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How Often Should I Walk My Puppy?

January 27, 2020 by Mary Telesz

Man walking new puppy on bridgeWhile you may be excited to take your new puppy on a walk, there are some things you need to know before you do. It is often assumed that you can walk your puppy as soon as you bring it home, and that walking a puppy is as simple as putting the leash on them and walking outside.

In fact, that is not true, and there are many things that you need to consider before you walk your new puppy. Follow this guide to ensure that your walk you and your puppy both enjoy your walks.

At What Age Can I Start Walking My Puppy?

We know it is tempting to leash your new puppy and take it for a walk right away. Watching a puppy explore the neighborhood, learn new smells, and see new sights is always fun, and the exercise is good for them.

Walking them right away can be very dangerous, though. A puppy’s immune system is not fully developed, so they are very vulnerable to disease. It is unlikely that your puppy has been fully vaccinated, since most puppies are sold or adopted when they are around eight weeks old. While their vaccinations should be up to date, they cannot complete their vaccinations until they are 12-14 weeks old.

It is highly recommended that you wait until two weeks after their final round of vaccinations to take your puppy on walks. That means you should wait until they are 14-16 weeks old to walk them.

How Often Should I Be Walking My Puppy?

Golden retriever puppies running and playingOnce your puppy has been fully vaccinated and it is safe to walk them, go for it. Walking a puppy is great exercise, it keeps them stimulated, and it helps to socialize them with other dogs and other people. In other words, it is good for their body and their mind, and they love it.

Every puppy is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how often you should walk your puppy. It depends on each puppy’s needs. High-energy breeds like Australian shepherds and Labs, or high-intelligence breeds like Border Collies, will need more physical and mental stimulation, and therefore more or longer walks, than other breeds.

Likewise, the size of your puppy, both now and their predicted size as an adult, should be taken into account.
Smaller puppy’s should go for shorter walks, and you can lengthen the walks as they get older. Giant breeds like Great Danes and St Bernards should not be taken for long walks until they are eight months old. Their joints and bones mature more slowly than other, smaller breeds and long walks can harm their development.

How Long Can I Walk A Puppy For?

The rule of thumb for puppies is that a walk should last five minutes for every month of age. So, a five month old puppy should be walked for twenty-five minutes, and a six month old puppy for thirty minutes. That balances the need for exercise with the need for rest and the need to be gentle on growing bones and joints.

That does not mean, though, that your five month old puppy should only get twenty-five minutes of exercise per day. It means that that is how much they should get on one walk. They can handle more than one walk per day, provided that they are spaced out enough to allow for rest in between.

In fact, you can walk your puppy as often as three times per day at five minutes per month of age. Multiple shorter walks in between are fine, too, since your puppy will need to go outside six to eight times to go to the bathroom. Just be careful not to over exercise, as this can exhaust them and damage their joints.

Should I Consider Hiring A Dog Walker?

Puppy wants to walkOften, when people ask how frequently they should walk their puppy, they are troubled to learn that their puppy should be walk not just every day, but in fact two or three times per day. In our busy world, many people can only walk their dog a few times per week.

If you have a new puppy, giving them proper exercise is important. It is good for them, of course, but it is good for you too. Puppies that are not given proper exercise and stimulation become destructive and hard to control. They will chew things and tear up household items and they will be unbearably hyper at times.

The key to a happy, well-behaved puppy is making sure that they are sufficiently stimulated and get enough exercise. If you have doubts about your ability to walk your puppy enough, hiring a dog walker is a great idea. Professional dog walkers can ensure that your puppy gets its exercise and spends time socializing with other people and dogs, even on your busiest days.

Speak To A Professional Dog Walking Company

If you think you may need the services of a dog walker, speak to a dog walking company today. Paw Pals dog walkers are professionals who will know how to keep your puppy exercised without overdoing it, and they will treat your pup like family.

Filed Under: Dog Walking, Pet Adoption, Pet Advice, Pet Care, Pet Exercise

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 22151
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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
5.0
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
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