How much exercise does a dachshund need? Walks by age and size

For a healthy adult, plan on 30 minutes to an hour a day, split into two or more outings, with time to sniff, run and play. We found no study of the ideal amount for dachshunds, so the figures come from vets and kennel clubs, and they differ a little. PDSA, the UK vet charity, suggests at least an hour a day for a standard and half an hour for a miniature ¹. The Royal Kennel Club lists up to an hour a day for standard and miniature smooth dachshunds alike ^2,3. Dachshund Health UK recommends a daily mix of on-leash walks and off-leash running and play for dogs over 12 months ⁶.

There's no tested distance for dachshunds, so go by time and by how your dog copes. A Kansas State University vet says small dogs can walk up to a mile or two, and advises starting slowly to build up endurance ⁴. A dachshund that walks every day can build up to longer outings, a little at a time. Puppies and older dogs need less ⁶, and so may a dog that's overweight or recovering from an injury. Turn for home while your dog still has some energy left, and let them set the pace on hills. Choosing what to walk them in? Our harness or collar guide covers the fit.

It might, but the evidence shows a link, not proof. DachsLife 2015 was an online survey of dachshund owners, 84% of them in the UK. Back disease (intervertebral disc disease, or IVDD) had been diagnosed by a vet in 28.5% of dogs that were active for less than 30 minutes on weekdays, compared with 11.9% of dogs that were active for more than an hour. Dogs their owners described as highly active also had much lower odds than dogs described as not active at all ⁵.

The authors warn that this could be the wrong way around, since dogs that have had back trouble are probably walked less afterwards, and say a survey like this can't support firm recommendations. One possible explanation they give is that exercise builds the muscle that supports the spine ⁵. If your dog has had back problems, ask your vet how much exercise, and what kind, is right.

Less than an adult, built up gradually until about 12 months of age. Dachshund Health UK's rough guide is five minutes of formal on-leash exercise per month of age, once a day, plus free play, increasing until your dog is 12 months old and its bones and muscles are fully developed ⁶. A 4-month-old puppy would get about 20 minutes of leash walking a day, plus play. PDSA warns that with short legs and long backs, growing dachshunds can easily overdo it and hurt themselves ¹. We couldn't find a study testing how much exercise dachshund puppies need, so treat these figures as a starting point and let your puppy rest when it wants to.

Usually less than when they were younger, but gentle, regular walks still matter. Dachshund Health UK notes that elderly dachshunds need less exercise ⁶. Shorter, slower walks, more often, suit many older dogs. In the US Dog Aging Project, which surveyed owners of 15,019 dogs, dogs described as not active had 6.47 times the odds of signs of dementia (canine cognitive dysfunction) of very active dogs of the same age and health. That's a link, not proof: dogs whose minds are failing may simply move less ¹⁰. Stiffness after a walk, which is especially noticeable in older dogs, is a sign to cut back ⁹.

It counts for the mind, and it seems to put dogs in a better mood. In a study by Duranton and Horowitz, pet dogs practiced either nosework (finding things by scent) or heelwork (walking to heel) every day for two weeks. In a standard test of optimism, the nosework dogs became quicker to approach an uncertain target, which suggests a more positive outlook ⁷. Give your dachshund time to sniff on walks. On days you can't get out, hide a few treats around a room or in a rolled-up towel.

Their shape, and how they cope on and after walks, will tell you. At a healthy weight, you can easily feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat, see a waist from above and see the belly tuck up from the side ¹¹. If your dachshund is putting on weight, ask your vet about food and exercise together. Watch how they move, too: these signs mean it's time to ease off.

Usually yes, but keep it shorter, and on hot days go at the coolest times. In UK dogs seen by vets in 2016, exercise triggered 74.2% of heatstroke cases where the cause was known, and it affected and killed more dogs than being left in a hot car ⁸. In warm weather, walk in the cooler hours, skip the hottest part of the day, take water and breaks, and keep paws off hot asphalt ¹².

In the cold, shorten walks when it's very cold. Short-haired dogs feel the cold faster, and short-legged dogs' bellies are more likely to touch snow, so a coat helps many dachshunds, especially smooth ones. A wet coat or sweater can make your dog colder, and after winter walks, wipe the feet, legs and belly to remove de-icers ¹⁴. Our hot and cold walks guide has a quick pavement test and a coat check, and you'll find coats and sweaters in Wear. When it's too hot, cold or wet for a proper walk, swap it for sniffing games indoors.