How long should I walk my dog each day?

For most adult dogs: two sessions totalling 45–90 minutes, depending on breed. High-energy working breeds (Kelpies, Border Collies) need 90–150 minutes of structured activity daily. Low-energy companions (Maltese, Cavalier King Charles) are well-served by 30–40 minutes across two short walks. Breed matters more than size — a Staffy and a Great Dane are similar in size but very different in exercise needs.

Is a 20-minute walk enough for a dog?

For low-energy companion breeds (Maltese, Shih Tzu, Pug), yes — 20 minutes twice a day is appropriate. For medium and high-energy breeds, no. A 20-minute walk is a good start but insufficient as the sole daily exercise for a Labrador, Kelpie, Border Collie, or Staffy. If you can't provide longer walks yourself, a professional midday walk fills the gap on workdays.

Can you walk a dog too much?

Yes, particularly puppies and dogs with joint problems. Puppies under 12 months should follow the 5-minute rule per month of age per session. Senior dogs with arthritis should walk short and often rather than for sustained periods. Over-exercise in healthy adult dogs is rare but possible — watch for excessive panting that doesn't resolve, reluctance to continue, or next-day stiffness.

How long should a dog walk be in summer in Australia?

From December to February: maximum 20–30 minutes, and only in the early morning (before 8:30am) or evening (after 6:30pm). Use the 7-second pavement test — hold the back of your hand on the pavement for 7 seconds in direct sun. If you can't hold it, the surface is too hot for your dog's paw pads. For brachycephalic breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs), reduce duration and threshold further.

Should I walk my dog faster or slower?

Faster for physical exercise, slower for mental enrichment — and both matter. Most owners walk too fast for optimal sniff engagement. A dog walking at a moderate pace with freedom to investigate occasionally gets more out of the walk than one marching on a tight lead. Let the first and last few minutes of any walk be dog-paced; use the middle section for your preferred walking pace.

Dog walking

How Long Should a Dog Walk Be? (By Breed, Age & Season)

Walk duration depends on your dog's breed, age, health, and the Australian season. Here's a practical guide to getting it right — including breed-specific targets, puppy limits, senior adjustments, and summer safety rules.

By atticus · 8 min read · Last updated 17 May 2026

A healthy adult dog should walk for 20–60 minutes per session, depending on breed. But "per session" matters as much as total duration — two 25-minute walks produce better outcomes than one 50-minute slog, particularly for joint health and afternoon behaviour. And Australian summers add a layer that most guides written for UK or US conditions don't address: if it's 38°C in Parramatta at 1pm, a 60-minute walk is not a kindness.

Walk duration by breed — the honest guide

There's no universal answer, but there is an honest range for each breed category. Australian dogs skew toward working and herding breeds at a higher rate than most other countries — this table reflects that reality.

Breed category	Australian examples	Recommended session duration	Sessions per day	Notes
High-energy working/herding	Australian Kelpie, Border Collie, Australian Cattle Dog, Malinois	45–75 min	2–3	Cannot be adequately exercised without sustained movement; park time needed
High-energy sporting	Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Weimaraner, Springer Spaniel	30–60 min	2	Labs and Goldens often hide exhaustion; watch for overheating in summer
Endurance sighthounds	Greyhound, Whippet, Saluki	20–30 min on-lead + sprint time	2	Need short intense bursts rather than sustained marching; great sprinters, not great trotters
Medium terriers	Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, Jack Russell, Fox Terrier	25–45 min	2	Staffies are prone to heat intolerance; shorten duration in summer
Intelligent mid-energy	Standard Poodle, Schnauzer, Cocker Spaniel, Cavoodle	25–40 min	2	Mental enrichment (sniff walks, training) reduces total physical time needed
Low-energy companions	Cavalier King Charles, Maltese, Shih Tzu, Pomeranian	15–25 min	1–2	Respect the signal when they stop; forcing pace damages small joints
Brachycephalic	French Bulldog, English Bulldog, Pug	10–20 min (short, slow)	1–2	Cannot pant effectively to cool down; high risk in any temperature above 25°C
Giant breeds	Great Dane, Saint Bernard, Bernese Mountain Dog, Newfoundland	20–35 min	1–2	Joint load limits duration; swimming is a better high-duration exercise option

These are guidelines, not prescriptions. A five-year-old Labrador in peak health and a seven-year-old Labrador with hip dysplasia have genuinely different needs.

Puppies: duration limits that matter

Over-exercising a young puppy is one of the most common causes of preventable joint damage in Australian dogs. This is especially relevant for larger breeds where owners assume "more exercise = healthier dog."

The RSPCA Australia and the AVA both endorse the 5-minute rule for puppies:

5 minutes of structured on-lead walking per month of age, twice per day, until growth plates close.

