How much should I walk my dog?

The Royal Kennel Club (RKC), the UK's breed registry, gives every breed on its site an exercise figure in one of three bands: up to 30 minutes a day, up to 1 hour a day, or more than 2 hours a day. The planner groups breeds by those bands. Exercise means the whole day's activity, not one walk: sniffing walks, off-lead running in a safe space, fetch and training games all count.

Most dogs need at least one or two walks a day unless your vet says otherwise, PDSA advises, and some breeds need a minimum of one to two hours, with working breeds needing significantly more. Older dogs usually need a little less than they did.

If your dog is not in the list, pick the band of the breed it most resembles in size and type, then watch the dog. A dog that is restless, chewing or barking at home may need more; one that lags behind, limps or is stiff the next day may need less, and a word with your vet.

Puppies need exercise built up slowly while their joints grow, and they should be fully vaccinated before they exercise in public places. PDSA notes that the popular rule of 5 minutes of exercise for each month of age has no scientific evidence behind it and is not right for most puppies: do what suits your puppy's age, size and breed, and ask your vet.

Older dogs usually need a little less exercise than before, PDSA says, and they are among the dogs most at risk in the heat. Shorter, more frequent strolls often suit them better than one long walk.

In most Indian cities the summer months make a midday walk unsafe for any dog. Heat waves come mainly between March and June, and IMD's public advice is to stay out of the sun between 12 noon and 3 pm. Plan the day's longer walk for before sunrise or after sunset, and keep the middle of the day for rest indoors. Tar roads, paver blocks and terrace floors hold heat long after the sun has gone, so do the hand test even in the evening.

AWBI, India's statutory animal welfare board, warned in its 2026 heat advisory that dogs are particularly vulnerable to heatstroke, dehydration and burns from hot surfaces, and asked owners to seek a vet at once for excessive panting, drooling, a racing heartbeat or collapse. Its 2020 guideline for pet owners reminds them that keeping a dog chained up without reasonable exercise is an offence under Section 11(1)(g) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

High-energy breeds such as the Siberian Husky and German Shepherd struggle most in Indian heat, because their exercise needs are highest exactly when it is hardest to meet them. Indoor games, training and puzzle feeders help fill the gap. If you are away or working long days, a dog walker or day care can give an active dog its walks at the coolest times.