How many miles should I walk my dog?
*Please choose the most similar breed to your dog
Things to note:
- This is a general recommendation only
- Please take into account your dog’s health and fitness level
- Increase exercise slowly
- Please check with your vet if you have any health concerns
- Avoid exercising your dog when it is hot
Whether your dog is a junior, adult or senior, we all know the great feeling you and your pooch get from being active together. That is why we put together the “How many miles” calculator above, to help guide you on how much exercise your dog should be getting.
Top reasons for keeping your more Senior pet pal active.
Whilst we always recommend double checking with your vet when exercising your senior pet pal, here are the 4 major benefits your golden oldie will feel from continuing to be active.
- Fun – almost all dogs love getting out for a walk, even if it’s a slow potter with lot of stops to sniff.
- Keeping in shape – building and maintaining muscle tone is a great way to support older joints.
- Bonding – taking time out of your day to spend time with your dog increases happiness for both of you.
- Weight management – extra weight can put unnecessary stress on your dog’s joints, so keeping them trim is a good idea.
- Older metabolisms can be slower too, so exercise is really important.
5 things to consider when beginning to exercise your puppy or very “junior” pooch
In all the excitement of getting a puppy it can be very easy to want to get out there and experience the outdoors with them which can lead to over exercise. The “How many miles” calculator will help guide you on this but below are 5 other important factors you should consider when walking your pup.
- Ensure your puppy has completed their vaccinations before walking
- Start socialising your puppy early - Before you begin your puppy walks, your pup can start experiencing the world by being carried around with you in a bag.
- Get puppy lead-training! - You may think that walking on a lead comes naturally, but unfortunately that’s not always the outcome!
- Puppy walking at puppy’s pace - Let your puppy guide the walk's speed, let them stop and sniff and explore.
- Encourage positive learning - It’s a big "bad" world out there, your pup needs your help to make sense of it.
*Disclaimer notice: All content on this “How many miles should I walk my dog?” webpage, is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet.