A typical adult dog does well on 30–90 minutes of daily exercise, with at least some of it being off-lead, sniffing, and using their brain. Working breeds need more, small / brachycephalic breeds need less, and kind of exercise matters more than total miles.
By rough breed group
- Toy and small breeds (Pug, Cavalier, Yorkie, Chihuahua), 30–60 minutes/day
- Medium pet breeds (Cockapoo, Beagle, Whippet, Border Terrier), 60–90 minutes/day
- Working / gun-dog breeds (Working Cocker, Springer, Vizsla, Border Collie), 90 minutes to 2+ hours
- Sighthounds (Greyhound, Lurcher), 45–60 minutes plus a short sprint a few times a week
- Northern breeds (Husky, Mal, Akita), 2+ hours daily
The puppy rule
For puppies under fully-grown: 5 minutes of formal walking per month of age, twice a day. So a 6-month-old does 30 minutes twice a day max, plus garden play and free pottering.
Why "miles" miss the point
A dog who's done a 5-mile lead walk but had no chance to sniff, problem-solve, or make decisions is often more hyper at home than a dog who's done 30 minutes of free-sniffing in a quiet field. Mental engagement matters more than distance.
Related terms
FAQs
Is one walk a day enough? For most adult dogs, two walks (morning + evening) is better than one long one, but a single solid daily walk is fine if that suits your life and the dog also has free time and play at home.
How do I know if my dog is over-exercised? Stiffness the next day, refusing the next walk, getting injured, or reactive on walks (over-arousal) are warning signs.
Is a 90-minute walk too long? For most adult dogs, no, but watch for stress signs in young, small or brachycephalic breeds. Brachycephalic dogs (Pugs, French Bulldogs) shouldn't do 90-minute walks in heat.