energy burns physical energy.
Boom. Science.
Studies even show sniffing lowers cortisol levels. That’s stress. Not to be confused with your cortisol levels while trying to walk past a squirrel.
So yes:
A slower 20-minute sniff walk can sometimes beat a fast 40-minute power walk.
Will that stop me from trying to speed-walk like I’m late for a Taylor Swift concert? Probably not.
Let’s Take a Quick Tangent
Because my brain refuses to stay on one track.
Yesterday, my friend “Marjorie” (not the politician, calm down) claimed her Chihuahua only needs exercise “when he feels like it.” This is the same woman who microwaves fish at work, so her judgment is questionable.
Anyway, the Chihuahua in question has so much pent-up energy that he once ran across the back of her couch, launched off a pillow, and hit the ceiling fan. He was fine. The fan was not.
Wait… what was the point?
Oh!
Even small dogs need real walks. End tangent.
Putting It All Together: A Quick and Kinda-Chaotic Summary
Here’s the messy, yet accurate version:
- High-energy breeds need 90 to 120+ minutes per day.
If you skip it, they’ll redecorate your house. - Medium-energy breeds need 60 to 90 minutes.
And snacks. Always snacks. - Low-energy breeds need 20 to 40 minutes, unless they pretend they’re dying after 10. Dramatic little monsters.
- Puppies get short bursts.
Think “chaos in intervals.” - Seniors get slow, chill walks, sometimes with matching sweaters.
- Sniffing counts. Don’t fight me on this.
But Wait, One More Tangent
I once tried to track my dog’s walking routine using a spreadsheet… color coded… with formulas… Look, I never said I wasn’t nerdy.
The sheet lasted 3 days until I spilled iced coffee all over it, and Google Sheets crashed. True story.
Final Thoughts
Walking your dog isn’t about perfection. It’s about consistency and noticing what your dog needs. Some days you’ll crush it. Some days you’ll say “screw it” and throw the ball once and hope it counts. It doesn’t. But I respect the effort.
So now I’m curious… how often do YOU walk your dog, and what’s their breed?
I genuinely want to know, partly because I’m nosy and partly because I love comparing notes.
