Is it okay not to walk your dog every day

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

Contributions sourced from

What to Do If You Can't Walk Your Dog Every Day

This doesn't mean you should be filling your dogs bowl at every turn. Rather, find a toy that makes them think or work hard for a treat.

Food dispensing toys are a great way to provide entertainment to pets throughout the day, Dr. Coates says. They extend meal times, which not only provides entertainment and mental stimulation but also can help pets eat less, which is helpful when exercise opportunities are restricted. Consider rolling toys with narrow openings that slowly dispense kibble if your pet knocks it the right way.

Another option? Peanut butter. Fill a rubber Kong with peanut butter and place it in the freezer, Caroline Wilde, DVM, staff veterinarian at the pet insurance company Trupanion, tells Woman's Day. The dog will love the peanut butter, and freezing it will make it take a longer time to get to all the peanut butter.

Is It Ok to Not Walk Your Dog Every Day?

This article has been reviewed in accordance with our editorial policy.

The information in this article is not a substitute for professional help.

Youve been teeter-tottering on the edge of finally getting a dog.

The thought of having a new furry best friend warms your heart! But still, you wonderam I really ready for this?

Theres no way around it; it is a huge responsibility to have a dog. A pup puts a lot of extra demands on your time, finances, and energy.

You dont want to cut corners but cant help but wonder if certain dog-owner responsibilities offer any wiggle room.

Like, will you really have to walk your dog every single day? Is it okay not to?

While not required, it is strongly recommended that you walk your dog at least once every single day for around 15-20 minutes, with multiple walks daily being ideal. Dogs benefit from the exercise, socialization, exploration of their environment, and bonding that is uniquely provided through going on daily walks.

In this article, I will explain what happens if you dont take your dog on walks. Then, I will detail how often you should realistically take your dog on walks and give you a few tips to help make walks with your dog more enjoyable.

Does the idea of committing to walking your pup each and every day still sound slightly daunting?

Its okay.

Once you learn how much this daily ritual will benefit your dog, youll be racing to lace up your sneakers.

Lets get moving!

Table of Contents

Sometimes life just happens. Even the most diligent dog owner may have emergencies or schedule conflicts from time to time that can make taking daily walks a challenge.

So, what happens if you dont get that daily walk-in?

First and probably the most obvious, your dog may do their business indoors! Of course, if you have a safe, fenced-in yard, you can simply opt to let your dog out rather than take them on a walk. This will at least prevent your pup from making a mess inside.

But letting your dog outside should be considered the bare minimum.

Maybe youre really sick or extremely slammed with work, and taking your dog for a walk is just out of the question on a particular day. Or perhaps weather conditions are such that a walk wouldnt be possible or even enjoyable for you or your pup.

Ideally, the scenarios above should be a rarity and the exception, not the rule.

Youre not a bad pet owner if you have to just let your dog outside from time to time. But there are certain specific benefits that a dog gets from going on walks that they do not get from simply being let outside in the yard.

If you dont walk your dog, they cant reap any of these rewards!

Some of these benefits include:

If your goal is purely having your pup use the restroom, letting them out in the yard will get the job done. But your pup may likely eliminate even faster and easier if you take them on a walk.

The smells and evidence of other animals having used the bathroom in the vicinity may jumpstart your pups own need to go!

The motion of walking will also help their digestive system get things moving more rapidly.

In addition to speeding up your pups potty time, walking your dog is an amazing form of exercise. Walking, running, and jogging with your dog on a consistent basis will help keep both of you healthy.

Taking your dog on walks is a great way to expose them to other dogs, people, and situations.

If your dog is used to meeting and interacting with new humans and animals on a regular basis, they are more likely to be well-adjusted. Daily walks may help your dog be more at ease and comfortable in various atmospheres.

Perhaps the biggest benefit your pup gets from taking daily walks is the fun and adventure of exploring new environments. The sights, smells, sounds, and interesting new things they encounter on their walks enrich their minds.

Walks allow them to play and prance around as a puppy should!

From hiking to seizing trails youve never explored, your walks with your dog serve as intimate bonding time. Your walks are where remarkable memories are made as you conquer exciting, new terrain together.

There is no perfect formula for how often you should walk your dog.

Generally, younger dogs with more energy need more frequent walks. On the other hand, older dogs with more health problems can usually stand less activity.

