How Often Should I Walk My Dog?

A dog in good general shape can enjoy a 15 to 30 minute walk daily. Most breeds may need routine walks several times per day. Moreover, dogs with

excellent health can enjoy long walks of up to two or more hours. Some will even hike with their owners for a couple of hours.

How Often Should I Walk My Dog?

No matter your dog’s size, senior or puppy, big or small, the animal needs routine physical activity. Exercise is a great way to keep your dog in good shape, both mentally and physically. But how often should you walk your dog? Well, if you’re wondering how many times you should walk your canine, you’re not alone. Many pet owners, especially first-time owners, ask this question often. It’s important to note that the number of times to walk your pet each day depends on a dog’s particular needs. Read on to get the answers to all the questions you may have.

How Often Should You Walk Your Dog?

We recommend that you walk your pooch, on average, 3 to 4 times a day for about 15 minutes. However, frequency also depends on the particular dog’s:

1. Breed
2. Eating habits
3. Size, age, and health conditions

A single walk in a day can be perfect for smaller dogs, but large, high-energy dog breeds may require more walks per day. If your dog belongs to any of these categories or you’re a sporty person who enjoys outdoor activities with your dog but still unsure how much exercise your friend needs, we’ve got you covered.  To read more….go HERE

How Much Should You (the dog walker) Walk Every Day?

Before you think about how much you should be walking or consider setting a goal, assess how much you’re currently walking, says Stanten. Go about your normal routine and track how many steps you’ve taken at the end of each day. Do this for a few days, and make sure at least one day is a weekday and one a weekend. Capture those results so you can have a baseline to increase from there.

You might be confused about exactly how many steps you should be getting every day. Is it 7,500, or is 10,000 still the magic number? Instead of thinking about step count, consider starting with the current Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and two days of muscle strengthening activity per week. For cardio, that correlates to about 30 minutes, five days a week, “which breaks down to three 10-minute walks a day, which is generally pretty doable,” says Stanten.

If you still find that counting steps is more motivating, she suggests trying to add another 500 or even 1,000 steps a day, if that feels doable.

How Long Should It Take Me to Walk a Mile?

Another way to track your walking fitness is to gauge how long it takes you to walk a mile. “In general most people will cover a mile somewhere between 15 to 20 minutes,” says Stanten. “Fifteen is on the faster side, but [for] people who are working out, that 15-minute-per-mile pace is very reasonable.” If you find that you’re closer to 20 minutes, and your goal is to walk a mile every day—or an additional mile daily— try breaking up your work into a pair of 10-minute walks, she says.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how long it takes you to walk a mile, or whether you walk that mile consecutively or throughout the day. Simply increasing the amount of activity in your life and cutting down sedentary time will help you attain those mind and body benefits.

Walking Can Help to Boost Your Mood

Walking Can Help Reduce Risk of Disease

Walking Is Accessible

Walking Is Joint-Friendly Exercise

Walking Is Good for Cross-Training

To learn More….Go HERE

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