Is a 30-minute walk too much or not enough for your dog? Read on and find out how often and how far you walk.
How often do you walk the dog? Is your dog present every time you hike or run?
Do you sometimes feel that your dog is a little tired while walking? Or he can’t breathe when simply walking around the corner?
If you have any questions about how much your dog can walk, this article is for you.
Even people who don’t own dogs know that dogs need to go out, and cats are the ultimate domestic animal.
For dogs, walking is mandatory so that they can pee and do other things, while at the same time they get some form of exercise, explore the world of smells outside, and get to know other dogs.
Most importantly, walking is also a good bonding experience between the dog and the owner.
Today, 32.3% of Americans use dog walking as their main form of exercise… But is this enough? It depends on the breed-if your dog is a high-energy dog, such as a border collie, then a simple walk is not enough.
Have you heard this sentence-a tired dog is a happy dog? This is so because dogs need time to work and be active, so they can spend quietly indoors.
How long should you walk your dog every day?
When it comes to dog rules and dog preferences for walking, feeding, and health, it all comes down to the breed of dog.
As a general rule, a healthy dog ​​needs to walk at least 30 to 60 minutes a day-remember that this is the minimum for some breeds.
When it comes to puppies, you need to be extra careful, especially if your puppies are large breeds.
You want to avoid any situation where your puppy might hurt him joint Or hips.
Puppies should have 5 minutes of exercise every month until they grow up.
Older and Old dog Should be pushed to exercise. However, they should be encouraged to go out and stay active within the limits of their bodies.
For them, 10 to 15 minutes of activity time per day is a must. When it comes to how much exercise your dog needs, it all depends on the breed. Why? Some varieties just have more energy than others.
Compared with large dogs, small dogs get more exercise when walking.
Small dogs always walk faster to keep up with humans, while large dogs walk at roughly the same speed as humans.
How often should you walk the dog?
As a general rule, in a perfect world, you should take your dog out for business three times a day. The intensity of these walks depends on you and your dog.
The two of you may prefer long walks in the morning and short walks in the evening, with game time in between—there are no strict guidelines. Again, it all depends on the variety you have.
If your dog gets bored easily, he may prefer to walk more than 3 times a day. On the other hand, puppies and older dogs may benefit from shorter but more frequent walks that do not put pressure on their joints and bones.
Everyone knows that walking is good for your dog, but it is not always practical, especially if it is raining or if you are lucky enough to have a senior dog. Therefore, you need to be creative.
Small dogs may find indoor time and exercise beneficial, while large dogs may benefit from exercise in the backyard.
It is important for dogs to burn all the extra energy, but walking will provide you with mental stimulation and an intimate experience.
If your dog is slowing down due to age or joint problems, make sure to slow down and focus more on low-intensity activities.
On the other hand, if your dog is overly energetic, it may require more walking, longer walking, and/or higher intensity activities than walking.
How far should you walk your dog?
How much do you like walking? Because the answer to this question also depends on your pace. If you like longer and more intense walking, and you walk with a small or older dog, then you will not walk too much.
On the other hand, if you walk briskly with a larger dog, you may cover a lot of ground before your dog gets tired.
Therefore, your body’s ability to walk faster or slower also needs to be considered.
Other factors you should consider include terrain, weather, and slope. Depending on whether your dog uses a long leash or a Flexi-lead, there are also significant differences.
If your dog uses Flexi-lead, he will cover much more ground than when you walk. Most dogs will be happy to walk 1 to 3 miles, but if you have an energetic dog, he can walk 10 miles or more.
Again, be careful with puppies, because they shouldn’t exceed a few miles before they are fully grown. Always choose to focus more on time rather than distance.
If the physical condition is relatively good, most dogs can tolerate 20-30 minutes of walking time per day.
Dogs in very good condition are strong enough to endure up to 2 hours of walking, or they can walk for several hours at a time.
