Is it Ok to walk your dog just once a day?

Question

He's small and not very hyper. he's 7 months. I walk him for about 30 mins to 2hours. We have a big garden too.

Answer 1

Yeah that's ideal mate.

Answer 2

If you let him out in the garden to use the restroom and play quite often, then a walk every day is awesome! Most dogs don't have owners who even do that, and the fact that you set aside the time to make sure he gets at least one a day is really good.
On the other hand, if the walk is when he gets to relieve himself, then he needs to be outside more than just that. Dogs need, especially younger dogs such as your seven month old, need to use the restroom frequently, so make sure he is also allowed to play in the garden and relieve himself whenever he wants.
Other than that, you are doing great and keep up the good work!

Answer 3

1 long walk should be ok.
The amount of exercise a dog needs, really depends on the breed/ size of dog.
Some small dogs require very little exercise, but sometimes if they have only a little exercise they can become bored and then develop bad habits. So 1 long walk and lots of playing is fine.
I have 2 shih-tzu, and they get a 45min walk in the morning and a shorter 25-35 min walk in the evening. But that is habit and they could cope with just one 45min walk a day.
Sassym

Answer 4

Puppies need much less excercise than adult dogs. Some larger dogs bone devlopment is damaged by too much walking early on.

However, no 30 mins exercise is not good enough for a dog. Two hours is about right for most dogs, but a few like a little more or less, depending on breed, age, and what the dog does the rest of the time. Greyhounds, for example, famously prefer shorter,l very active walks, rather than long ones. Siberian Huskies will run all day! If your dog is home all day, 9-5, which is cruel anyway, he deserves four or five hours play/walkies the rest of the time. Saying 'they will adapt to anything' is stupid. Dogs will accept whatever you give, them but this is very unfair. Two walks are definitely better than one.

A BIG GARDEN IS NO SUBSTITUE FOR WALKING YOUR DOG. Dogs need physical and mental stimulation, and this is not well achieved in the garden, which they see all the time. They need new smells and sights, to meet other dogs, to do doggie things like dig, roll, swim, bark and play. I walk my golden retriever for an hour in the morning, two in the evening, and we play ball at lunchtime. He also comes to work with me. He meets different people, walks on the lead, runs free, rolls, plays, swims, eats grass, whatever he wants. He needs to do his own thing. A combination of terrain is ideal; woods, river, street, fields. Also, he is left to get on; I do not make him walk a route. If he wants to sniff, I wait for him; this is his time. Golden retrivers need a lot of exercise. No young fit goldie should get less than 150 mins a day of 'dog time.'

If you are going to give less than the ideal, you need to make up for it; have a sandpit in the garden for digging. Have climbing frames and tunnels to explore. Put plants in with lots of different scents. Have plenty of toys and games for your dog. Invite other dogs to play.

Bravo for walking your dog every day. It's so unfair when a dog doesn't get too leave the house all day, yet so common. If a dog is not properly exercised, owners can guarantee behavioural problems.

Answer 5

At 7 months old 2 hours is far too much! One walk is OK although 2 shorter ones would be much better of about 20-30 minutes each time, my dogs go out 2-3 times, my husband takes them out at around 5.30 in the morning for half an hour and I take them out for about 1 and a half hours in the afternoon then they go out for another quick walk around our back field at about 8 in the evening, later in the Summer months, most of their exercise is off lead and yes it is perfectly legal where I live, if you take your dog out twice a day it has something to look forward to and yes I know they don't think like we do but it stops dogs getting bored.

Answer 6

I think it really depends on the dog. Some are happy with one good walk a day, especially as you said you have a good sized garden, but others will need more than that (mine would bounce off the walls!). The best thing you can do is pplay it by ear - you will soon know if your dog needs more exercise!

Answer 7

Walking a dog three times a day is the recomended daily amount but if your dog is exercised in the garden all day then that is fine.
As long as the dog is able to go to the toilet then that is fine.

Answer 8

It is not just for the exercise that you take dogs for a walk, it is to socialise them with other dogs and people. Do not forget to pick up after your dog, there is nothing worse than an owner who allows it's dog to poo and then just walk on and leave it to be a nuisance for others. It only takes a few seconds and every responsible owner should do it. Always carry at least two poo bags whenever you go walking your dog. Do it.

Answer 9

That definitely sounds fine. The amount of time your dog needs really depends on your dog. Most dogs need about 45 minutes-1 hour of exercise, but it sounds like your dog could even be fine with a little bit less. And since your walks are sometimes 2 hours, that's great! And with your garden, it sounds like your dog is getting plenty of exercise.

Here's a website that has some helpful information about how much exercise your dog needs. For example, if you have a really active dog, like a border collie, it may need about 2 hours of exercise each day.

http://qualitydogresources.com/how-much-exercise-does-your-dog-need.php?PHPSESSID=ffed4f612cd4712b7daf1442dbd84cb4

Answer 10

This depends on what you mean by "walk". If you mean exercise, then sure, this is fine. During winter, with the cold, rain or snow and the short days, sometimes one walk every few days is fine. Just make sure that he has lots of exercise otherwise. I have two pups. They have a little yard to play in and get exercise playing with each other in the house (running up and down stairs).

However, if by "walk" you mean a chance to relieve himself, then no - he should go out many times during the day.

Have fun with your pup!

Answer 11

Depends on the dog to a degree but I would think as long as its atleast 30min you should be fine. A sign that its not would be a hyper, bouncy, or bored (potentially destructive) dog. My dogs get one a day, in the morning before I go to work. I seldom go out in the evening them, they're just as content playing with toys and getting belly rubs