Veterinarian reveals the truth: How often should you really walk your dog? You might be doing it wrong
Depending on the kind of dog you have, your furry companion may require more or less amounts of exercise, but one veterinarian revealed the general rules.
One of the best parts of having a dog is taking them on walks. It makes them happy, it forces us to get outside more often, and everyone moves their bodies a little more. But dog owners may not be putting in the necessary amount of time on these walks as they should.
How much time we should be walking our dogs, according to a vet
One veterinarian shared a TikTok that revealed the proper amount of time people should walk their dog, depending on the age and breed. According to Dr. Nicole Ros, there is a simple rule to follow for puppies, and a general rule of thumb for adult and senior dogs.
Ros says that for puppies, you should walk them according to a simple equation: five minutes of exercise multiplied by how many months they’ve lived, twice a day - so if your puppy is four months old, you should exercise it 20 minutes, twice a day. Ros specifies that exercise can include more than just walks.
“That includes walks and things like that, but it also includes exercise in the backyard, games you’re playing, things like that,” she said.
Adult dogs, Ros says, need an average of between 30 and 60 minutes of exercise a day, but that it can vary greatly depending on the breed.
“If you’ve got a very active breed like a Border Collie, you’re probably looking at one to two hours," she said. “If you have a more sedentary breed, you might be looking at two 20-minute walks a day rather than a full hour.”
For senior dogs, Ros says that the amount of time is similar to that of adults - between 30 to 60 minutes, but that the type of exercise they do is important and should be taken into consideration due to their older joints.
“We want to look at on low-impact exercise -so walks - and look at the surface you’re walking on," said Ros. “And then consider things like hydrotherapy. That’s really good exercise for the oldies to include in their regime.”
Ros stressed the importance of being consistent with exercise for our doggy pals, in order to keep their mental health well too. Since posting the video, it has been viewed and shared several times. Of course, the level of activity for dogs can vary based on many outlying factors, so those in doubt should seek the advice of a professional.
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