Depending on your dogs age, breed, temperament, and level of health, they may need anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours of exercise each day. This is a wide range, and it may take some trial and error to figure out exactly how much activity your pup needs.

You may want to experiment with longer walks fewer times a day or if your schedule allows, try shorter walks more frequently.

You may want to start off with a walk first thing in the morning, in the early afternoon, before dinner, and before bed. You can make adjustments based on your dogs energy levels, disposition, eating schedule, and bathroom needs.

Worried that all these walks may get boring after a while? Have no fear! There are many ways to mix things up on your dogs walks to keep things fresh and exciting for both of you.

Here are some tips for keeping your walks with your canine compadre lively:

Bring a friend or two or three; humans, dogs, or any mix of fun companions
Switch up the scenery by walking in the city, woods, or by the ocean for a change
Mix your pups walks with off-lease, loose-leash, and obedience training
Allow your pups nose and desires to lead the way on the walk, within reason, of course
Try incorporating treats, toys, and breaks into your walk to help your dog stay engaged

Daily life can be so hectic. So its totally understandable that adding a daily walk with your dog, much less multiple walks a day, may feel like another task on top of the to-do list.

But as you actually get into the groove of practicing these daily walks with your pup, you will probably notice overwhelming benefits. These walks will likely result in a dog with smooth and regular bathroom habits, a fit and healthy body, and good social skills.

These daily walks are primed to produce a pup brimming with curiosity, with a good sense of fun, adventure, and play.

But the positive side effects of all of this walking dont stop there. As you walk together, you will be building life-long memories daily, side-by-side, step-by-step.

And thats certainly something worth walking for!

How many walks should a dog have a day?

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If theres one thing dog owners know, its that dogs love going for walks. Your dog is probably no exception.

As much as you and your dog both love going for walks, you might have a few questions about walking your dog.

One big one is probably just how many walks your dog should have a day. You also might have wondered if size and breed have something to do with that.

After all, some dogs look happy with just one a day, but others might want to head out more often!

Well discuss all that and more in this article.

How many walks should a dog have a day?

Are you wondering how long a dog can walk? Want to know how many times you should be walking your dog in a day?

A really great way that you and your dog can bond and get in a little exercise is going for a walk. Walks will stretch your legs, let your dog sniff around, and help to burn off a little energy.

But how often should you be walking your dog, exactly?

Well, the answer to that question depends on a few different things. Things like your dogs breed, age, and personality will all have an impact on how much he needs to be walked in a day.

Your own schedule and needs will factor in too!

Before we get into the specifics of how often you need to walk your dog, take a look at these related articles:

Do dogs need 2 walks every day?

Its best if your dog goes on a couple of walks per day. Now, you dont need to be walking your dog for an hour each time you go. But you should aim for at least 15 minutes each time.

Most dogs need around 30 minutes to 2 hours of physical activity every day. So if you walk your dog twice a day for 15 minutes each, youre giving your dog the minimum amount of exercise he needs.

You can add in some other activities like playtime to supply the rest of his exercise needs.

But remember, all dogs are different, and all people are too! Your dog might do better with 3 to 4 walks instead of 2. Or your dog might just enjoy one really long walk.

Your schedule will probably affect how many walks youre able to give your dog a day. You might have time to fit in several shorter ones, or you might have time for just one long one.

How long should I walk my dog each day?

You should be walking your dog as frequently as he needs to be walked, which will depend on each individual dog. But how long should the walks themselves be?

Again, dogs need at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. Ideally, theyll get more than that.

But the full amount of exercise that your dog is going to need will depend on a lot of things.

One thing is your dogs age. Young puppies should need less exercise, and shouldnt even go for walks until theyve been vaccinated. For more info on that, check out this article: Puppy Vaccinations Schedule, a Complete Guide.

Also, certain breeds will require longer walks than others. More energetic breeds, like Labrador Retrievers, for instance, will likely need more and longer walks than low energy breeds.

Is it okay not to walk your dog every day?

If you can, walking your dog every day is a fantastic way to make sure that he gets the exercise he needs. It will also help you stay fit and healthy!

But what if you cant go on walks with your dog every day? There might be days where life gets in the way. Maybe theres a really big storm going on! Or maybe you had a long day at work and youre just too exhausted.

You should walk your dog when you can, but walking isnt the only way you can exercise your dog. In fact, you shouldnt only rely on walks for exercising anyway!

