03/10/2026
The amount of exercise your dog needs will depend on:
Breed: Some breeds need a minimum of one to two hours of exercise per day, but others, such as working breeds need significantly more. Take a look at our breed pages for more information.
Age: The amount of exercise your dog needs will change throughout their life.
While they are growing, it’s important to protect their joints by introducing them to exercise slowly.
As an adult, it’s important to make sure they stay fit and active.
When they are into their senior years you may notice that they need a little less exercise than usual.
For more detailed information about exercising your dog during their younger and senior years, check out our specific pages on exercising your puppy and exercising your senior dog.
Health: If your dog is unwell or injured, they might not need as much exercise as usual. Resting is an important part of recovery so always follow your vet’s advice. During times of rest, it can be helpful to find other ways to keep them entertained and mentally stimulated so they don’t get bored and frustrated - puzzle feeders and snuffle mats are great options.
Fitness: Build their fitness gradually. If you want them to start doing more, or join you in a new hobby such as running or hiking, easing them into a new fitness routine slowly will help avoid any injury.
Personality: Just like us, every dog has their own preferences so it’s important to make sure they are enjoying their daily exercise. If they aren’t finding it fun and stimulating, think about what else you can spend time doing with them and tailor it to their breed where possible for example if you have a dog that has been bred to retrieve or swim.
According to PDSA research, a dog's perfect walk is 67 minutes long with 16 dedicated sniff stops along the way. Most owners report cutting walks significantly shorter and pulling their dogs away from sniffing to keep moving, which veterinary experts say is the opposite of what dogs actually need.
Sniffing activates the brain far more than running does for dogs, meaning a slow walk with plenty of stops is more restorative than a fast one with none. The walk your dog is trying to take is not the same walk you are trying to finish.
