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The walkingdog journal

Field notes on
walking your dog.

Breed deep-dives, life-stage guides, routines that stick. Written by dog people, reviewed by vets, honest about what we don't know.

▸ Featured · Puppies
How much exercise does a puppy need, by age?
A stage-by-stage guide from 8 weeks to adulthood — how much, what kind, and the growth-plate rule that keeps a puppy sound for life.
Jun 01, 2026 · 7 MIN READ
Health
Signs you're over-exercising your dog
More isn't always better. The quiet signs of too much — next-day stiffness, reluctance, sore pads — and the dogs most at risk of being run too hard.
May 30, 2026 6 min read →
Routines
Why your dog pulls on the leash — and what stops it
Pulling isn't dominance or defiance. It's a faster dog meeting a slower human. The mechanics behind it, and the methods that actually retrain it.
May 28, 2026 7 min read →
Health
Walk before or after meals? The bloat question
Why vets say wait after meals, which dogs face the real bloat risk, and the simple timing rule that sidesteps the whole problem.
May 26, 2026 6 min read →
Routines
How long can a dog go without a walk?
A missed day is harmless. A pattern isn't. What actually happens when walks stop — for a day, a week, longer — and how to bridge the gaps.
May 22, 2026 6 min read →
Health
How cold is too cold? Winter walking limits and paw care
A temperature ladder for winter, which dogs feel cold first, and the grit, salt, and ice hazards that do more damage than the temperature itself.
May 18, 2026 6 min read →
Routines
Is one walk a day enough for a dog?
For some dogs, yes. For others, not close. The answer depends on total minutes, not number of outings — plus why two walks usually beats one.
May 13, 2026 6 min read →
Routines
My dog won't walk on the leash: why dogs freeze
Planting, freezing, refusing to move. It's almost never stubbornness. A field guide to the real reasons — fear, pain, overwhelm — and how to fix each.
May 08, 2026 7 min read →
Health
How hot is too hot to walk a dog? The pavement rule
A simple temperature ladder, the seven-second pavement test, and the breeds that cross into danger long before the thermometer looks alarming.
May 01, 2026 7 min read →
Routines
How many steps does a dog need a day?
Fitness trackers count steps. Dogs don't work that way. Here's the honest conversion — and why minutes and intensity are the numbers that matter.
Apr 24, 2026 6 min read →
Breed guides
How much walking does a Border Collie really need?
The short answer is more than you think. The long answer involves sheepdog trials, mental exercise, and why a tired collie is still a thinking collie.
Apr 18, 2026 7 min read →
Breed guides
The Frenchie paradox: short walks, real stakes
French Bulldogs need less walking than most breeds — but what they need, they really need. Heat, pacing, and the anatomy of a flat face.
Apr 11, 2026 5 min read →
Life stage
When is a dog senior? Reading the signs before the walks get short
Seven-ish, for most breeds. Bigger dogs get there faster. What to watch for, and how to adjust without your dog noticing.
Apr 03, 2026 6 min read →
Routines
Rainy-day routines: indoor substitutes that actually count
Sniff games, tug, stair work, training. A rough conversion chart from indoor minutes to walk-equivalent minutes.
Mar 27, 2026 6 min read →
Health
The ten-week plan for an overweight dog
A slow ramp beats sprints. Body-condition score self-check, weekly targets, and why the scale is the last thing to move.
Mar 20, 2026 9 min read →
Puppies
The puppy five-minute rule: floor, not law
Where the rule came from, which breeds it bends for, and why treating it as a ceiling often fails both the puppy and the owner.
Mar 13, 2026 6 min read →
Disclaimer — walkingdog.io provides general guidance based on breed, age, weight, and activity research. It is not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary. If your dog shows signs of illness, lameness, unusual fatigue, or behavioural change, consult your vet. Heat, humidity, and surface conditions can all affect safe walking duration. Adjust accordingly.