Why is it important to walk your dog?

It helps your dog stay at a healthy weight

Extra weight is the most common health problem vets see in dogs. In the United States, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention found in 2022 that 59% of dogs were overweight or had obesity. In the United Kingdom, vets told the PDSA in 2023 that they estimate 46% of dogs are overweight or obese.

It is easy to miss. In the same PDSA report, 81% of owners said their pet was an ideal weight, and 32% of dog owners did not know what their dog weighed.

Weight matters because it shortens lives. A 2019 study of more than 50,000 dogs across 12 breeds found that overweight dogs had a shorter life span in every breed. For Yorkshire Terriers the gap was about two and a half years. VCA Animal Hospitals lists diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and arthritis among the problems that come with obesity.

Food does most of the work when it comes to weight, and a walk does not cancel out a second dinner. A daily walk is the other half of the picture, and it is the half your dog looks forward to.

It keeps joints moving

Joints like to be used. VCA puts it simply. Keeping joints in motion improves their function. The PDSA says fit and active dogs are less likely to suffer from arthritis, obesity and behaviour problems.

This matters most for older dogs, who stiffen up when they have not moved for a while. The PDSA advice for seniors is not to stop walking. Go little and often, at the pace your dog sets.

It gives the brain a job

A walk is the most interesting part of many dogs' day. There are new smells, new places, and people and dogs to meet. The PDSA says a slow, meandering walk full of sniffing and exploring is great for a dog's mental health, while a brisk walk is the one that burns off extra energy. Both count.

So do not hurry your dog past every lamp post. Reading the neighbourhood with its nose is the point of the outing as far as your dog is concerned. VCA adds that walking exercises the mind as well as the body and helps dogs sleep better at night.

It helps with digestion and toilet habits

According to VCA, regular walking helps regulate the digestive tract. Regular trips outside also mean your dog is not holding on for long stretches, which VCA links to bladder infections.

It can help with behaviour, up to a point

A dog with energy to spare has to put it somewhere. The PDSA says dogs with excess energy often become frustrated and stressed and find it harder to cope. A Finnish study of more than 3,000 dogs found that dogs with noise sensitivity and separation anxiety got less daily exercise than other dogs, although a survey like that cannot say which causes which.

Be realistic about it. The PDSA is clear that exercise may improve unwanted behaviour but is unlikely to fix a problem completely. If your dog is anxious or destructive, more walks are a good start, and a vet or a qualified behaviourist is the next step. We look at this more closely in what happens if you do not walk your dog.

It builds your bond

A walk is one-on-one time with no phone calls and no chores. VCA says that time together deepens your bond and helps deter attention-seeking habits such as barking and whining. Dogs that get your full attention on a walk have less reason to demand it at home.

It is good for you too

A 2019 study in Scientific Reports compared dog owners with people who do not have a dog in one UK community. The dog owners had about four times the odds of meeting the guideline of 150 minutes of physical activity a week. The dog walking came on top of their other exercise and did not replace it.

In other words, your dog is the most reliable personal trainer you will ever have. It never cancels and it is always pleased to see you.

How much walking is enough?

There is no single number, and the reputable sources give different ones. VCA suggests a total of 30 minutes a day, which does not have to be in one outing. PetMD says most dogs in good condition can manage a daily walk of 20 to 30 minutes. The PDSA says most dogs need at least one or two walks a day, and that some breeds need one to two hours or more.

The spread is so wide because dogs are. A Pug and a Border Collie are not the same animal to exercise. Look up your dog in our breed exercise guides for a starting number, and read is walking enough exercise for a dog if you suspect yours needs more than a stroll.

Making walks count

• Let them sniff. Give part of every walk over to the nose.
• Change the route. New streets mean new smells.
• Split it up. Two shorter walks are as good as one long one, and easier on puppies and older dogs.
• Mind the heat. Walk early or late in warm weather, and take extra care with flat-faced breeds.
• Make it a habit. The best walk is the one that happens. See how to remember to walk your dog.