Dog walking is one of the most beloved pastimes of dog owners around the world. It is a cherished routine which allows some quiet time for the owner and is adored by the dog themselves.
While some small breeds like English Bulldogs hate any form of exercise, Cavapoos love walks! So, when can you start your walks? How far can they be? And for how long?
How far should a Cavapoo Walk?
An adult Cavapoo can walk around 1 mile (1.6 kilometers). This distance should be reduced for puppies – stick to around 1/3 of a mile – and similarly reduced for older dogs.
This distance may reduce if you walk with a fast pace as your Cavapoo can tire more easily. Similarly, a very slow walk with lots of breaks could see your Cavapoo confidently going further.
How far your particular Cavapoo can walk will depend on their size, age and fitness. If you walk your Cavapoo daily they should be able to manage longer distances with ease. And remember, do not attempt to take a Cavapoo that usually lounges on the sofa for a long hike – this will not end well!
How often should Cavapoos go for a Walk?
An adult Cavapoo should be walked at least once a day. For larger Cavapoos, or Cavapoos with more energy, you should try and walk them twice a day.
You should walk your Cavapoo for at least 30 minutes per day if possible. This is sufficient exercise for them, but not so much that it will tire them out.
The good news is, Cavapoos are not as dependent on walking as some larger and more active breeds. Large dogs including Labrador Retrievers and Border Collies must have long walks every day to avoid them becoming overweight and developing anxiety or hyperactivity issues. Cavapoos will be fine without the occasional walk, and when you do need to skip a walk, you can usually substitute the walk for an indoor play session.
How fast can Cavapoos Walk?
A healthy Cavapoo will easily be able to sustain a walking pace of 3mph (5kph). They may also be able to manage a brisker pace for a short period.
However, in many cases your Cavapoo will seek out new smells and be too distracted to sustain this pace. The resident Cavapoo of OodleDog.com – Daisy – takes her walks seriously, in other words she ignores the walking component in favour of smelling anything and everything she can!
Can you Run with a Cavapoo
Cavapoos can pick up some speed when they want to. It is not unusual to have a Cavapoo sprinting at 20mph when you are playing a game they enjoy. However this burst of energy and speed will be shortlived.
You cannot run with a Cavapoo as they will not be able to maintain a running pace for very long. They will be able to manage short sprints but not long jogs.
If you are looking for a dog that would make a good running companion then consider a larger breed like a Weimaraner, Dalmation or English Springer Spaniel. The American Kennel Club has a great list of dogs that are well suited to accompany you on a run.
That is not to say you cannot incorporate running into your Cavapoo’s routine entirely. Taking a ball or fetch toy to the park will be a great way to have lots of fun with your Cavapoo as they chase after it. This form of exercise is more self-regulated and your Cavapoo will slow when they are feeling fatigued.
Walking a Toy vs. Medium Sized Cavapoo
There is a challenge with recommending certain durations of exercise per breed – every dog is different! Within the Cavapoo breed we have toy sized through to medium, and they require different amounts of exercise.
A study from the University of Liverpool [1] found that small dogs were less likely to receive exercise for longer than 30 minutes when compared with medium dogs (55% for small dogs; 72% for medium dogs). Similarly, nearly half of the dogs surveyed that exercised for less than 30 minutes (45%) were small.
Bigger dogs need more exercise than smaller dogs, but there are no hard and fast rules. You may be gifted a Cavapoo that is very energetic, or one that has little interest in, or capacity for, long walks.
To be sure, you should monitor your Cavapoo and pay attention to how they react when you take them for a walk. Do they tire after a while? Do they pull on the lead as if they don’t want to go further? Do they collapse in a heap when you bring them home?
Some of this may be training and being used to the exercise – like humans, dogs are trainable to exercise for longer – but some of it will be down to your individual Cavapoo.
Do you Have to Walk your Cavapoo at All?
Firstly let’s clear up a bit of a misnomer when it comes to ‘small’ dogs or even ‘lap’ dogs (of which the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one – in fact originally it was literally bred in France to warm people’s laps). All dogs need exercise.
It is a sad situation to see a household that purchases a dog and then neglects to exercise it properly. They may have had all sorts of good intentions in the beginning, but they end up neglecting their dog, sometimes justifying their lack of exercise by allowing them to wander around their yard. Unfortunately, this is not good enough. Dogs need physical and mental stimulation and walks give them exactly that.
We will cover the health benefits (for both your dog, and you) in the next section, but when all is said and done dog’s LOVE to go for a walk. They – usually – love to meet other people, see new things and smell new smells. Think of a walk with your dog as like a happy adventure for them. And most Cavapoo owners would agree they want their Cavapoo to be happy!
Why Walk your Cavapoo? What are the Benefits
OK, let’s look at the benefits of walking your Cavapoo. And we’re going to break this down into benefits for them, and benefits for you.
Benefits for Your Cavapoo of Going for a Walk
As we have already seen, Cavapoos are happier when walked, but the benefits do not end there. Cavapoos who are walked will benefit from a whole lot more:
- Mental Stimulation. Cavapoos are smart dogs (thank you Poodle parent) and walks give them excellent mental stimulation. Imagine being locked inside your own home 24/7 – you would go a bit stir crazy after a while, right? While Cavapoos are not as smart as humans, they are still sentient beings and need to have their old grey matter challenged. Walks give them that – new sights, sounds, smells – lots of great things for them to benefit from.
- Improved Physical Health. This is another area where dogs and humans are alike. Improved exercise leads to better cardiovascular health and a trove of other health benefits. Reducing or removing the exercise your Cavapoo receives and you will likely see them gaining weight which has a negative impact on their heart health, and also leads to a whole load more issues – from increased strain on their joints (which can lead to arthritis) through to liver damage and increased blood pressure.
