How much exercise does your dog need?
Size is a surprisingly poor guide, what a breed was originally bred to do matters far more. Pick your dog's breed below for the Kennel Club's own daily exercise band. Not listed? Pick the closest match by energy level.
| Daily exercise | — |
|---|---|
| Size band | — |
A rough guide, not a target to hit exactly. Two shorter walks usually suit better than one long one, and sniffing time counts too.
Full detail on why size tells you less than breed, plus how this changes for puppies and older dogs, is in my how often does your dog need walking guide. Curious how your dog's age fits into all this? Try the dog age calculator too.
Got a crossbreed like a Cockapoo or Labradoodle? The Kennel Club doesn't list crossbreeds individually, so pick whichever parent breed is closest, or judge by energy level instead of exact breed.
Where this advice comes from
Every breed's size and exercise band above is taken directly from:
- The Kennel Club, Breeds A to Z, checked September 2026, where you can look up your own dog's breed directly
This is general guidance, not advice about your own dog, so if yours has a health condition or you're unsure, please ask your vet.