Some dogs can go further than others
When it comes to how far you should walk your dog, you need to think about the dog’s breed again. For example, Labrador retrievers always go further than Chihuahuas.
In addition, age, activity level, health status, and breed must also be considered. As expected, young and energetic dogs will go farther, while older dogs will look forward to more cold walks.
Puppies focus on play time and divide their activities into multiple short walks each day.
If you have a Pug or French Bulldog, G or any other short-headed (short-nosed) dog breeds may experience breathing difficulties, so their walking time should be kept at 20-30 minutes.
On the other hand, a super active and high-energy breed like the Border Collie may want to enjoy long walks of up to two hours.
Walk the dog by breed
The following is a candidate list of how many dogs need to be walked by breed:
- Sheepdogs need to walk two to three times a day for at least 120 minutes, small dogs need at least 8 times, and large dogs need 20 times.
- Sports dogs need to walk twice a day, at least 100 minutes, at least 12 miles, and large dogs up to 30 miles.
- Hounds are usually satisfied with long walks (To the restroom Not included here), large dogs need at least 120 minutes, small dogs need at least 15 miles, and large dogs need at least 20 miles.
- Rats and small hunting dogs can benefit from two or more walks. In total, they need about 60 minutes of walking time, with smaller varieties requiring a minimum of 5 miles, and larger varieties requiring a minimum of 20 miles.
- Large terriers and working groups need to walk a long way, up to 80 minutes. Smaller dogs need at least 10 miles, while active breeds need 20 miles.
- The non-sports and toy groups need to walk twice a day, and they prefer to walk in the morning and evening. For most breeds, up to 60 minutes of exercise is sufficient, while Dalmatians require up to 120 minutes.
Can you walk the dog?
If you choose to walk your dog without a leash, can you achieve higher walking intensity? The most important thing when walking a dog is safety.
When walking your dog in an area without fences, consider the risks. No matter how good your dog is, he may see a squirrel or any other small animal and have a strong urge to chase it.
In addition, not everyone is an experienced dog owner, and some people may not know how to deal with certain situations.
This is why you should focus on Recall training -This is a good way to stay away from danger between you and your dog.
If your dog really has trouble controlling impulses, then you may need to focus on staying down, which may be more effective than having your dog.
Tips for safe dog walking
Dog walking is one of the best and safest activities you can do with your dog. However, this does not mean that there is nothing to worry about.
In fact, there are many things you need to consider if you want to walk safely.
Here are some tips to help you enjoy a walk, especially in summer:
1. water
There are sunny days in your place almost every day>? Even if you are not, you should consider your dog’s health in hot weather.
Some dog breeds are more susceptible heart disease, And every dog ​​is at risk of heat stroke when exposed to the sun for too long.
Having water on hand and resting in the shade should be enough to help your dog calm down and drink plenty of water for a more enjoyable walk.
2. Foot protection
When winter and severe snow come, foot protection may be more common, but paw safety should be a year-round thing.
Some areas do not have unique free zones, and urban areas are everywhere.
This is why protection should be a thing when the weather is too hot and the dog needs to deal with walking on hot asphalt.
So, if you are walking with your dog on a hot sidewalk or frozen snow, you need some dog boots to protect his feet.
3. Put on a vest
If you tend to walk at night, you need to think carefully about walking at night. This is especially important when it comes to night weather conditions.
When the traffic is more frequent, the danger on the road is higher. Consider a reflective vest for you and your dog. Make sure the vest fits your dog.
Bottom line
For smaller dogs, two short walks a day may be sufficient to meet their exercise needs. However, toilet needs may vary from dog to dog, and you may still take a third walk.
If you are a sports enthusiast and want your dog to follow you every minute of the outdoors, make sure you have a dog that can follow you.
If you are not sure how much exercise your dog needs, consult your veterinarian. Dog walking is an important part of the life of a dog’s parent, and it should be done properly.
Read the next article: 9 easy ways to let your dog play indoors