If you need to miss a day or two of walking, thats completely fine. Just make sure that youre giving your dog other things to do until you can walk him again.

There are lots of great things you can try with your dog, even if youre stuck inside. For some fun things to try together, here are some related articles:

Do dogs need days off from walking?

Walking your dog regularly is a fantastic way to make sure that hes getting enough exercise. When you combined regular walks with other activities like playtime and brain games, youre giving your dog plenty of excellent stimulation.

But what about days off? Should your dog get them?

Providing your dog with enough exercise is important. But providing him with too much or too much of the same activity can lessen the benefits of that exercise.

So once in a while its a good idea to give your dog a day off. Give yourself one too!

Days off or rest days are important for both your dog and for yourself. They give you and your dog the chance to try different things and bond in new ways.

During your rest day, you should make sure to continue interacting a lot with your dog. Its not a break from hanging out! Its just a break from all the usual activities you do.

Try new things, get in some cuddles, or work on training, which is another great way to work your dogs mind.

Mental stimulation can be a wonderful training tool if used correctly. Check out Braintrainingfordogs to learn how to train your dog to be the best dog he can be by using mental stimulation! Or have a look at Dogpackrs review first to see if its a fit for you and your dog!

Looking for some help with training? Here are 11 easy dog tricks for beginners.

How many walks should different sized dogs have a day?

There are a lot of different factors that go into how frequently you should be walking your dog. One factor that youll want to consider is size.

Dogs of different sizes and breeds will have different exercise needs. So how much exercise should each size get? Lets get into it!

How often should you walk a big dog?

When it comes to large breeds, many of them are pretty energetic and need a decent amount of exercise.

Remember that the rule of thumb is at least 30 minutes of exercise. But if you have a big dog, youre probably going to want to make sure he gets more than that.

Make sure to walk your dog so that he gets the minimum amount of exercise. But depending on his size and energy, he might need closer to 2 hours of exercise per day.

Some larger dogs that are generally higher energy include Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Dalmatians, and Irish Setters.

But bear in mind that your dogs breed is going to play a huge role too. Many large breeds are highly active and need a lot of exercise, true. But there are also large breeds that are much more laid back and will need less physical activity.

Dogs like Mastiffs, Great Danes, and Newfoundlands generally need a little less exercise. That means that youll probably be able to go for fewer and shorter walks.

Remember, if youre ever uncertain how much you should be walking your dog, you can always ask your vet for advice.

How often should you walk a medium sized dog?

Just like larger breeds, a medium sized dogs exercise needs will vary based on a few things. Some medium breeds are highly active and athletic.

These breeds will need to be walked more often and for longer. Youll also want to make sure that youre giving these breeds a little more daily exercise than you would for less active ones.

Breeds like Australian Terriers, Akitas, and Collies will probably need to burn more energy. Remember to make sure youre combining your dogs physical activity with plenty of brain games.

Active dogs also tend to be highly intelligent, which means youll want to work their minds too!

However, there are also plenty of medium sized breeds that are slightly more relaxed than the above breeds. If you have one of these dogs, you can probably get away with less exercise.

Cocker Spaniels, for instance, are probably going to need slightly less exercise.

In general, however, make sure to follow the 30-minute rule of thumb. Also know that medium sized dogs are likely to need around 40 to 80 minutes of exercise per day. Pay attention to your dog to make sure that you are not giving him too much or too little.

How long should you walk a small dog?

Small dogs can also be very active, but its likely that youll be able to get away with slightly less exercise for them. In fact, youll probably want to be careful that youre not exhausting your small dog!

Most small dogs should only need around 30 minutes of exercise every day. But just like medium and large dogs, youll want to pay attention to your dogs breed. Youll also want to be mindful of your own dogs specific needs.

Breeds like Mini Poodles and Dachshunds, for instance, can be super high energy! You might need to give these dogs a little more than 30 to 40 minutes of exercise each day.

Again, always pay attention to your specific dog. While breed and size will definitely play roles in how much exercise your dog needs, his individual needs and health will affect that too.

Conclusion

Walking your dog is good for plenty of reasons. It helps both of you get in the exercise you need, and its also a great bonding opportunity for the two of you!

But you want to make sure that youre walking him the right amount. Taking your dog on too many or too few walks a day could lead to problems. So remember the above tips, grab your dogs leash, and hit the pavement!