How Much Time Should I Spend with my Dog Everyday?
Are you struggling to find the perfect balance for your dog’s needs? If you feel overwhelmed by your breed’s specific requirements, don’t worry—our tailored tips will guide you to a happier, healthier pup.
So many people online try and say how long we should spend with our pets. But it’s never clear what this time includes; does it include playing with them, feeding them, taking them for walks, washing them and just hanging out together? I started thinking about how much time I spend with my own dogs and I wanted to find out how long I should be spending with them.
The amount of time you should spend actively engaging with your dog each day depends on its breed. Generally, plan for 30 minutes to 2 hours dedicated to activities like walking, training, and playing. Extra daily interaction and feeding time will vary based on your dog’s personality. The need to spend time grooming your dog will depend on their coat type, cleanliness, their ability to self-groom, and your willingness to outsource it.
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What counts as spending time with your dog?
When you look up how much time you should spend with your dog, you’ll find a lot of suggestions that just give a general amount of time. But what exactly does that time include?
Saying “one hour,” for example, doesn’t cover all the different things you do with your dog. So, here are some things you should consider when figuring out how much time to spend with your furry friend:
- Daily Exercise or Walk: Most people start off thinking they’ll take their dog for a walk every day for about 30 minutes, which is a good amount of time for exercise. But this can also include playing with them, doing some training, or just bonding together outside.
- Feeding Routine: Feeding your dog each day takes time and planning. You need to be home at the right time and you need to set aside time to do this required task. To save yourself some time and planning, you can get this Automatic feeder for an awesome price off Amazon.
- Dog’s Personality: As you get to know your dog better, you’ll find that your plans for spending time together might change. You might end up spending more time grooming them or dealing with unexpected behaviors. Every dog is different, so your time together will be unique
- Hidden Responsibilities: Taking care of a dog involves more than just the obvious stuff. You might have to deal with things like waking up at night, adjusting to their aging, or trying to stop them from barking. Your time won’t always be your own, but that’s part of having a dog.
- Dealing with Challenges: Dog owners face all sorts of challenges, from leash training to dealing with separation anxiety. Everyone’s experience is different, and sometimes you have to change your plans to make your dog happy.
- Different Lifestyles: Every dog owner has a different daily routine, which means every dog gets different amounts of time with their owner. Some people have lots of free time, while others have to juggle work and other responsibilities. Where you live can also affect how much time you can spend with your dog, whether they have space to run around outside or they have to stay inside with you while you work.
So, when you’re thinking about how much time to spend with your dog, consider all these factors to make sure you’re giving them the attention and care they need [1].
How much playtime should I spend with my dog?
When considering how much time to spend playing with your dog, it’s important to understand their natural rhythms and needs. Dogs tend to be most active during two key periods: early in the morning and in the late afternoon [2]. However, the level of activity for most family dogs often aligns with their owners’ routines.
Factors such as age, neutering status, and weight can influence a dog’s activity level. Older dogs, neutered dogs, and overweight dogs may be less active compared to younger, intact dogs [2]. Interestingly, gender doesn’t seem to play a significant role in determining a dog’s activity level.
Play is not just a fun activity; it’s also crucial for a puppy’s development. Through play, puppies learn important social behaviors that help them become well-adjusted dogs [3]. Additionally, spending quality time playing with your dog strengthens the bond between you and your furry companion.
To tailor your playtime sessions effectively, consider your dog’s breed-specific exercise requirements. Different breeds have varying needs, ranging from shorter play sessions to longer, more vigorous activities [4]. By understanding your dog’s breed characteristics and adjusting your playtime accordingly, you can ensure they receive the physical and mental stimulation they require for optimal health and happiness.
