DogsLifeGuide
Adult and senior dog care: the everyday numbers
Every DogsLife guide and calculator for grown-up dogs, from a young adult to a senior: how much they sleep, drink, eat and walk, what's normal for toilet habits and time alone, and what changes with age.
Most adult dogs sleep 8–13.5 hours a day, drink about 40–60 ml of water per kg, poop once or twice a day and do best with at least one or two walks. Senior dogs sleep more, often 12–15 hours. The single most useful thing you can know is what is normal for your own dog, because a change from that is the earliest sign something is wrong. This page collects every DogsLife guide and calculator for adult and senior dogs.
The everyday numbers
| What | Typical adult dog | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep | 8–13.5 hours a day | VCA Animal Hospitals |
| Water | 40–60 ml per kg a day; over 100 ml/kg is too much | American Kennel Club |
| Calories | 10 kg: 470–590 kcal a day; 30 kg: 1080–1346 | WSAVA |
| Poop | 1–2 times a day | American Kennel Club |
| Time alone | About 4 hours routinely | PDSA |
Guides: why a dog sleeps a lot, how much water a dog should drink, how often a dog should poop, how much exercise a dog needs, how long a dog can be left alone and a sample daily dog routine.
Calculators: dog calorie calculator, dog water intake calculator and dog walk calculator.
Senior dogs
| What | Typical senior dog | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Senior from | About 7 for small dogs, 5–6 for larger breeds | American Kennel Club |
| Sleep | 12–15 hours a day | American Kennel Club |
| Warning sign | Sleeping over 20 hours, or a clear change in pattern | American Kennel Club |
Older dogs sleep more, nap more by day and often need shorter, more frequent walks and an extra toilet trip. Read senior dog sleep changes, and use the dog age calculator to see your dog's age in human years.
Keeping track
Most of the changes vets ask about are easy to miss day to day: a few more toilet trips, longer naps, a bowl that empties faster. A simple log of sleep, walks, toilet trips and meals turns them into something you can see. Our dog diary app guide explains what to record. If you're still in the first year, the puppy first year hub has everything for that stage.
Frequently asked questions
When is a dog considered senior?
The AKC says small dogs are generally senior at about 7, larger breeds at about 5 to 6. The dog age calculator shows your dog's age in human years.
What changes should I watch for in an older dog?
Changes from its own normal: sleeping much more or over about 20 hours a day, drinking more, toilet habits, appetite, and restless nights. The AKC lists pain, arthritis, kidney and thyroid disease and cognitive decline among the causes, so tell your vet.
How many walks does an adult dog need?
Most adult dogs need at least one or two walks a day, and many breeds one to two hours of exercise in total. Seniors usually do better with shorter, more frequent walks.
Sources
- Is your pet sleeping too much? — VCA Animal Hospitals
- Can senior dogs sleep too much? How much should older dogs sleep? — American Kennel Club
- Why is my dog drinking so much water? Polydipsia or excessive thirst in dogs — American Kennel Club
- Calorie ranges for an average healthy adult dog in ideal body condition (updated July 2020) — World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
- How often should my dog be pooping? — American Kennel Club
- How to calculate dog years to human years — American Kennel Club
- Home alone: preventing separation anxiety — PDSA