How much exercise does my dog need?

It’s not surprising that each breed is going to have different exercise requirements than others. Big, active dogs naturally need to work off a ton of energy and keep their bodies healthy and limber, while some toy breeds can get their steps in with an active day around the apartment. But not all small dogs are couch potatoes, and not all big dogs need miles of zoomin’ to get in their daily activity requirements. For example, greyhounds are known for their elite speed, but they’re actually more on the couch potato side at heart.

How much exercise does a puppy need?

It’s very important to recognize that puppies need a lot less exercise than adult dogs, especially in their very early months. Too much early strain on their puppy joints can lead to orthopedic disease, according to AKC. Experts debate on exactly how much exercise puppies should get, especially since each breed is so different and there’s so much change from month to month. As a general guideline, according to The Kennel Club, get your puppy 5 minutes of exercise for each month of age, once or twice per day. Follow this table as a general guide. Use your best judgment to gradually work up to their adult exercise needs, which you can find for each breed below.

Daily exercise needs for adult dogs, by breed

The table below outlines the exercise needs of each breed. If you have a hybrid or mixed breed, look for their dominant breed(s) below and go with that. Naturally, you’ll want to err on the high side of exercise if you can.

Keep in mind, daily exercise level can affect how much you feed your dog. A healthy, highly active dog should eat a bit more food to keep up with calorie burning. If your dog doesn’t quite get the recommended daily exercise, make sure he or she isn’t eating like an active dog. The inactivity will likely allow those spare calories to turn to unwanted (and unhealthy) weight. If you’re not sure if your dog is overweight, or how to help your dog lose weight if they are, we’ve got resources to help there too.