Time Required Based on Dog Breed
Breed Name | Exercise Requirement
Afghan Hound | Up to 1 hour per day
Airedale Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Akita | More than 2 hours per day
Alaskan Malamute | More than 2 hours per day
Anatolian Shepherd Dog | More than 2 hours per day
Australian Cattle Dog | More than 2 hours per day
Australian Shepherd | More than 2 hours per day
Australian Silky Terrier | Up to 30 minutes per day
Australian Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Azawakh (Imp) | More than 2 hours per day
Barbet (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Basenji | Up to 1 hour per day
Basset Bleu De Gascogne (Imp) | More than 2 hours per day
Basset Fauve De Bretagne | More than 2 hours per day
Basset Griffon Vendeen (Grand) | More than 2 hours per day
Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit) | Up to 1 hour per day
Basset Hound | Up to 1 hour per day
Bavarian Mountain Hound | More than 2 hours per day
Beagle | Up to 1 hour per day
Bearded Collie | Up to 1 hour per day
Beauceron | More than 2 hours per day
Bedlington Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) | More than 2 hours per day
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) | More than 2 hours per day
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) | More than 2 hours per day
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervueren) | More than 2 hours per day
Bergamasco (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Bernese Mountain Dog | Up to 1 hour per day
Bichon Frise | Up to 30 minutes per day
Black & Tan Coonhound (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Bloodhound | More than 2 hours per day
Bolognese | Up to 30 minutes per day
Border Collie | More than 2 hours per day
Border Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Borzoi | Up to 1 hour per day
Boston Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Bouvier Des Flandres | More than 2 hours per day
Boxer | More than 2 hours per day
Bracco Italiano | More than 2 hours per day
Braque D’Auvergne (Imp) | More than 2 hours per day
Briard | More than 2 hours per day
Brittany | More than 2 hours per day
Bull Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Bull Terrier (Miniature) | Up to 1 hour per day
Bulldog | Up to 1 hour per day
Bullmastiff | More than 2 hours per day
Cairn Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Canaan Dog | Up to 1 hour per day
Canadian Eskimo Dog | More than 2 hours per day
Catalan Sheepdog | Up to 1 hour per day
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Up to 1 hour per day
Cesky Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Chihuahua (Long Coat) | Up to 30 minutes per day
Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) | Up to 1 hour per day
Chinese Crested | Up to 30 minutes per day
Chow Chow | Up to 1 hour per day
Cirneco Dell’Etna | Up to 1 hour per day
Collie (Rough) | Up to 1 hour per day
Collie (Smooth) | Up to 1 hour per day
Coton De Tulear | Up to 30 minutes per day
Dachshund (Long Haired) | Up to 1 hour per day
Dachshund (Miniature Long Haired) | Up to 1 hour per day
Dachshund (Miniature Smooth Haired) | Up to 1 hour per day
Dachshund (Miniature Wire Haired) | Up to 1 hour per day
Dachshund (Smooth Haired) | Up to 1 hour per day
Dachshund (Wire Haired) | Up to 1 hour per day
Dalmatian | More than 2 hours per day
Dandie Dinmont Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Deerhound | More than 2 hours per day
Dobermann | More than 2 hours per day
Dogue de Bordeaux | Up to 1 hour per day
English Setter | More than 2 hours per day
English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) | Up to 30 minutes per day
Entlebucher Mountain Dog (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Estrela Mountain Dog | Up to 1 hour per day
Eurasier | Up to 1 hour per day
Finnish Lapphund | Up to 1 hour per day
Finnish Spitz | Up to 1 hour per day
Fox Terrier (Smooth) | Up to 1 hour per day
Fox Terrier (Wire) | Up to 1 hour per day
Foxhound | More than 2 hours per day
French Bulldog | Up to 1 hour per day
German Longhaired Pointer | More than 2 hours per day
German Pinscher | Up to 1 hour per day
German Shepherd Dog | More than 2 hours per day
German Shorthaired Pointer | More than 2 hours per day
German Spitz (Klein) | Up to 1 hour per day
German Spitz (Mittel) | Up to 1 hour per day
German Wirehaired Pointer | More than 2 hours per day
Giant Schnauzer | More than 2 hours per day
Glen Of Imaal Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Gordon Setter | More than 2 hours per day
Grand Bleu De Gascogne (Imp) | More than 2 hours per day
Great Dane | More than 2 hours per day
Great Swiss Mountain Dog | Up to 1 hour per day
Greenland Dog | More than 2 hours per day
Greyhound | Up to 1 hour per day
Griffon Bruxellois | Up to 30 minutes per day
Griffon Fauve De Bretagne (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Hamiltonstovare | More than 2 hours per day
Harrier | More than 2 hours per day
Havanese | Up to 30 minutes per day
Hovawart | More than 2 hours per day
Hungarian Kuvasz (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Hungarian Puli | Up to 1 hour per day
Hungarian Pumi | Up to 1 hour per day
Hungarian Vizsla | More than 2 hours per day
Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla | More than 2 hours per day
Ibizan Hound | More than 2 hours per day
Irish Red & White Setter | More than 2 hours per day
Irish Setter | More than 2 hours per day
