How many walks a day for a puppy

Remember, walking needs to be a daily routine, not just something you do at weekends. This is especially important for overweight dogs, but also important for older dogs who may be a bit stiffer but will enjoy time outdoors to have a good sniff around.

If you can't walk them yourself, ask a friend, or a professional dog-walker so your dog doesn't miss out. Just like people, not all dogs particularly enjoy exercise and all dogs have very different exercise needs.

You can often find dogs of the same breed will be completely different with one being high energy and one much more laid-back. Sadly, in some cases, some dogs can be afraid of the great outdoors. It's important to keep your dog in shape to keep them happy and healthy. Read our vets' advice on keeping their weight down. Looking at getting fit with your dog? There are lots of different exercises you can do to get fit and spend some quality time together.

Playtime can be great exercise for our dogs! Why not have a look at some of the great dog toys you can buy from our online store? Donate Menu. Get help. Find us. The right exercise for your dog. How much exercise does my dog need? Exercise is essential for all dogs. It helps keep them in shape but is really important for their mental health, too.

It's so important that all dogs get a daily walk to keep them happy and healthy. Sign up to our newsletter. The right amount of exercise for your dog How much exercise your dog needs depends on their breed, age, health and personality. Find puppy playgroups and obedience classes, and introduce her to new toys and games.

Above all, make sure she gets at least three exercise sessions a day. Two of these could be short walks around the neighborhood to work on her leash training, while the third could be a rousing game of tug in the yard or hide-and-seek in the house.

As you get to know your dog, you may find that she tells you when she is too tired to keep playing, which is your cue to enjoy a few moments of peace and quiet while your puppy takes a nap.

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Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid. Additional Resources AKC. Clubs Offering: Training Classes. Back To Puppy Health. By Anna Burke Sep 29, 4 Minutes. Sep 29, 4 Minutes. Subject of Debate There is a lot of debate in the dog world about puppies and exercise. No Easy Answers As with humans, all the recommendations in the world boil down to an inconvenient reality: the amount of exercise your puppy needs depends on your puppy.

Teach your puppy how to walk on a leash. Begin with short walks, taking frequent breaks. Increase the length of the walk gradually. Avoid walks during the hottest and coldest parts of the day. Walk on safe footing, avoiding slippery or sharp surfaces. This is only the case if there is a higher risk of parvo or distemper in your area. This is a good question for your vet. This is a great way to work on training and socialization at the same time. As far as dog parks go, I personally prefer to keep my puppies away from dog parks for at least the first 6 months.

I do not want to scare my puppy during this important socialization window. However, you might think about taking your puppy to a dog park during the middle of the day during the week or late in the morning when it is quieter.

Socializing with one or two friendly dogs might be a positive experience for your puppy. Leave if your puppy is scared or overwhelmed. Get all of our puppy training tips HERE. Lindsay Stordahl is the founder of That Mutt. She writes about dog training and behavior, healthy raw food for pets and running with dogs. Our eight week old Goldendoodle loves to walk and seems tireless on neighborhood walks or trails. She walks fast too! Her choice. Any suggestions would help thank you. LoriAnne DeDivitiis.

Hi LoriAnne, it's normal for dogs to be more excited and energized when going to a trail vs. Your dog is probably just going with the flow on those pavement walks. She could be slightly bored or she's just walking slower due to less excitement.

Are there other routes you could occasionally take? Or drive to a different neighborhood occasionally? Just to mix things up. Or just to see if she acts any differently there. Thanks for being a voice of common sense with this. I have a 15 week old Lab puppy and she is already able to walk for hours if we take it slow and she gets plenty of breaks.

She's not even tired after it. Yet the Internet would lead me to think I was the worst dog owner ever. From stuff I'd seen online, people say at 1 year old that even 2hrs walking is too much, but that seems ultra conservative to me. Do you think by 1 year an active lab should be capable of safely walking in the hills all day? Still with plenty of breaks of course. I think the reality is we just don't know for sure.

You have to just use your best judgement. Is your puppy from a breeder? The breeder may have some good insight. I think what you're doing sounds OK. If your dog is off leash or walking at her own pace on trails, that is different than leashed walks or runs on concrete. That's something people don't always take into consideration.

At 1 year old I think if your dog is properly conditioned to longer distances on trails it's probably OK. Labs are prone to joint issues, as I'm sure you are well aware. But keeping them fit is very important for the longevity of their joints, too. So basically you know your dog best, use your best judgement. Thank you for the info! I just begun this week taking my 10 week old Cocker Spaniel for 15 min morning walks.

I know not good. Thank you so much for this! I had a field trial springer spaniel working springer spaniel for 14 years. She was sooo active when she was a puppy as she had loads of energy. She never had problems with her bones or joints in her life. My new puppy is 11 weeks.