Most dog owners know their dog needs exercise — but “a walk a day” covers a wide range. A 2-year-old Border Collie needs 90–120 minutes of vigorous activity. A 10-year-old Basset Hound needs 20–30 minutes of gentle movement, no more. Get it wrong in either direction and you either have a dog bouncing off the walls or one at risk of joint injury. This free planner builds a daily exercise schedule based on your dog’s actual breed size, age, health status, and how much time you can realistically commit — with a session-by-session breakdown and safety guidelines.
What the Planner Builds
- A daily exercise total in minutes, split into recommended sessions (morning, afternoon, evening)
- Intensity level guidance — what counts as vigorous, moderate, or gentle for your specific dog
- Activity type recommendations matched to breed size and health (swimming, fetch, leash walks, off-leash play)
- Warm-up and cool-down protocols to protect joints, especially important for large breeds and seniors
- Specific safety flags for health conditions like arthritis, brachycephalic anatomy, or obesity
How to Build Your Dog’s Plan
- Select your dog’s age group and breed size
- Set their current activity level — how much exercise they’re actually getting now
- Choose how much time you can commit per day (the plan works with what you have)
- Note any health considerations (joint issues, breathing problems, heart conditions, obesity)
- Click Build My Dog’s Exercise Plan
Exercise by Life Stage
Exercise needs change dramatically across a dog’s life. Puppies under 12 months should follow the 5-minute rule per month of age, twice daily — a 4-month-old puppy needs no more than 20 minutes of structured exercise per session to protect developing growth plates. Adult dogs (1–7 years for most breeds) are at peak exercise capacity. Senior dogs need consistent, shorter sessions to maintain mobility and muscle mass without stressing aging joints — stopping exercise entirely often accelerates decline faster than appropriate gentle activity does.
Important Health Disclaimer
Results from this tool are AI-generated educational guidance based on the information you provide. They are not a substitute for professional veterinary or behavioral assessment. If your dog shows sudden behavioral changes, signs of pain, or any form of aggression toward people or animals, consult your veterinarian or a certified applied animal behaviorist (CAAB) promptly.
Other Free Dog Tools
- Dog Behavior Analysis — find out what’s driving a problem behavior and get a 4-week improvement plan
- Dog Personality Test — discover your dog’s personality type and what it means for training
- Daily Dog Brain Game — generate a fresh mental enrichment activity matched to your dog’s age and energy
- Dog Bark Decoder — decode your dog’s bark by pitch, pattern, and body language