Even if Chihuahuas are very small and might seem fragile, they still need to walk and exercise. They can actually be more active than you think. But if you enjoy walking as much as I do, your Chihuahua might not keep up with you. So it’s normal to wonder how far you can walk with such a tiny dog.
Chihuahuas need up to an hour of exercise per day. Walking for that long at a normal pace would take them no more than 3 km or 2 miles. But some dogs won’t be able to go that far. The distance your Chihuahua can walk depends on several factors, including age, health, fitness level, and weather.
Is An Hour Walk Too Long For A Chihuahua?
In general, an hour is too long of a walk for a Chihuahua. Most Chihuahuas can’t handle very long walks because of their small size and lack of stamina. So walking for an hour straight is probably too much. But some of them might be able to walk for that long with proper training and preparation.
Can Chihuahuas Walk 3 Miles?
Most Chihuahuas won’t be able to walk 3 miles without stopping. But some of them can do more than that per day if broken down into multiple walking sessions. So a young and healthy adult Chihuahua can probably walk 1 mile three times a day or 2 miles twice.
How Long Should A Chihuahua Be Walked?
Even if a Chihuahua can walk up to 3 km (2 miles) per day, it doesn’t mean he should. Around 30 minutes of walking per day should be enough for most Chihuahuas. Because of their small size and lack of stamina, you should ideally break it down into 2 or 3 walks. Then, you can find other ways to exercise your Chihuahua!
What Can Influence How Far A Chihuahua Can Walk?
As I already said, the distance a dog can walk depends on different factors. The breed isn’t the only element to consider. Even if Chihuahuas are all similar, they have unique conditions and limits. So let’s figure out what can influence how far your dog can walk.
Age
Your Chihuahua’s conditions and limits will evolve with time. The general recommendations and answers above refer to adults of the breed. A puppy and a senior dog will probably not be able to walk that far. So let’s understand how age will impact your dog’s walking capacity.
How Far Can A Chihuahua Puppy Walk?
A puppy can generally exercise around 5 minutes per month of age, up to twice a day. So walking the whole time would represent around 100 or 200 m. For example, a 4-month-old Chihuahua puppy can walk up to 600 m (0.4 miles) per day. But it should be broken into at least two walks.
Puppies are still growing and developing stamina. So they are fragile and can’t exercise for very long. That’s why they will be able to walk farther as they age. A puppy also has shorter legs and can get distracted easily. So young Chihuahuas usually have a slower walking pace too.
How Far Can A Senior Chihuahua Walk?
After a certain age, dogs gradually and slowly lose stamina and energy. So a senior Chihuahua can walk less and less as he gets older because of a decline in health and physical conditions. Old dogs are also more prone to joint problems that could restrict them from walking long distances, such as arthritis and hip or elbow dysplasia.
So a senior Chihuahua can probably walk between 30 and 45 minutes per day at a slower pace, which means about 2 km or 1 mile. Since older dogs are more fragile and less active, you should ideally divide it into two or three short walks throughout the day.
Health
Your Chihuahua’s health is another factor to consider when it comes to how far he can walk. Some dogs have conditions that could restrict them from walking long distances. So doing regular health checks with a veterinarian is an excellent idea to know their limits.
Most healthy adult Chihuahuas should be able to walk for around 3 km (2 miles) per day with proper training and preparation. But some of them with special conditions might not be able to go that far. In general, the healthier a dog is, the longer he can walk.
Fitness Level
Some Chihuahuas are in better shape than others. That’s another reason why they won’t be able to walk the same distance. Your dog’s fitness will highly influence his walking ability. A fit Chihuahua can probably walk farther than one that’s out of shape.
The more stamina, endurance, and strength a dog has, the longer and faster he will walk. Although walking is a moderate physical activity, it requires good physical conditions. So your Chihuahua’s fitness level will influence the distance he can walk.
Energy
Another thing to consider is your dog’s level of energy. Some Chihuahuas are very energetic, while others not so much. And the more energy they have, the longer they can walk. So if your dog is active and more on the hyper side, he can probably walk 3 km (2 miles) or more.
On the other hand, a Chihuahua that gets tired quickly and is lazy can probably not go that far. That’s why it’s essential to consider your dog’s energy level. But keep in mind that it can vary. For example, your Chihuahua might be more or less energetic at certain times of the day.
Walking Speed
How fast a dog walks will also influence how far he can go. A Chihuahua can generally walk for up to an hour per day. In general, this breed will walk at a slow pace because of their small legs and body. But some dogs are faster than others and can go farther because of that.
According to this research, Chihuahuas walk on average at 0.44 ± 0.09 m/s, which gives a speed of between 1.26 km/h and 1.9 km/h. But I’m sure some of them can walk up to 3 km/h or 2 mph. So take your dog’s walking speed, multiply it by how long he can walk, and it gives you how far he can go.
Weather
Another element to consider is the temperature and weather. Chihuahuas don’t tolerate the heat and cold very well. If it’s really hot outside, your dog might overheat or burn his paws on the pavement. And in the winter, it can easily be too cold for a Chihuahua to go outside.
So the weather and extreme temperatures can influence how far your dog can walk. That’s why you must be careful not to go too far if the meteorological conditions aren’t favorable. Rain, snow, heat, cold, ice, hot pavement, and mud can affect your Chihuahua’s walking limits.
Training & Preparation
The more you do something, the better you will get at it. It’s the same thing for your dog. So the more a Chihuahua walks, the farther he will be able to go. The muscles and cardiovascular system will get used to the physical effort. So dogs that walk a lot can go farther than those that don’t.
Regardless of their health or fitness level, they shouldn’t walk 3 km straight away. It’s not safe. You and your dog have to build up stamina. So it’s essential to start with short walks and gradually increase the distance, even if your dog can do more. Besides that, training might also affect how distracted and fast a Chihuahua is while walking.
Last Thoughts About Walking Your Chihuahua!
Finally, how far a Chihuahua can walk will vary a lot depending on age, health, fitness, and other conditions. So you must know your dog well to understand his walking limits. Most adult Chihuahuas can walk up to an hour per day, which shouldn’t bring them farther than 3 km or 2 miles.
But 30 minutes of walking should be enough for them to stay fit, healthy, and happy. It should ideally be broken down into at least two walks because Chihuahuas are small and don’t have much stamina. Then, you can exercise your dog for another half an hour with other physical activity and mental stimulation.
Maybe you wonder if small dogs like Chihuahuas even need to walk? The short answer is yes, but generally less than larger breeds. Learn more about do small dogs need to walk!
Let’s Walk That Chihuahua, But Not Too Far!