Vet Dr. Nicole Rous has shared a helpful guide on how long you should walk your dog for, and it varies depending on whether they are a puppy, an adult, or a senior dog.
Pet owners often wonder how much exercise their dogs really need. Should it be an hour or just a walk around the block?
Veterinarian Dr. Nicole Rous has come to the rescue with a TikTok video outlining the optimal exercise routine for your canine companion. She delineates her guide by age group: puppies, adults, and senior dogs.
According to the advice of Dr. Rous, your dog's exercise needs change over their lifetime. For new puppies, she suggests a walking regimen that goes by the thumb rule of five minutes per month of age, done twice daily, reports the Express.
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By this logic, a four-month-old puppy should enjoy 20 minutes of frolicking exercise not once, but twice in a day.
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Keep in mind, this isn't only about trotting on the paths but also includes playtime within the homely confines of your garden and other lively activities.
For full-grown dogs, this vet prescribes 30 to 60 minutes of active engagement per day, though she notes this can swing depending on breed specifics.
Dr Nicole Rous said: “If you've got a really active breed like a border collie, you're probably looking at one to two hours.”
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“And if you've got a more sedentary breed, you might be looking at two 20 minute walks a day rather than the full hour.”
For older dogs, Dr. Rous advises sticking to 30 to 60 minutes of gentler exertion, mindful of safeguarding those vulnerable joints with non-strenuous exercises.
She advised further, “Look at the surface you're walking on and then consider things like hydrotherapy.”
“That's really good exercise for the oldies to include in their regime but the exercise is so, so important to keep going even if they have arthritis.
“We want consistent exercise and we want to make sure we're still using their brain because that's so important just as it is for humans.”
The amount of time you should dedicate to walking your dog depends on its age and breed, but regular, consistent exercise will ensure your dog stays healthy both physically and mentally.
