Should you walk a dachshund every day?
Yes, every day. And probably more than you think: in a survey of 2,031 dachshunds, the dogs that exercised less than half an hour a day had higher odds of disc disease, while the dogs active for more than an hour a day had lower odds.
That runs against the instinct to protect a long back by keeping the dog still. Muscle supports a spine; a sofa does not.
The exception is the growing puppy and the dog recovering from a back episode, where your vet sets the amount, not a rule of thumb.
What the numbers come from
DachsLife 2015 was run by the Royal Veterinary College with the Dachshund Breed Council and recorded 2,031 dogs. Dogs that exercised under 30 minutes a day showed up with higher odds of IVDD; dogs over an hour a day, and dogs their owners rated as moderately or highly active, with lower odds.
It is a survey taken at one moment, so it shows an association rather than proof that walking prevents disc disease. But it is the largest set of numbers there is on dachshund lifestyle, and it points in one direction.
An hour, but not an hour of the same thing
- Sniffing is the work. Twenty minutes of nose work tires a dog more thoroughly than forty minutes of marching. Let the walk be slow and let your dog read the hedge.
- Spread it out. Two or three outings beat one long one, especially for a dog that is alone part of the day.
- Vary the ground. Grass, sand, woodland paths. Different surfaces build different muscle, and they are kinder than pavement.
- Train the body, not just the legs. Gentle slopes and controlled walking do more for the muscles that hold a spine than sprinting after a ball does.
Puppies are the exception
A growing dog does not need an hour of forced walking, and repetitive exercise on a body that is still developing is its own risk. The commonly used guide is a few minutes per month of age, twice a day, with free play and sniffing on top — ask your vet what fits your puppy.
Short legs do not mean a low need for movement later on, though. Adults are built to work all day.
Signs you have overdone it
Lagging behind on the way home, lying down and refusing to go on, stiffness the next morning, or reluctance to jump where your dog usually jumps. That last one deserves attention rather than a rest day: it is also an early sign of back pain.
Heat changes everything. A dachshund walks low to the ground where it is hottest, so in summer the walk moves to early morning and late evening.
Keep reading
Sources
- Packer et al., DachsLife 2015 — lifestyle associations with IVDD
- Dachshund Health UK — lifestyle advice
This page also answers
- Should you walk a dachshund every day?
- How much exercise does a dachshund puppy need?
- Are dachshunds high maintenance?
- What is the main cause of death in dachshunds?