Step Tracking and Activity Levels in Dogs: Why it matters and how much your dog needs

Objective insight instead of guesswork

Modern trackers for dogs capture distance, intensity, sleep and behaviour changes, giving owners far more than guesswork about whether their dog has exercised enough. Studies show that using a dog activity tracker motivates owners to be more active with their dogs and strengthens the human-dog bond.

Early warning and weight management

Activity data reveals patterns invisible to the naked eye; sudden drops in movement or sleep quality may signal illness. By monitoring calories burned and rest periods, a dog step tracker helps prevent obesity and lets you adjust food and exercise for your dog's age and health.

Comparing indoor vs. outdoor lifestyles

Dogs at daycare or hondenopvang can log tens of thousands of steps a day, while dogs that spend their day at home often get fewer than 10,000 steps. Knowing your dog's step count can highlight when additional walks, fetch sessions or sniffing games are needed.

Safety and peace of mind

A smart dog harness with GPS provides real-time location tracking. If your dog explores an off-leash area or escapes a garden gate, you can find them quickly. With Dutch dunes and forests, this feature is particularly useful.

General Dutch guidelines

Veterinary experts in the Netherlands recommend that a healthy adult dog receive around 1.5-2 hours of walking per day, split into three or four walks. At least one of these outings should last 30 minutes or more. The organization "My Happy Pet" suggests dividing walks between morning, midday and evening, and waiting at least an hour after your dog eats to reduce the risk of gastric torsion.

Walking is more than physical exercise. Dutch behaviour experts emphasise letting your dog sniff, explore and socialize; walking satisfies natural needs and builds a bond. Vary your routes and include both paved and soft surfaces; climb a dike or wander through the dunes to engage different muscle groups. Many municipalities offer losloopgebieden and dog-friendly beaches where your dog can run free, provided they have reliable recall.

At the Huisdierenschool, trainers note that small dogs (Chihuahua, Dwergkeeshond) may need only 30 minutes of daily walking, while small hunting breeds (Jack Russell, Toy Poodle) require at least one hour. Giant breeds such as the German Shepherd or Saint Bernard need 45 minutes or more, ideally low-impact activities like swimming. Hunting and working breeds (Retriever, Teckel, Husky, Border Collie) should get at least an hour daily and a couple of times per week two hours of intensive activity. Mental challenges (snuffelspelletjes, obedience exercises) are just as important as physical movement.