Vet nurse with 25 years of experience offering a range of services. Walks, training, visits.
22/04/2025
How far is too far? š¤Like us you might be enjoying the drier weather this April and heading out for longer walks or going off the beaten track? But how far should you go to keep your dog safe and well? Most breeds will manage walks of up to 5km (3 miles) whilst others may manage upwards of 10 miles but there are a number of factors to consider including:š¶Breed: smaller and short legged breeds will naturally struggle with longer distances whilst those who are bred to be working dogs will have endurance and can cope well with longer walks.3ļøā£2ļøā£5ļøā£1ļøā£Age: puppies and younger/older dogs will need less exercise and should only do shorter walks and you will need to also think about more frequent breaksāļøš„¶Weather: hot or cold weather has a huge impact on what your dog can tolerate so you will need to consider adapting your walk to ensure your dogs safety.šHealth issues: any dogs with pre existing health concerns especially with regards to their joints or heart and of course any dogs with injuries will need special considerationItās important to say every dog has individual tolerances and itās important to monitor your dog for signs of tiredness, overexertion or they are showing you they are not enjoying the walk. Start slowly, keep paying attention to your dog and their behaviour throughout the walk, take regular breaks and donāt forget there are always enjoyable alternatives!