Irish Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Irish Wolfhound | More than 2 hours per day
Italian Greyhound | Up to 1 hour per day
Italian Spinone | More than 2 hours per day
Jack Russell Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Japanese Akita Inu | More than 2 hours per day
Japanese Chin | Up to 30 minutes per day
Japanese Shiba Inu | Up to 1 hour per day
Japanese Spitz | Up to 1 hour per day
Keeshond | Up to 1 hour per day
Kerry Blue Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
King Charles Spaniel | Up to 30 minutes per day
Komondor | Up to 1 hour per day
Kooikerhondje | Up to 1 hour per day
Korean Jindo (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Korthals Griffon (Imp) | More than 2 hours per day
Lagotto Romagnolo | More than 2 hours per day
Lakeland Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Lancashire Heeler | Up to 1 hour per day
Large Munsterlander | Up to 1 hour per day
Leonberger | More than 2 hours per day
Lhasa Apso | Up to 1 hour per day
Lowchen (Little Lion Dog) | Up to 1 hour per day
Maltese | Up to 30 minutes per day
Manchester Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Maremma Sheepdog | More than 2 hours per day
Mastiff | Up to 1 hour per day
Miniature Pinscher | Up to 30 minutes per day
Miniature Schnauzer | Up to 1 hour per day
Neapolitan Mastiff | Up to 1 hour per day
Newfoundland | Up to 1 hour per day
Norfolk Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Norwegian Buhund | Up to 1 hour per day
Norwegian Elkhound | Up to 1 hour per day
Norwich Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Old English Sheepdog | More than 2 hours per day
Otterhound | More than 2 hours per day
Papillon | Up to 30 minutes per day
Parson Russell Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Pekingese | Up to 30 minutes per day
Pharaoh Hound | More than 2 hours per day
Picardy Sheepdog (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Pointer | More than 2 hours per day
Polish Lowland Sheepdog | More than 2 hours per day
Pomeranian | Up to 30 minutes per day
Poodle (Miniature) | Up to 1 hour per day
Poodle (Standard) | Up to 1 hour per day
Poodle (Toy) | Up to 1 hour per day
Portuguese Podengo | Up to 30 minutes per day
Portuguese Pointer (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Portuguese Water Dog | Up to 1 hour per day
Pug | Up to 1 hour per day
Pyrenean Mastiff (Imp) | More than 2 hours per day
Pyrenean Mountain Dog | Up to 1 hour per day
Pyrenean Sheepdog (Long Haired) | Up to 1 hour per day
Pyrenean Sheepdog (Smooth Faced) (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Retriever (Chesapeake Bay) | More than 2 hours per day
Retriever (Curly Coated) | More than 2 hours per day
Retriever (Flat Coated) | More than 2 hours per day
Retriever (Golden) | More than 2 hours per day
Retriever (Labrador) | More than 2 hours per day
Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling) | Up to 1 hour per day
Rhodesian Ridgeback | More than 2 hours per day
Rottweiler | More than 2 hours per day
Russian Black Terrier | More than 2 hours per day
Russian Toy (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Saluki | More than 2 hours per day
Samoyed | More than 2 hours per day
Schipperke | Up to 1 hour per day
Schnauzer | Up to 1 hour per day
Scottish Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Sealyham Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Shar Pei | Up to 1 hour per day
Shetland Sheepdog | Up to 1 hour per day
Shih Tzu | Up to 1 hour per day
Siberian Husky | More than 2 hours per day
Skye Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Sloughi | More than 2 hours per day
Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Small Munsterlander (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Spaniel (American Cocker) | More than 2 hours per day
Spaniel (American Water) (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Spaniel (Clumber) | Up to 1 hour per day
Spaniel (Cocker) | Up to 1 hour per day
Spaniel (English Springer) | More than 2 hours per day
Spaniel (Field) | More than 2 hours per day
Spaniel (Irish Water) | More than 2 hours per day
Spaniel (Sussex) | More than 2 hours per day
Spaniel (Welsh Springer) | More than 2 hours per day
Spanish Water Dog | Up to 1 hour per day
St. Bernard | Up to 1 hour per day
Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Swedish Lapphund (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Swedish Vallhund | Up to 1 hour per day
Tibetan Mastiff | Up to 1 hour per day
Tibetan Spaniel | Up to 1 hour per day
Tibetan Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Turkish Kangal Dog | More than 2 hours per day
Weimaraner | More than 2 hours per day
Welsh Corgi (Cardigan) | Up to 1 hour per day
Welsh Corgi (Pembroke) | Up to 1 hour per day
Welsh Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
West Highland White Terrier | Up to 1 hour per day
Whippet | Up to 1 hour per day
White Swiss Shepherd Dog (Imp) | More than 2 hours per day
Xoloitzcuintle (Mex Hairless) Int (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Xoloitzcuintle (Mex Hairless) Min (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Xoloitzcuintle (Mex Hairless) Std (Imp) | Up to 1 hour per day
Yorkshire Terrier | Up to 30 minutes per day
Please note that these exercise requirements are approximate and may vary based on individual dogs’ needs and health conditions. Always consult with a veterinarian or professional dog trainer for personalised advice on your dog’s exercise needs. We have obtained these recommendations from here.
