Macy Moore
Owner, MoorePetLove · Oakville, ON
"How often should I walk my dog?" is one of those questions that sounds simple and turns out to have a really nuanced answer. The honest truth: it depends entirely on your dog. But there are some solid guidelines that work for most dogs, and some common mistakes worth knowing about.
Most healthy adult dogs need at least two walks per day — typically one in the morning and one in the evening. The length can vary, but 20–30 minutes each is a reasonable baseline for medium-sized dogs. That said, "at least" is the key phrase. Many dogs — especially working breeds, sporting breeds, or just high-energy individuals — need significantly more.
If you have a border collie, husky, golden retriever, German shepherd, vizsla, or any working/herding/sporting breed, two 20-minute walks probably aren't enough. These dogs were bred to work all day. They need at least 60–90 minutes of actual exercise daily, often split across multiple outings. An under-exercised high-energy dog will find ways to exercise itself — usually by destroying something.
Senior dogs often need shorter, more frequent walks rather than one long one. Joints and stamina change with age — three gentle 15-minute walks can be better than one 45-minute slog. Puppies are the opposite extreme: they have bursts of intense energy followed by deep sleep. Short, frequent walks are better than long ones until they're fully grown, as too much repetitive impact before growth plates close can cause problems.
A walk isn't just about physical exercise — it's mental stimulation too. Letting your dog sniff properly (not being constantly hurried along) is genuinely tiring in a good way. A 20-minute "sniff walk" where your dog investigates everything they want to investigate can be more satisfying than a 40-minute brisk march where they barely get to stop.
30-minute walks from $25, 1-hour from $35. GPS-tracked, with a photo update after every walk. Book online at moorepetlove.ca.