score:
1

How often should I walk my dog?

This is a question that we often get from sitters and owners who work with Rover. Help the community out by answering them in our forum!

Comments

When answering this question, please specify if you are talking about bathroom or exercise.

5 Answers

Sort by » oldest newest most voted
score:
2

How much exercise a dog needs varies by age, breed, and medical condition. However, that said, most small dogs I know (and their pet parents) seem to agree that 3 or 4 walks a day is optimal. The length of the walk again depends on previous 3 factors.

score:
1

Certainly each dog is different, but ALL dogs enjoy it. Some dogs prefer to run. So if you find your dog habitually pull, you may be going too slow for them! Strap on some skates or ride a bike to keep up. Older dogs may need arthritis supplements to fully enjoy their walk. Puppies should have short walks because their bones are still growing. Make sure you provide frequent water breaks, especially if it's warm outside. Dogs wear a fur coat after all!

Walking is usually recommended BEFORE eating for two reasons. It helps prevent bloat in large chested dogs and it also makes them "work" for their meal.

Comments

That is good advice I agree walks before eating. Walking stimulates appetite. One of my dogs who needed to gain weight according to her vet increased her appetite by going on walks.

score:
1

Walking your dog is a very important part of his physical and daily routine – it keeps his bones stronger and keeps him from getting bored and chewing things or exhibiting other destructive behaviors. Walking also allows him to urinate, eliminate, and socialize with other dogs. There is no definite number of times in general because it mostly depends on what breed you have and its health condition and capability. In fact, there are many factors that determine the frequency or the number of times you should walk your dog every day. It depends on the dog – there are some breeds for whom once a day walks are enough, but some others, especially high-energy ones, require more walks each day. But as a general rule, it is recommended that you walk your dog at least 15 minutes, twice a day

score:
0

Daily walks are needed in addition to other exercise. For a healthy dog: At least once a day, but preferably more often, your dog should walk at least 15 to 20 minutes. Changing the walking route is beneficial as both you and your dog won't get bored. Trail walking is my favorite way to have a structured walk. I use a 30 foot lead so the dog can explore at their leisure, and also provides some "run room" for the dog while I walk to catch up. In addition to walks, a nice game of fetch in the yard is great...if you have a yard to play in. But many people don't have yards for fun play, so they need to take their dogs to a dog park or friends' homes with the room to play. For older dogs and those with health conditions that make walking difficult, I suggest searching for a local aqua therapy center for dogs and ask for their open swimming hours.

score:
-3

roughly every 2 hours or so and right after meals