How often should I walk my dogs with a busy high school schedule?

Great question. I recommend taking them out to potty first thing. Then feed them when you eat breakfast. Let them rest at least a half hour to digest their food then take them for a walk. My dogs have access to a fenced yard all day but they love their morning and evening walks to check out what going on in the neighborhood. Let them rest when you get home. As far as training goes general obedience training helps with manners, makes them easier to walk and better companions. Taking a group obedience class is fun and you would get to work one on one. When you work on sit, down, stay, and heel at home you will make more progress working with one dog at a time with the other one not in the training area. They can play outside and inside during the day. Then I recommend another walk late afternoon or early evening. I’d feed them dinner before you eat and keep them inside and calm while digesting their food. Enjoying time with them inside during the evening is good, then one last trip outside to potty before bed. Dogs and people both love a daily routine so adjust this to fit in with your personal schedule and activities. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your dogs.

Hello. You are doing the absolute best thing by slowly adjusting your dog to 2 walks a day. Great job! I would not worry about Archie not going out at lunchtime unless he has any type of medical problem. He should be able to hold things in until you return home. Most pets with working parents never go out until someone comes home from work. I am fortunate to go home for lunch every day, & most days one, or sometimes both my dogs, refuse to go out. They want to see what mom is fixing for lunch. So if they do not go out, then they have to wait until I get home at 5:30. Try to let Archie out twice in the morning, as soon as you get up & right before leaving the house. In the evening, 2-3 times is more than sufficient. He will adjust just fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It is recommended that dogs get at least 2 walks a day at 10-15 minutes each time. Of Course some dogs are very high energy and require much more activity. I hope this gives you an idea of how much to start with. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

This can vary depending on the dog, their healthy status and if it’s a walk for exercise or if you are walking them to use the bathroom (like if you didn’t have a yard). To use the bathroom, dogs should have 5 or more opportunities a day for a potty break. Otherwise a walk once or twice a day for exercise is normal. Older dogs or dogs with health conditions need to be careful not to over do it. If your pet falls in this catagory, I recommend to call your vet as they are familiar with Fatboy and can tell you how much is too much. A healthy dog with no concerns should be fine. Keep in mind that dogs get out of shape just like humans so start slow and gradually build up the stamina. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

You are not a bad pet owner if you don't walk your dog twice a day. Walking him for 45 minutes once a day should provide enough exercise. If you aren't well and need to skip a day, it will not negatively affect Bruno. Sometimes, I skip a day walking my dogs, too!

Puppies should be walked five minutes for every month of age, so in Sara's case, she should be walked for twenty minutes twice a day. If you cannot take her out twice a day, then I would make time to play with her more in the yard instead of taking her for an extended walk. Keep the walk and play time separate, as too much exercise too young can and does have an adverse effect on a puppy's growth. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

For most dogs, a 20-to 30-minute walk twice a day is a sufficient amount of exercise. However, traditionally active breeds or high-energy dogs may require more exercise, including the chance to run off leash in a safe area for longer periods of time. In addition, your pet’s exercise needs will vary based on their age, size and overall health. Cats also need a plenty of exercise in order to maintain a healthy weight and can benefit from chasing a laser pointer or utilizing puzzle toys. Some cats can even be taught to play fetch. While exercise is one important aspect of maintaining a healthy body weight, proper diet and feeding practices are equally important. Pets should be offered portion-controlled meals of a high-quality, balanced diet while avoiding people foods or excessive quantities of treats.