Tools you might need next
Calculate daily pet food portion size from body weight, age, and activity level. Estimate cups or grams for dogs and cats on dry or wet food.
Calculate pet medication dose from body weight and drug concentration. Convert mg/kg prescriptions to tablet or liquid volumes for dogs and cats.
Predict adult dog size from current puppy weight and age using breed-size growth curves. Estimate adult weight for small, medium, and large breeds.
Classify by breed group: low-energy (bulldog, basset) 30–45 min/day; moderate (retriever, beagle) 60–90 min; high-energy (border collie, husky) 90–120+ min; working breeds may need 2+ hours.
Base minutes = Category range midpoint adjusted by agePuppies: 5 minutes per month of age per session, twice daily (AVMA guideline) — avoid forced running on hard surfaces. Seniors reduce 20–40% with low-impact activity preferred.
Puppy session = Age (months) × 5 min, 2× dailyCombine aerobic exercise (walking, running), mental stimulation (training, nose work), and free play. Mental exercise tires high-drive breeds as effectively as physical activity.
Total benefit ≈ Physical minutes + (Mental minutes × 0.5)Updated: July 2026
A 3-year-old Lab typically needs 60–90 minutes daily: 45-minute morning walk plus 20-minute fetch session and brief training. Adjust up for field-line breeding.
At 6 months: two 30-minute sessions (5 min × 6 months) of leash walking and gentle play. Avoid long runs on pavement until growth plates close (~12–18 months).
Reduce to 30–45 minutes of low-impact walking split into two sessions. Monitor for stiffness after activity and adjust on rest days.
Avoid repetitive impact exercise until 12–18 months depending on breed size. Large breeds are especially vulnerable to growth plate injury from forced long-distance running.
Destructive behavior often signals boredom and insufficient mental stimulation, not just physical exercise. Add training, puzzle toys, and scent work alongside walks.
Exercise needs vary widely by breed, age, and individual temperament. Under-exercised dogs develop behavioral problems; over-exercise in puppies risks joint damage. This calculator estimates daily activity minutes from breed category, age, and energy level.