How Often Should I Walk My Dog?
Kael Laselva- Contributor for House of FurBaby
7.10.22
Has you and your family’s daily routine ever been interrupted by the menial task of walking your dog? Although it is often just a minor inconvenience for most people, it can be really hard on the pet owner’s consciousness as well as the pet's health, to consistently skip their daily walks. Because of this, it is very important to be aware of how much time a walk should take, as well as how frequently one’s dog requires exercise, in order to efficiently implement these walks into your schedule. The amount of walking that one’s dog needs is dependent on multiple factors including: the pet’s age, breed, size, and health.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/theconversation.com/amp/walking-a-dog-wont-make-your-child-fitter-but-it-can-give-them-a-healthier-start-91800
Whether or not your pet has some mileage on its paws can determine how much walking per day it requires. Younger, more energetic dogs tend to develop destructive tendencies if their energy is not released in a healthy manner. For this reason, walking a younger dog (of average size and health) twice a day, although not realistic for some owners, is very beneficial for your pet’s health.
Bigger and medium sized dogs tend to require a lot more exercise, with breeds such as Shepherds, Retrievers, Weimaraners, and Dalmatians, having a lot more energy that they need to exert than smaller breeds. One reason that these dogs need more waking, is because of the amount of food that they ingest per day compared to other smaller breeds. Because of this, (according to the Shallowford Animal Hospital, as well as an article titled: How often should you walk your dog, by Tractive animal health researchers) walking a larger, well fed, and healthy dog 3-4 times a day, for 15-20 minutes, is a safe bet for keeping your fur baby healthy and happy. Usually, smaller dogs on the other hand, do not require much food or exercise. On average, 1-2, 15-20 minute walks will keep a smaller breed of dog in tip top shape, as long as they are fed correctly. Although, there are some exceptions to this “small dog tendency”. More hyperactive dogs, bred for hunting or sport, such as Terriers, may require just as much walking as a larger breed, which can be up to 4 times a day for 20-30 minutes.
https://figopetinsurance.com/blog/how-often-should-different-sized-dogs-be-walked
At the end of the day, each furbaby has its own tendencies, and differentiating qualities that factor into the amount of exercise that they need, so the aforementioned statistics are merely recommendations to serve as a guideline for the average pet owner. If the dog in question partakes in other forms of exercise, the amount of walking that they need may vary. Check with your local veterinary expert for more recommendations regarding your specific furry friend.