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Did you know that walking your dog twice per day could be bad for his health? Don’t worry, because depending on their breed, age and circumstances we are going to explain how many times per day you should walk your dog to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
If you just got your first dog it is normal to be nervous, because it is not easy to know exactly how many times per day to walk a dog. The norm for most owners is to take the dog out to pee and poop, but this is not always enough. Dogs need exercise to stay fit, both physically and mentally. It doesn’t matter if your dog is big or small, if it is a puppy or a senior dog, our dog needs daily physical activity.
The number of times you should walk your dog per day depends on its particular needs. Want to know the needs of your dog? Let us give you some more details.
How many times does a dog have to go out per day?
If you are wondering how many times a dog should be walked per day, the quick answer is at least 3 to 5 times, if possible every 6-8 hours, so that the dog can relieve itself naturally. However, if your dog does his needs in the garden or yard of your house, taking the dog out 2 times per day for a little exercise could be enough, although it depends on many more factors. If you want to know more, keep on reading on.
It is not easy to determine how many times a dog has to go outside per day, since each dog is unique and factors such as age, breed, size, diet, climate and even some diseases can increase or decrease the amount of times.
How many times per day should a dog be taken out depending on the breed?
There are many factors that determine how many times a dog has to go out for a walk to create a healthy routine. Two of the most important factors are their age and breed, especially because there are dogs that by their nature need much more activity to stay in shape.
On the other hand, older dogs and certain breeds with mobility problems will need to take fewer walks a day, although it is the best thing to discuss this with your veterinarian.
Dogs that should be taken out more often than average:
- All terriers
- Border collies
- Shepherd dogs (German Shepherd, Belgian Shepherd, Australian Shepherd)
- Labradors
- Golden retrievers
- Dalmatians
- Irish Setters
- Rhodesian Ridgebacks
- Weimaraners
- Siberian Huskies
Dogs that can go out less times per day:
- French and English Bulldogs
- Mastiff dogs
- Great Danes
- Newfoundlands
- Greyhounds
Reasons to take your dog out more than 2 times per day
As an owner, you may not always have time to take your dog outside as often as you would like, but there are times when this may put your canine companion’s health at risk. For example, large breed dogs often have trouble holding their urine and very small dog breeds have a smaller bladder capacity in general, which means they will have to urinate more often. The main reasons to take your dog out more times per day are:
- If your dog is overweight or has canine obesity
- If your dog is on medication that makes him urinate
- If your dog has diabetes or needs rehabilitation
- If your dogs’ schedule has changed drastically
- If you notice that your dog is drinking more than usual
In addition to preventing or remedying situations like the above, taking your dog for a walk will keep him healthy in the following ways:
- Helps control weight: regular exercise is just as important for dogs as it is for us, as it helps them maintain a healthy weight.
- Improves joint health: keeping your dog always moving helps to prevent his joints from atrophying and therefore avoiding diseases such as osteoarthritis.
- Digestive and urinary health: when dogs go for a walk, they not only exercise but also urinate and poop.
