Dog Exercise Needs Calculator

Dogs have widely varying exercise needs depending on their breed group, age, size, and health. Providing the right amount of exercise is essential for a dog’s physical health, mental wellbeing, and behavior. Under-exercised dogs often develop destructive behaviors, anxiety, and obesity.

Exercise by Breed Group

High Energy (60–120+ minutes/day)

• Working dogs: Siberian Husky, Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois
• Sporting dogs: Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Irish Setter, Vizsla
• Terriers: Jack Russell Terrier, Airedale Terrier

Moderate Energy (30–60 minutes/day)

• Hound group: Beagle, Greyhound (surprisingly!), Bloodhound
• Herding (lower end): Australian Cattle Dog, Cardigan Corgi
• Non-sporting: Dalmatian, Poodle

Lower Energy (20–40 minutes/day)

• Brachycephalic breeds: French Bulldog, Bulldog, Pug, Boston Terrier (avoid overheating)
• Giant breeds: Great Dane, Mastiff, Saint Bernard
• Toy breeds: Chihuahua, Maltese, Pomeranian (short but frequent walks)

Age Considerations

Puppies: Do not over-exercise. A common rule is 5 minutes of exercise per month of age, twice per day.
Puppy joints are still developing, and hard runs can damage the growth plates before they close.

Adult dogs (2–7 years): Full exercise capacity. Follow breed guidelines.

Senior dogs (7+ years for large breeds, 9+ for small): Reduce intensity and duration. Watch for stiffness after rest, which indicates arthritis. Short, gentle walks are best.

Signs of Under-Exercise

• Destructive behavior (chewing, digging)
• Excessive barking or whining
• Jumping and hyperactivity indoors
• Weight gain
• Anxiety or restlessness

Signs of Over-Exercise

• Extreme fatigue after walks
• Limping or reluctance to walk
• Excessive panting that doesn’t resolve
• Lagging behind on walks they normally enjoy

Sniffing counts, and most owners underrate it

A dog’s nose does more work than its legs. Twenty minutes of a “sniffari”, where the dog picks the route and you follow at whatever pace it sets, tires a Border Collie about as thoroughly as a brisk half-hour walk on a tight lead. Scent games indoors work on rainy days and on dogs recovering from injury, when the legs are off limits but the brain is not. If your dog is still wired after the recommended minutes below, add nose work before you add distance.