The short answer
The RSPCA says most dogs need exercise at least once a day. How much depends on breed: the Kennel Club (UK) lists more than 2 hours a day for working breeds such as the Border Collie and Australian Cattle Dog, up to 1 hour for breeds such as the Staffy and Beagle, and up to 30 minutes for toy breeds such as the Maltese. Puppies need short, gentle, self-paced exercise rather than a number, and every dog needs walks moved to cooler times in summer. This is general guidance; check with your vet for any health condition.
Dog Exercise Calculator
How much exercise does my dog need?
There is no breed rating for a mixed-breed dog. The RSPCA says dogs need regular exercise, at least once a day for most dogs, through walks, off-lead runs in designated areas and structured play, and that ample exercise helps avoid frustration, boredom and unwanted behaviours such as escaping and destructiveness.
The RSPCA adds that a large backyard is not a substitute for regular walks where your dog can explore.
Heat: in summer, walk early or late and use the RSPCA's five-second test: if the back of your hand cannot stay on the ground for five seconds, it is too hot for paws.
General guidance only. Breed ratings are the Kennel Club (UK)'s, checked November 2026; welfare advice is the RSPCA's. Check with your vet before changing exercise for a puppy, an older dog or any dog with a health condition.
Where the numbers come from, and why there are not more
Most exercise calculators online give minutes by size or “energy level”. We could not find a veterinary or welfare-body source for those figures, so this tool does not invent them. The breed figures are from the Kennel Club (UK), now the Royal Kennel Club, which gives each breed it recognises an exercise rating of up to 30 minutes, up to 1 hour or more than 2 hours a day (we checked each breed page in November 2026). It is a breed registry's guide for healthy adults, not a veterinary prescription.
The Australian Kelpie, Cavoodle and other crosses are not on its list, so the tool gives the RSPCA's general advice instead: regular exercise, at least once a day for most dogs, through walks, off-lead runs in designated areas and structured play. The RSPCA adds that a large backyard is not a substitute for walks where a dog can explore new sights, smells and sounds.
How much exercise does a puppy need?
The RSPCA Knowledgebase does not give a minute figure for puppies. Its advice is about how, not how long:
- Short walks only, at a walking pace, with time to sniff.
- If your puppy sits or lies down, let them rest; if they seem too tired, stop and head home.
- Off-lead play in a safe, fenced area lets a puppy regulate its own pace.
- Avoid forced exercise: jogging or running with puppies, frisbee, excessive ball throwing, running beside a bicycle, fast-paced walks, very long walks and walking on hot days.
Over-exercising can affect bone and muscle development, the RSPCA says, particularly in large and giant breed puppies such as Great Danes and Mastiffs, and some of those breeds keep growing until about 18 to 24 months. Check with your vet when your puppy is fully vaccinated and can go to public places.
You will often see a rule of five minutes of exercise per month of age. It is a rule of thumb, not an RSPCA or veterinary standard, so treat it loosely and follow your puppy's cues. New to puppies? Read crate training a puppy and the puppy blues.
Heat, flat faces and bloat
The RSPCA lists too much exercise, flat-faced breeds, overweight dogs and very young and very old dogs among the risk factors for heatstroke. Walk early in the morning or in the evening on hot days, and use the RSPCA's five-second test: if the back of your hand cannot stay on the ground for five seconds, it is too hot for your dog. An RSPCA South Australia vet advises not walking higher-risk dogs, such as flat-faced breeds, when it is over 25 degrees. Our dogs in hot weather guide covers the signs of heatstroke and first aid.
The RSPCA also says dogs should not be exercised immediately before or after eating, because it can cause bloat, which can be fatal, particularly in large, deep-chested dogs such as Great Danes, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermanns and Standard Poodles. See our guide to bloat (GDV).
Exercise, weight and older dogs
Exercise and food work together. The Royal Kennel Club advises starting gradually with an unfit dog, taking extra care with older dogs and those with joint problems, and resting at signs of fatigue such as heavy panting. Use the is my dog overweight checker to see where your dog sits and the dog feeding calculator for a daily energy starting point, and ask your vet before changing either for an older dog.
Match a dog's needs to your life before you adopt
The ratings above range from up to 30 minutes to more than 2 hours a day, so compare them with a realistic week of your own, summer included. The what dog breed am I quiz matches breeds to your lifestyle, our calm dog breeds and apartment dogs guides cover quieter options, and rescues can tell you about each dog's needs. Browse adoptable dogs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Frequently asked questions
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General information only, not veterinary advice. Sources: Royal Kennel Club (UK) breed pages and “Managing weight” (opened November 2026); RSPCA Knowledgebase, “Can you give me some advice on caring for my dog?” (2023), “How should I exercise my puppy?” (2022) and “How can I protect my dog from heatstroke?”; RSPCA Australia and RSPCA South Australia summer advice.