Daily exercise calculator
A quick, honest estimate of how much exercise your dog needs in a day, then build the routine around it. Free, no account needed.
Breed is the best guide here. A Border Collie and a Bulldog of the same weight need very different days.
Build up gradually for puppies, with short bursts while joints develop, and ease off for seniors.
Estimated daily exercise
60min/day
- Suggested split
- 2 × 30 min
- Base for energy level
- 60 min
This is a general guide. Age, injury, breathing issues, heat and health conditions can change what's safe.
How this is worked out
We start with a base number of daily minutes for your dog's energy level, from a laid-back companion to a working breed that never switches off:
Base = daily minutes for the energy level
That's then adjusted for life stage. Puppies build up gradually and seniors ease off, so the same breed needs a different day at either end of life:
Daily target = base × life-stage adjustment
There's no single vet formula for this, so treat the result as a starting point and read the dog rather than the clock. Settled after a session is the sign you've got it about right. Health and age matter more than the clock, so let them override the number.
Common questions
How accurate is this estimate?
It's a sensible starting point, not a prescription. There's no single formula for exercise the way there is for calories, so we base it on energy level and life stage. Watch how your dog copes. Keen and settled afterwards is about right, while wired or shattered means adjust.
What about puppies?
Go gently. A common guide is around five minutes of formal exercise per month of age, once or twice a day, building up as they grow. Too much, too young can strain developing joints, so keep it to short bursts and lots of rest.
Does mental exercise count?
Yes. Sniffing on a walk, training games, puzzle feeders and scent work all tire a dog out and take pressure off the clock. A sniffy half-hour can do more than a brisk march of the same length.
My dog still seems under- or over-exercised. What then?
Adjust gradually and read the dog, not the number. Restlessness, chewing and barking can signal too little. Reluctance, stiffness or limping can signal too much. Persistent issues are worth a chat with your vet.
Now match the routine to the dog.
Use your dog's activity needs to choose food, walking gear, toys and routines that fit their day.
