Dog Exercise Calculator

How long should you be walking your dog? We put together the dog exercise calculator, to help guide you on how much exercise your dog should be getting.

How many miles should I walk my dog?

For Adult Dogs

As %PETNAME% is a %PETBREED% we recommend that you should be walking for %BREEDMINUTES% minutes which is approximately %BREEDMILES% miles per day.

The number of minutes is based on breed exercise guidelines taken from reputable sources including The Kennel Club and PDSA. The number of miles is calculated based on the average dog walking pace which is approximately 22 to 24 minutes per mile (source: Association for Pet Obesity Prevention). This is 2.6 miles per hour.

If you have any more questions, or any concerns please speak to your vet.

For Younger Dogs

Once %PETNAME% reaches the mileage shown on the adult guide please use the breed information.

Age in months	Daily miles
3	0.65
4	0.85
5	1.1
6	1.3
7	1.5
8	1.7
9	1.95
10	2.15
11	2.4
12	2.6

Exercise is an excellent way for you and your puppy to bond. It helps your puppy get acclimated to their surroundings and develop motor skills. Once your puppy is fully vaccinated, taking them out for walks is highly beneficial. Don't forget, playtime is also a wonderful form of exercise for your puppy.

Tailor the amount of exercise to your puppy's breed and individual needs. Gentle, twice-daily walks are typically suitable and can increase as they mature. Young dogs require less exercise than adults, so avoid over-exerting them.

If you have further questions or concerns, consult your vet.

Gradually build up your puppy's endurance with short walks, extending them slowly based on your puppy's breed and their response. If they seem tired, reduce the walk length.
Let your puppy rest or have short breaks as needed, this will also help you determine the appropriate walk length.
Avoid exercises that are tough on joints, like jumping and sharp turns.
Maintain a healthy weight for your puppy, as this is also very important in supporting their joints.

Source: the PDSA and the Kennel Club

For Senior Dogs

Older dogs often need less exercise than younger ones, but still benefit from regular mental and physical stimulation. Also, appropriate exercise can keep them mobile. This reduction in requirement can be due to normal aging, but can also be a sign of joint stiffness (and other illnesses). We recommend speaking to your vet if you have any concerns, have noticed changes with your dog or if you have any more questions about suitable exercise.

Older dogs may require less exercise overall, such as shorter or less intense activities like walking instead of running. Adjust the pace to suit their needs.
Consider exercise in water! This is often more gentle on their joints but is still great exercise.
Continue to avoid high impact activities, such as jumping or quick turning to help limit strain on your dogs joints.
Maintain regular and consistent exercise routines to support your dog's stamina and reduce the chance of stiffness after occasional long walks.

Source: the PDSA and the Kennel Club

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.

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Dog Exercise Calculator

How many miles should I walk my dog?