How the numbers are built
Three rules cover a dog's whole life. Puppies follow the PDSA guideline of 5 minutes of structured exercise per month of age, up to twice daily — protection for growth plates that are still open. Adults land in energy bands: 30–45 minutes for genuinely low-key dogs, about an hour for most, and 90–120 minutes for working and sporting breeds whose brains fall apart without an outlet. Seniors keep moving but drop 30–50% of the adult dose, traded into shorter, more frequent outings. These are the same rules ourPet Plan uses to time walks around your actual day.
Minutes are a floor for the body, not a ceiling for the brain
A dog can be physically exercised and still bored stiff. Sniffing is cognitive work — a 20-minute "sniffari" tires most dogs more than 20 minutes of brisk heeling — so let at least one outing a day be slow and nose-driven. And the calculator's output is an average healthy dog's starting point: heat, injury, obesity and heart conditions all move the number, and your vet outranks any calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much exercise does a puppy need?
The PDSA rule of thumb is 5 minutes of structured exercise per month of age, up to twice a day — so a 4-month-old gets about 20 minutes per outing. Growing joints are the reason to hold the line: sniffy walks and play beat forced running on hard surfaces every time.
How much exercise does an adult dog need per day?
It tracks energy level more than size: a low-key companion breed does well on 30–45 minutes a day, most dogs sit around an hour, and working or sporting breeds genuinely need 90–120 minutes. Splitting the total into a morning and an evening outing fits both canine biology and human schedules.
Do senior dogs still need daily walks?
Yes — movement protects joints, weight and mood. The adjustment is dose, not abstinence: cut total time by roughly 30–50% from adult levels, and prefer shorter, more frequent outings over one long push. A senior who suddenly resists walks deserves a vet visit, not early retirement.
Why do flat-faced breeds need special exercise care?
Brachycephalic breeds — Bulldogs, Frenchies, Shih Tzus, Boston Terriers — have compressed airways that make panting inefficient, and panting is how dogs shed heat. Keep their sessions shorter, skip the hot hours entirely, and treat noisy labored breathing as the stop signal it is.