In practice:

2 months: 10 min per session (most puppies won't be walking until they're fully vaccinated — around 10–12 weeks in AU)
3 months: 15 min per session
4 months: 20 min per session
6 months: 30 min per session
9 months: 45 min per session

Growth plates close at different ages by breed:

Small breeds (Maltese, Shih Tzu): 8–10 months
Medium breeds (Labrador, Border Collie): 12–14 months
Large breeds (German Shepherd, Rottweiler): 14–18 months
Giant breeds (Great Dane, Bernese): 18–24 months

The 5-minute rule applies to on-lead walking on hard surfaces — the repetitive load that stresses growth plates. Free play on soft grass is less concerning. Swimming is fine at any age.

If a dog walker is offering puppy services, ask whether they follow this guideline. Most experienced walkers know it. Some don't.

Senior dogs: adjusting for what the dog tells you

The instinct to reduce elderly dogs' walks is correct in direction but often overdone. Movement is medicine for arthritic joints — inactivity causes muscles to weaken, which loads already-inflamed joints even more. The goal is movement that the dog manages comfortably, not immobility.

Practical adjustments for senior dogs (typically 7+ for large breeds, 10+ for small breeds):

Shorter but more frequent. Three 15-minute walks are better than one 45-minute one for a dog with hip or elbow arthritis. The shorter duration keeps joints moving without loading them for sustained periods.

Soft surfaces. Grass, dirt, and bark paths are significantly easier on arthritic joints than concrete or tile. Route senior dogs through parks rather than footpaths where possible.

Morning timing. Many dogs with arthritis are stiffest first thing in the morning — 20–30 minutes after waking, not immediately. Let them move around the house first, then take them out.

Read the next-day signal. If your dog is reluctant to walk, limping slightly, or moving stiffly the day after a walk that was longer than usual, the duration was too much. Walk shorter, not less.

Post-walk behaviour. A dog that drops contentedly after a walk and rests calmly is appropriately tired. A dog that drops and doesn't want to get up for several hours, or is visibly stiff when they do, has been walked too long.

The Australian summer adjustment

This is where most generic "how long to walk a dog" guides fail Australian owners. They're written for UK or North American climates where 25°C is a hot day. In Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, or Adelaide from December to February, 35–42°C days are routine.

The 7-second pavement test. Hold the back of your hand flat on the pavement in the sun for 7 seconds. If you can't hold it there, the pavement is too hot for your dog's paw pads. This test is not folklore — at 60°C+ (common on dark asphalt in direct sun above 35°C), paw pad tissue begins to burn within 60 seconds.

Summer walk duration guidelines:

Above 30°C: reduce walks to 20–30 minutes maximum. Walk only in early morning (before 8:30am) or evening (after 6:30pm).
Above 35°C: keep walks to 15–20 minutes. Water mandatory. Route through shade only.
Above 40°C: toilet breaks only for most breeds. High-energy breeds can have a short dawn walk in 5–10 minutes. No extended exercise.

Brachycephalic breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, English Bulldogs) have a lower threshold — above 25°C warrants reduced duration and careful monitoring. They pant ineffectively and can reach critical heat stress very quickly.

What pace should the walk be?

Most owners walk their dogs faster than is optimal for the dog's benefit. A fast-paced leash walk where the dog is slightly ahead and always pulling addresses physical exercise but almost nothing else.

A slower, dog-led walk where the dog sniffs freely, stops, investigates, and sets the pace is cognitively enriching in a way a brisk walk isn't. Olfactory processing is mentally demanding for dogs — a 20-minute sniff walk is more genuinely tiring than a 20-minute fast walk.

Practical middle ground: let the first 5 minutes of any walk be slow and dog-led (getting the sniffing and marking out of their system), then move at your preferred pace, then let the last 5 minutes slow down again. Total walk duration stays the same; the dog gets more from it.

Find a TruePath walker near you

Background-checked walkers, GPS-tracked walks, and live photo updates. Most owners book their first walk within an hour.

Find a walker

Frequently asked questions

Want to earn this walking dogs?

Apply →

Keep reading

dog walking

How Often Should You Walk Your Dog? (Australian Guide, 2026)

Most adult dogs need at least two walks per day. But the right frequency depends on breed, age, living situation, and health. Here's how to work it out for your specific dog — with an Australia-specific breed breakdown.

dog walking

Dog Walker for Puppies — What to Know Before You Book

Puppies can start short walks after their vaccinations are complete — but the walker you choose matters as much as the timing. Here's what to know about puppy walks in Australia, including the 5-minute rule, vaccination timing, and what to ask any walker.

dog walking

Dog Walker for Senior Dogs — What to Look For

Senior dogs still need daily walks — but shorter, slower, and on the right surfaces. Here's what to look for in a walker for an older dog, and how to adapt the routine as your dog ages.