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The last thing you’d want to do is harm your whippet by taking them on too long of a walk. Long walks and hikes can be great for a whippet’s overall health, but how long is too long?
Can Whippets Do Long Walks:
Whippets can happily do 30 all the way up to 120 minute long walks. How long a whippet can walk largely depends on their age and physical condition. If your whippet is a healthy adult there’s no reason why they couldn’t do long walks and hikes.
This post reveals:
- How long is too long of a walk for whippets
- Whether whippets enjoy long walks on hiking trails
- How to know if a whippet needs longer walks
- Top 5 reasons whippets enjoy long walks & hikes (Tip #5 is my pup’s personal favorite!)
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
How Long Is Too Long Of a Walk For Whippets?
An appropriate length of walk for each individual whippet will vary.
How long of a walk is too long largely depends on their age and physical condition.
A puppy won’t be able to walk the same length that a fully grown adult whippet can.
And a senior whippet won’t have the same energy they had when they were younger which means they won’t be able to walk for as long as they one did.
Let’s talk about actual length of walks.
Taking a whippet puppy for an hour-long walk might be too much while they’re in their growth phase.
(A popular guideline for how long puppies can walk without causing harm is 5 minutes per month of age. For example, 2 months = 10 minute walks, 10 months = 50 minute walks)
But once they’re an adult they would likely enjoy 1-2 hours of physical activity each day.
Which means they’d be walking roughly 3-8 miles if they spent 1-2 hours walking on any given day.
If you want to start taking your whippet on longer walks the best way to safely do this is by gradually increasing the length of their walks.
This way their body will adjust over time to the longer walks and reduce the chances of them hurting themselves from too much exercise.
The better condition they’re in and the more time they spend on long walks the easier it will become for them.
Do Whippets Enjoy Long Walks On Hiking Trails?
Whippets are a high energy breed that thoroughly enjoy physical activity.
While they can be couch potatoes indoors, they really enjoy their time outside once they’re moving.
They would especially enjoy hiking because of all the different smells that come with a hike.
One thing you’ll have to watch out for is them chasing after small critters/rodents.
Whippets have a pretty strong prey drive because of their ancestors which means they’ll likely need training when first starting to hike.
As long as the hiking trail you want to take your whippet on is paw-friendly and they’re in good shape they should enjoy a nice long walk on a hiking trail.
How Many Walks Should a Whippet Get Each Day?
The two major reasons why whippets need walks are to go to the bathroom and to get exercise.
This is why simply letting your pup out in the backyard isn’t enough.
While yes, they can go number 1 and 2 in your backyard…
They aren’t getting their daily exercise needs met which can bring on destructive behavior.
Most people walk their whippet 2-3 times per day.
One daily walk isn’t likely to provide them with their exercise needs and more than 3 would take up too much time for someone with a job.
The length depends on the age and condition of your pup.
How To Know If My Whippet Needs Longer Walks?
One of the biggest signs that your whippet needs longer walks is how much energy they have at home.
You may also notice your pup being overly destructive if they aren’t getting enough daily exercise.
As a general rule of thumb, whippets need at least 60 minutes of exercise each day.
If you’ve only been giving your pup 10-15 minute walks each day and they’re being mischievous at home, they simply need longer walks.
Making sure they get at least two 20-25 minutes walks each day with some play time in between will help regulate their energy levels.
Another sign that your whippet may need longer walks is if they start putting on weight.
5 Reasons Long Walks & Hikes Are Good For Whippets
1) Reduce Destructive Behavior
A tired doggo is a well behaved doggo.
If your whippet has some destructive behaviors you really wish they didn’t, longer walks can absolutely help with that.
Unless there’s something bothering them emotionally they’re likely being destructive because they have too much pent up energy or are bored.
Both of which can be taken care of with long walks.
Related Reading: 7 Reasons Whippets Destroy Everything + 7 Helpful Tips
2) Weight Control
Just like people gain weight if they don’t get their body moving, so will your pup.
When you take your whippet for nice long walks they’ll burn off any calories that would otherwise be stored as fat.
While whippets are naturally skinny and have fast metabolisms it’s still important that they get their daily exercise to help control their weight.
And what better way than 1 or 2 nice long walks.
May that be around your neighborhood or by going on a drive to the nearest hiking trail.
Related Reading: Why Are Whippets So Skinny? The Truth + 8 Reasons & Tips
3) Exploring Is Their Favorite Thing To Do
Your pup has very limited access to the world around them.
Unless you’re home and available to take them out, they’re cooped up in the house waiting for their family to come home.
When they do get to go outside, it’s their absolute favorite thing to do.
They get to smell all sorts of different things as well as contribute to the neighborhood doggo forum by going number 1 or 2.
Nice long walks or hikes gives your whippet the opportunity to explore and enjoy all the different scents the world has to offer.
The longer the walk, the more opportunity for a variety of smells.
4) Less Chance To Have Separation Anxiety
Whippets are known for getting nervous more easily than other dog breeds.
This means their nervous energy can easily turn into something worse, separation anxiety.
But, if they take long walks everyday, they’re less likely to have a build up of nervous energy that makes them feel so uneasy.
Instead, when they’re alone they’ll be more interested in resting rather than worrying about where you are or what loud noises they’ve heard.
Limiting how much excess energy your pup has can help reduce the likelihood they develop separation anxiety.
Or at least reduce how anxious they feel when alone.
Related Reading: Is Separation Anxiety Common In Whippets? The Truth + Tips
5) Quality Time With You
You’re your whippet’s favorite person in the whole world.
The only two things your pup really wants is food and your attention.
And long walks are a great way to spend quality time with your whippet.
Oftentimes when life gets busy, which it inevitably does, the pup is usually the one who seems to get less of your attention.
Not intentionally, it just seems to play out that way.
So by making long walks a habit you ensure your whippet doesn’t feel neglected and continuously gets quality 1-on-1 time with you.
Other posts you might find interesting:
Is Separation Anxiety Common In Whippets? The Truth + Tips
8 Reasons Why Whippets Dig & 7 Tips To Stop It
5 Reasons Why Your Whippets Biting + 9 Tips To Stop It
Sources:
Vet Says Owners Should Exercise With Their Dogs Based On Specific Needs To Prevent Obesity