How long should a dog walk be?

On this page

1. Length per walk, by dog
2. Why two medium walks beat one long one
3. When a walk has gone on long enough
4. Minutes are a weak measure; here is a better one

Most adult dogs do well with walks of 20 to 30 minutes, two or three times a day. Senior and small dogs suit 10 to 20 minutes per walk, more often. Puppies get about five minutes of leash walking per month of age per walk. The length of one walk matters less than the day's total and the gap between walks: two 25-minute walks are better for almost every dog than one of 50, and a walk is long enough when the dog starts to lag, not when the clock says so.

Length per walk, by dog

These follow the AKC and PetMD guidance on frequency and the senior and puppy rules from AKC Pet Insurance and Rover. The daily totals, and how breed moves them, are in How much should you walk your dog?.

Why two medium walks beat one long one

Dogs are not endurance athletes by default; they are sprint-and-rest animals who adapted to our schedules. Two walks give two bathroom breaks, two resets of the day, two chances to sniff the news, and far less time for pent-up energy to turn into chewing. For a stiff or elderly dog, two short walks are the difference between moving comfortably and limping the next morning. The exception is the dog who needs sustained effort to settle, usually a sporting or herding adult, who does best with one longer purposeful walk plus a short one. Arranging that around a working day is the subject of A daily dog walking schedule that actually sticks.

When a walk has gone on long enough

• Lagging behind or stopping without a smell to justify it.
• Heavy panting that does not ease when you slow down, especially in warm weather.
• Sitting or lying down on the path. Puppies do this early; it means carry me.
• Paw lifting on hot pavement or cold ground.
• The next morning: stiffness on rising means yesterday's walk was too long for today's dog.

Minutes are a weak measure; here is a better one

Thirty minutes at a sniffy 25 minutes per mile is 1.2 miles; thirty minutes at a purposeful 15 is 2 miles. Same clock, very different walk. If you want to know whether your dog's walks are long enough, measure distance and moving time rather than wall time: a GPS record of a normal week shows the real numbers, and the walk calorie calculator shows what each distance is worth. Puppies have their own rule, which is a ceiling rather than a target; it is in How much should you walk a puppy?.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 20-minute walk enough for a dog?

As one of two or three daily walks, yes for most dogs. As the whole day, it is enough for a toy breed or a senior and not enough for a medium or large adult, who needs 45 to 60 minutes in total.

Is a 1-hour walk too long for a dog?

Not for a fit medium or large adult; many enjoy it. It is too long in one go for puppies, most seniors, flat-faced breeds and any dog in hot weather. Build to it gradually.

How long should I walk my dog in the morning?

Fifteen to thirty minutes is typical: long enough to empty the dog and take the edge off, short enough to fit before work. The evening walk is usually the longer one.

Does walking time include sniffing stops?

For the dog's benefit, yes: sniffing is part of the walk. For fitness and distance, no, which is why a tracker that separates moving time from stops gives a more honest picture.

This guide is general information from published veterinary and scientific sources, not veterinary advice. Every dog is different: for exercise, weight or feeding decisions, talk to your vet. Pawdometer never gives diet advice.