Let Them Rest: Why Your Dog Doesn’t Need 3 Walks a Day

May 9, 2025 | The Sniffly Post

There’s this thing we hear a lot in the dog world — “Dogs need to be walked three times a day.”

And it’s usually said like it’s a moral obligation. A checklist item that proves you’re a good owner.

Like:

☑ Morning walk

☑ Lunchtime walk

☑ Evening walk

… Gold star for you.

Except here’s the thing: That’s not how dogs work. And honestly? It’s not how people work either.

The Pressure to Always Be Doing

Somewhere along the way, rest got tangled up with laziness. And in a culture that values constant movement and productivity, a day without a walk can feel… wrong.
Guilty. Like you’ve let your dog down.

But here’s your gentle reminder:

You are not failing your dog by taking a rest day.
In fact, you might just be doing them a huge favour.

Dogs Need Rest to Learn

Whether they’re training, socialising, sniffing, or just taking in the world, dogs are constantly processing. And just like us, they need space — quiet, still space — to integrate what they’re learning.

It’s in the rest periods that brains consolidate. New experiences get filed. Emotions settle.

You know how children who are overstimulated often crash into meltdowns? It’s not that different with dogs.

Without enough rest, we start to see:

Reactivity creeping in
Lower tolerance for frustration
Less ability to focus
Even difficulty sleeping

That’s not a behaviour problem. That’s an overloaded nervous system.

But Isn’t Exercise the Answer?

Short-term? Maybe.

Movement can help regulate stress — for both dogs and humans.
But if we use exercise to burn off stress instead of creating safety and calm, we’re just treading water. You might get a temporary “crash nap” after a two-hour hike. But it doesn’t always lead to true recovery. And when that becomes the norm — high activity all day, every day — the long-term picture gets messy.

Physical Exhaustion ≠ Emotional Wellbeing

Let’s be honest, most of us wouldn’t run a 10K every day (if at all), we’d build in recovery days. We’d listen to our bodies. So why wouldn’t we do the same for our dogs?

When we push them physically every day without time off, we risk:

Muscle strain and joint fatigue
Higher baseline stress levels
Compensatory behaviours (like chewing, barking, or pacing)
A dog that looks “fit” but is actually overwhelmed

It’s not just about tired legs — it’s about tired brains, tired hearts.

The Myth of the “Well-Exercised Dog”

You’ve probably heard it:

A tired dog is a good dog.

And yes — a dog with appropriate outlets will likely be more settled. Tired doesn’t always mean calm — it doesn’t mean your dog feels safe, balanced, or able to cope. Exhausted is not the same as content.

We want dogs who are:

Engaged
Connected
Able to rest without crashing
Comfortable with quiet as well as play

What If Rest Is Part of the Plan?

What if we stopped seeing “days off” as the exception, and started building them in as the norm?

A midweek rest day after a busy weekend
A rainy-day pause with enrichment at home
A morning off after a big training session the day before

Rest isn’t something you “earn” after doing enough. It’s something your dog needs to feel safe, balanced, and well.

Rest Looks Different for Every Dog

For some, rest means a full duvet day. For others, it might be a short sniff in the garden and then a cosy sofa snooze.

For high-drive dogs, you might need to help them learn how to slow down — that rest is safe, not boring.

And for the humans? Sometimes rest looks like a guilt-free cuppa, knowing you’re doing right by your dog by doing less.

So, Here’s Your Permission Slip

It’s okay to take a day off. It’s okay to say, “Not today.” It’s okay to prioritise recovery over routine. Because dogs don’t need three walks a day.

They need connection, curiosity, and yes — they need rest.

The Sniffly Way

We talk a lot about mindful scent work, about partnership, about slowing down. Rest is part of that too. It’s where healing happens. Where learning settles. Where relationship builds in the quiet.

So let them rest. And while you’re at it, maybe let yourself rest too.