Dog walk calculator

How the guide is worked out

For puppies, the calculator uses the Royal Kennel Club rule of thumb: about five minutes of formal exercise per month of age, up to twice a day, until the puppy is fully grown. A 4-month-old gets up to 20 minutes per walk, so up to 40 minutes a day. Age is counted in completed months, starting from 2 months at 8 weeks.

When "fully grown" applies comes from PDSA: most dogs are fully grown by about a year, while large breeds can take 18 months to 2 years. The calculator applies the puppy rule up to 12 months for small and medium breeds and up to 18 months for large and giant breeds.

The puppy total is never shown above the adult level for the same type of dog. A low-energy toy breed doesn't need more walking as a 6-month-old than it will as an adult.

For adult dogs, the calculator uses the exercise bands on the Royal Kennel Club's breed pages:

The Royal Kennel Club also says every dog should have at least one walk a day, often two. Our breed profiles list exercise needs breed by breed.

Caveats

• The puppy rule is not science. PDSA says there is no scientific evidence behind it and that it won't suit every puppy. AniCura reports that many orthopaedic vets consider it outdated. Use it as a careful starting point and adjust to your puppy.
• Walks are not the only exercise. The Royal Kennel Club calls informal, natural play one of the most important kinds of exercise for puppies, and warns that long walks can overtire them. PDSA describes early walks as a chance to explore new sights, sounds and smells.
• Avoid high-impact exercise while growing. The Royal Kennel Club advises against jumping from heights and sharp, sudden turns such as chasing a ball. PDSA says running with a puppy is too intense for growing bones.
• Vaccinations first. PDSA advises waiting until your puppy is fully vaccinated before walks in public places. See the vaccination schedule.
• Watch for tiredness. Puppies often won't stop by themselves. If yours keeps going, PDSA suggests putting it on the lead for a rest.
• Adjust for the individual. Breed bands describe typical healthy dogs. Older dogs and dogs that are overweight or have a health problem may need a different plan, so ask your vet.

When to ask your vet

Ask your vet before increasing exercise for a large or giant breed puppy, for a dog with a health condition, or before starting running, agility or other high-impact sports. Stop and get advice if your dog limps, is stiff after walks, struggles to breathe, or tires far sooner than usual.

Let DogsLife learn your dog's real rhythm

Log each walk in DogsLife with a tap and the app keeps track of how much your dog actually moves each day. It also learns when walks usually happen, so you can see at a glance whether today is on track.