- Improved Behavior. Cavapoos that are walked are less likely to engage in destructive behavior, and more likely to have reduced hyperactivity. Walks help your pup feel more relaxed and docile at bedtimes, which will reduce any extra energy they may have had earlier in the day.
- Better Socialization. All dogs – Cavapoos are no exception – need to be socialized. Socialization helps Cavapoos understand their role in the world by meeting other dogs and people. Dogs that are kept away from other people and dogs generally fare far worse when they do meet others as they have not developed the social skills to deal with the situation. Imagine a cave man coming out into society for the first time – they would not have the social graces needed to engage with society, and so too Cavapoos need to avoid becoming cave dogs!
- Training Opportunities. Dog walks are an excellent opportunity to engage in some training with your Cavapoo. This can include walking correctly with you and not pulling on the lead, stopping before crossing the road, not lurching for other dogs or people, not barking at other dogs, and much more. Training is a great way to develop your bond with your Cavapoo, so take some treats in your pocket and make the most of your next walk together.
Benefits for You of Going for a Walk with Your Cavapoo
Now that we have covered your Cavapoo let us look at all the benefits you can expect of going or a walk with your Cavapoo:
- Improved Happiness. Everyone wants to be happy, right? Well a study from the University of Liverpool [2] showed that dog walkers walk their dogs primarily because they are motivated by happiness, not their health. It is well proven that spending time outdoors, getting fresh air and getting physical exercise improves mental health, so take the opportunity to get free happiness every day!
- Improved Physical Fitness. 73.6% of Americans are either overweight or obese [3]. This number is sadly similar in the United Kingdom (63%)[4], Canada (61.3%)[5] and Australia (67%)[6]. But do not fear! Dog walking is a great form of exercise. Walking is low impact, raises your heart rate and consumes calories. Done daily it can form an excellent habit as part of a healthy lifestyle.
- Decreased Stress. One of the hormones that contributes to stress – cortisol – has been shown to decrease with dog walking [7]. In our modern lives stress can be problematic, so walking with your dog might help you deal with it better. Other studies have shown walking with a dog in forest areas is also better than walking in urban areas, so this is a great excuse to get to the country with your Cavapoo whenever you can.
When can I Start Walking a Cavapoo Puppy?
Puppies will almost certainly be keen for walks from as soon as they can walk! But caution is recommended before taking your puppy outside from the home.
Generally, puppies get three rounds of vaccinations and the usual recommendation from vets are to wait generally two weeks from the last round of vaccinations before taking them out of the home.
It is not advisable to take puppies out sooner for a number of reasons. Firstly, they could come across another dog which is sick, which increases their risk of becoming ill. But importantly, the general outdoors environment has viruses, bacteria and parasites which can harm your new puppy. The home is the safest place for them initially.
As most puppies will have completed their third round of vaccinations by around 18 weeks, you can look forward to having your puppy out on walks by week 20.
Walking in the Heat or the Cold?
One of the things that puts me off going for a walk is the weather! When it’s blisteringly hot, or chillingly cold, neither fills me with excitement about hitting the street. So, what about Cavapoos – should you take extra precautions when taking your pooch on a walk in hot or cold weather?
We cover the topic of having your Cavapoo in your yard on hot and cold days in detail here. In summary here are some of the key factors to keep in mind.
Hot Days. On hot days you need to make sure your Cavapoo is not going to burn their feet walking on hot tarmac. If it is too hot for your hand to hold for more than a few seconds, then it is too hot for your Cavapoo to walk on.
Make sure you pack some water to avoid them getting dehydrated. There are plenty of water bottles designed for dogs which are great accessories for your walks on hot days.
Pay attention to your dog’s demeanor and if you see them struggling, panting excessively or other unusual behavior, be alert for heat stroke.
Lastly, remember that dogs can get skin cancer, so avoid too much sun exposure, especially if they have a short haircut.
Cold Days. When the weather turns cold, then be aware that this can also be bad for your little Cavapoo.
Cavapoos generally have warm coat which will protect them from mildly cold days. But in extremes of cold weather, they may struggle to self-warm, and can suffer from a drop in core temperature, which can be very dangerous.
Pay attention to signs of your Cavapoo shivering, and immediately warm them up and take them home if you are worried.
Consider buying a dog jacket for them and you will be able to take them out on colder days than with just their natural coat.
[1] Pickup E, German AJ, Blackwell E, Evans M, Westgarth C. Variation in activity levels amongst dogs of different breeds: results of a large online survey of dog owners from the UK. J Nutr Sci. 2017 Apr 17;6:e10. doi: 10.1017/jns.2017.7. Erratum in: J Nutr Sci. 2021 Oct 21;10:e93. PMID: 28620485; PMCID: PMC5465859.
[2] Westgarth C, Christley RM, Marvin G, Perkins E. I Walk My Dog Because It Makes Me Happy: A Qualitative Study to Understand Why Dogs Motivate Walking and Improved Health. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Aug 19;14(8):936. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14080936. PMID: 28825614; PMCID: PMC5580638.
[3] FastStats – Overweight Prevalence. [online]. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/obesity-overweight.htm.
[4] Overweight and obesity statistics | Cancer Research UK. [online]. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/risk/overweight-and-obesity.
[5] Vogel, L. (2017). Overweight or overfat? Many Canadians are both. CMAJ., [online] 189, (37). Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5602508/. [Accessed 1 Jan. 1970].
[6] Overweight and obesity – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. [online]. Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/overweight-and-obesity.
[7] Akiyama, Junko, and Mitsuaki Ohta. 2021. “Hormonal and Neurological Aspects of Dog Walking for Dog Owners and Pet Dogs” Animals 11, no. 9: 2732. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092732