How much exercise does a dog need? Daily exercise calculator

Too little

• Frustration and stress: PDSA says dogs with excess energy find it difficult to cope. (PDSA)
• Boredom and destructive behaviour such as chewing. (ASPCA, ASPCA)
• Weight gain, and more behaviour problems, which fit dogs are less likely to have. (PDSA, Merck)

Too much

• During exercise: out of breath, or repeatedly trying to sit or lie down. Stop and rest. (VCA)
• Afterwards: slower responses, irritability, difficulty lying down or getting up, or a sloppy sit. VCA says hold off on exercise and see your vet. (VCA)
• Heat: heavy panting and tiredness on a warm day can be the start of heatstroke. See heat stroke in dogs. (Merck, Hall et al. 2020)

The Kennel Club’s rule of thumb is five minutes of formal exercise per month of age, up to twice a day: 15 minutes at three months, 20 minutes at four. PDSA mentions the same rule but notes there is no scientific evidence behind it, so treat it as a ceiling for structured walks, not a target. (Kennel Club, PDSA)

The reason for caution is the growth plates, soft areas near the ends of the bones that close when a dog stops growing. VCA says they can be injured by strenuous exercise, and recommends waiting until maturity for long jogs or hikes: a little over 6 months for small dogs, closer to 1½ years for giant breeds. (VCA)

• Let your puppy play freely: puppies self-limit play and sleep a lot. (Kennel Club, VCA)
• Avoid long walks, running and cycling until fully grown, and limit jumping, twisting and skidding. (PDSA)
• Keep puppies off stairs until at least 12 weeks. A Norwegian study of 501 large-breed puppies found stairs before 3 months raised the risk of hip dysplasia, while off-lead exercise on soft, rough ground lowered it. (Kennel Club, Krontveit et al. 2012)
• Do not exercise a puppy on a full stomach. (Kennel Club)

Before the vaccinations are done, see when puppies can go outside, and for the lead itself, leash training a puppy.

Senior dogs still need regular exercise, but often a little less. PDSA and the RSPCA advise little and often: shorter routes, more rest stops, and stopping when your dog stops chasing a toy or lies down. VCA suggests sessions of 10 to 15 minutes, which help an older dog keep muscle and a healthy weight. (RSPCA, PDSA, VCA)

Older dogs cope less well with heat and cold, so walk in cooler hours in summer and consider a coat in winter. Swimming is kind to sore joints, and training keeps an older mind active. Ask your vet before starting anything new. (PDSA, VCA)

At least one walk a day, often two, says the Kennel Club; PDSA says at least one to two unless your vet advises otherwise. (Kennel Club, PDSA)

How far: no veterinary or breed source we found gives a distance, only time, so we do not either. Build distance gradually from your dog’s current fitness: Merck notes that training is the most effective way to raise a dog’s capacity for exercise. (Merck)

When: any time that suits you both, except the heat of the day in summer. The RSPCA says avoid the hottest hours, and PDSA says exercise only at the cooler start and end of the day. Our walk temperature checker gives a verdict for today, and the cold weather version covers winter. (RSPCA, PDSA)

• Warm up before hard exercise, and build fitness gradually. (Merck)
• Let your dog sniff: VCA says the chance to sniff enriches every dog’s life. (VCA)
• Take water in summer, and turn back at the first sign of tiredness. (PDSA, VCA)
• Mix in play and training, which exercise the mind as well as the body. (PDSA)

The odd missed walk on a very hot day is fine. Regularly too little exercise is not: dogs become frustrated and bored, and some find their own entertainment in chewing. Merck lists exercise as one of the ways dogs avoid behaviour problems. (Kennel Club, ASPCA, Merck)

If your dog barks, chews or seems restless, start with the behaviour checker and the barking guide. A dog that struggles when left alone may need more than exercise: see separation anxiety in dogs. On days you cannot walk far, mental stimulation helps fill the gap.

• Physical health: fit and active dogs are less likely to suffer arthritis and obesity. (PDSA)
• Mental health and behaviour: exercise matters for a dog’s mental health and helps it avoid behaviour problems. (PDSA, Merck)
• Weight: regular walks help older dogs keep a healthy weight, and walking is the backbone of a weight loss plan. Our weight loss planner shows the timeline. (RSPCA, VCA)
• Company: play gives physical exercise, mental stimulation and social contact at once. (VCA)

Every figure and threshold on this page comes from the veterinary sources below, and each one is linked where it is used. Where no source gives a cut-off, we say call your vet rather than invent one.