The daily rounds of walkies are part of everyday life and one of the most important tasks of every dog owner. The dog gets his chance to run around on the walk and can do his business in peace. Sounds simple, doesn't it? However, if you look closer, going for walkies poses some important questions. When are puppies allowed to go for walkies? How long should a walk with the dog take? And how often does the dog have to go outside during the day? We answer these and other questions in our guide.
Summer special: What do you need to consider when going walkies with your dog in summer?
What you need to consider:
- Choose walkies time wisely: In the summer, you should choose the time of day for going walkies with your four-legged friend wisely. Take advantage of the cooler morning and evening hours with your four-legged friend and avoid long walks in the midday heat.
- Pay attention to the ground: In summer, you should choose your walkies route so that your dog does not have to travel long distances on hot asphalt, sand or concrete. Your four-legged friend's paws are very sensitive and in this way you protect him from burns.
- Cooling down: Remember that your four-legged friend also wants to drink more in the summer. That's why you should always have a bottle of tap water for your dog on the go.
Walkies at puppy age?
Dogs of puppy age should not walk long distances yet. Puppies are growing and are not up to such a burden yet. Nevertheless, it is important that little curious puppies have the opportunity to discover the world. They have to go outside several times a day to do their business and can thus discover the world piece by piece. The exercise and the length of a small round of walkies with a puppy depends on his age. So a puppy should walk a maximum of five minutes per month of age at a time. Overloading your small four-legged friend should be avoided at all costs.
How often does the dog need to get out?
Unfortunately, this question cannot be answered simply for all dogs. It is entirely specific to your four-legged friend, his breed and also depends on how often he has to do his business.
Puppies and seniors
Experience shows that puppies have to go outside several times a day until they are house-trained. We recommend that you take your puppy outside every two hours. In this way, he also learns that he is only allowed to do his business outdoors. When they are older too, dogs have to go outside more often, as they can often not control their urges.
Adult dogs
Walking with an adult dog should not only allow him to do his business, but also satisfy his need for exercise and stimulation.
Adult dogs usually have to go for a walk 3-4 times a day to do their business and get enough exercise. Of course, this number also varies depending on the duration of your walks. If your dog's walks usually last an hour or more, your four-legged friend may also be OK with just 3 walks.
The dog's need for exercise is also largely dependent on the dog's breed. While a lapdog is happy with a short walk, a husky wants to take plenty of long walks every day. In addition, highly active dog breeds can be entertained with ball throwing, fetch or dog sports.
Dog breeds that are very active also include:
- English Short Hair
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Magyar Vizsla
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Greyhound
- Afghan Hound
- Dalmatian
- Weimaraner
- Australian Shepherd
- Border Collie
When is it time to go to walkies?
Each dog is different and it is up to you as a dog owner to plan the correct time and the intervals between your rounds. Essentially, dogs usually have to keep it in for 5-6 hours before they can do their next business.
Most dogs will make themselves known if the time between walks becomes too long: Whining, restlessness and barking can be a consequence of this. However, if you know the rhythm of your dog, you as the dog owner should not let it get that far.
Probably the most important walkies for the dog happens straight after getting up. Most dogs want to relieve themselves after getting up. You should definitely include this in your daily planning, so that your dog will have a good start to the day as well.
Tip!
Give your furry friend the opportunity to relieve himself again before going to sleep. Then he will last a little longer in the morning.
Challenges when going for a walk with your dog
Collar and lead – what’s that?
Put on a collar, hook a lead on and let’s go. Unfortunately, it's not always as easy as it sounds at first glance. Puppies and ex-street dogs are often not accustomed to a collar or a lead and must first get used to it.
In the best case, this has already been taken care of by the breeder or the animal rescue organisation. If this is not the case, it requires a little patience, a lot of praise and reward to get the dog used to the leash and collar. In addition, being able to walk on the lead without pulling requires a consistent training and a lot of practice by the dog and dog owner. Here a dog school or a dog trainer can help.
Tip!
Do not train if your four-legged friend is not concentrating. Then it is difficult for him to really get into practice. Therefore, do not start until your dog has relieved himself and has been sniffed around a little bit or used up some energy. If you go for a longer walk, you can keep practising the on-lead walking in between
Help, my dog doesn't want to go walkies
It can happen that dogs refuse to go for a walk. There may be several reasons for this:
- It's raining and it's cold: This is especially true of dogs with short coats. In cold or wet weather, they often start to get cold and therefore refuse to leave the house. A coat or sweater can help and make the walk more pleasant for your four-legged friend
- It's hot: If it's too hot outside, many dogs don't also want to go outside. In summer, it is therefore advisable to change walks to early in the morning and in the evening. This will also prevent your fourlegged friend from burning their paws or getting a heat stroke.
- It's dark: Is your dog afraid of the dark? Then you can give him a sense of security. At the side of a confident, courageous dog guide, he can feel safer. A torch can also help if your four-legged friend is anxious because he doesn't see well in the dark.
- Your four-legged friend feels unwell or even sick: If your dog does not want to go to for a walk from one day to the next, health problems can be the cause. Look for any other unusual behaviour and consult a vet as a precaution. They can determine whether there is a physical reason.
Walking on the lead - mandatory?
In many places, you have to put your dog on the lead while walking. This obligation often applies in urban areas, on playing fields, in parks or forests and varies according to the federal state. In some federal states there is a general obligation to keep dogs on the lead: e.g. Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg and Saarland.
In the following places, it is often mandatory to have a dog on the lead:
- Public green spaces Pedestrian zones
- Crowds, for example Folk Festivals, Parades Transport stops
- Sports fields
It is best to consult your city or municipality for information on the applicable regulations. Often, the lead is also prescribed in forests and nature reserves. In particular, this applies to the breeding and nesting period of wild animals, which runs from mid-March to mid-July.
Planning a holiday with your four-legged friend? In this case, make sure you understand the rules in your holiday resort or country and follow the rules. In the event of a violation, you may face warnings and fines. In your own interest, you should be especially careful with hunt-loving four-legged friends put them on the lead, because according to the Bavarian hunting regulations, for example, hunters are also allowed to shoot dogs scaring livestock or other animals. These regulations also vary by federal state.
Conclusion
Going walkies is a responsible job that keeps your four-legged friend healthy and fit. In addition, there are several obligations to protect him and others.
If you take care of your fellow humans, other animals and your furry friend, you will be able to take your walks together in a relaxed way
Author of the advisor
I have lived with dogs since the age of three. For a few years now, a female pug named Sunny and a mixed breed St. Bernard named Lou have been my constant companions. My daily tasks therefore include the nutrition & education of dogs. I am happy to help with my know-how.