Is it okay to not play with your dog for a day?
While it’s understandable that you may have occasional busy days, neglecting to spend time with your dog for an entire day can have negative consequences. When the RSPCA examine various complaints about animal treatment, most stem from neglect rather than intentional harm.
Common issues reported include inadequate food and water, insufficient exercise, and substandard living conditions.
To address these concerns, efforts have been made to educate pet owners on proper care practices, emphasising nutrition, exercise, and living environment. For instance, providing dogs with complete and balanced diets and ensuring they receive appropriate exercise are crucial for their well-being. Regular exercise is particularly important for dogs to maintain their health and happiness, but the amount needed varies based on factors like age, breed, and health status.
Living in poor conditions can lead to illness in dogs and increase the risk of diseases that may also affect humans. Therefore, maintaining a clean and safe environment is essential for both animals and people.
While it’s possible to miss a day of spending time with your dog due to unavoidable circumstances, consistent neglect can have detrimental effects on their physical and emotional health. It’s crucial to prioritise your dog’s well-being by ensuring they receive proper care, attention, and exercise every day [4].
Can I spend too much time with my dog?
Spending quality time with your dog is essential for building a strong bond and ensuring their well-being. However, can you spend too much time with your furry friend?
Quality of Time: Spending excessive time with your dog may not be beneficial if it’s not quality time. Dogs need mental and physical stimulation, so if the time spent together doesn’t fulfill these needs, it might not be ideal.
Dog’s Needs: Dogs are social animals and enjoy spending time with their owners, but they also need independence and time for themselves. Constant attention can lead to stress or separation anxiety in some dogs.
Impact on the Owner: Spending too much time with a dog can affect the owner’s daily life, work, and relationships. It’s essential to maintain a balance between caring for the dog and other responsibilities.
Dog’s Well-being: Overindulgence can lead to behavioral issues in dogs, such as excessive dependency or attention-seeking behaviors. Providing boundaries and structure is important for their development.
While spending time with your dog is essential for bonding and companionship, it’s crucial to ensure it’s balanced with other aspects of life and meets the dog’s needs for independence and stimulation. If excessive time together starts to negatively impact either the dog or the owner, it may be a sign to reassess and adjust the amount of time spent together [7].
Conclusion
So, it’s very important to consider your lifestyle to ensure the breed of dog you welcome allows for mutual enjoyment in life. But let’s keep the conversation going! How do you currently allocate time for bonding with your furry friend, and what activities do they enjoy the most? Share your thoughts below and let’s exchange tips on creating memorable moments with our canine pals!
And if you’re eager to delve deeper into the world of pet care and companionship, explore our other articles and resources for more insights and tips. Together, let’s continue fostering happy, healthy relationships with our beloved pets!
Talitha Mulder
Certificate II in Animal Studies | Bachelor of Nursing Science
- https://www.popsugar.com/pets/how-much-time-should-i-spend-with-my-dog-47351933.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159121002367
- Play with Your Dog Paperback – Illustrated, 1 July 2008 by Pat Miller (Author) 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars
- https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/5/282
- https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/#B
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787816300569
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