Data study · 240 breeds · Updated June 2026
Dog energy levels
by breed.
We sorted all 240 breeds by energy level and what that means in daily exercise, from the working breeds that need two hours and a job to the calm companions happy with a short stroll.
The highest-energy breeds are working and herding dogs like Alaskan Malamute and Appenzeller Sennenhund, which need 2+ hours of daily exercise plus mental work. The calmest, lowest-energy breeds, such as Basset Hound and Bolognese, are content with about 30 minutes a day. As a rough guide for a healthy adult: very high energy needs 2+ hours, high needs 60 to 90 minutes, medium 45 to 60 minutes, and low around 30 minutes. Every dog still needs daily activity, the difference is how much, and an unmet high-energy breed is where most destruction, barking and anxiety begin.
38
very high energy (2+ hrs/day) breeds
114
high energy (60-90 min) breeds
68
medium energy (45-60 min) breeds
20
low energy (~30 min) breeds
How to read this
Energy is a guide, not a quota.
Energy level reflects the typical adult of the breed. The exercise figures are general guidelines, your individual dog's needs shift with age, health and the weather, and mental enrichment (sniffing walks, training, food puzzles) counts alongside physical exercise. Puppies and seniors need less, built up gradually. When in doubt, watch the dog: a settled dog at home is usually getting enough; a restless, destructive one usually is not.
Every breed, by energy level.
Very high energy
38 breedsRoughly 2+ hours a day for a healthy adult, serious daily exercise plus a real job to do, or they redirect that energy into the furniture.
Alaskan Malamute, Appenzeller Sennenhund, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Kelpie, Australian Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Tervuren, Border Collie, Boxer, Brittany, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, Dalmatian, Doberman Pinscher, Dutch Shepherd, English Springer Spaniel, Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Flat-Coated Retriever, German Shepherd, German Shorthaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer, Giant Schnauzer, Greenland Dog, Irish Setter, Jack Russell Terrier, Labradoodle, Labrador Retriever, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Plott Hound, Pointer, Portuguese Water Dog, Pumi, Pyrenean Shepherd, Saarloos Wolfdog, Siberian Husky, Treeing Walker Coonhound, Vizsla, Weimaraner.
High energy
114 breedsRoughly 60 to 90 minutes a day for a healthy adult, a good long walk plus play and a little training.
Afghan Hound, Aidi, Airedale Terrier, American Eskimo Dog, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Water Spaniel, Azawakh, Barbet, Basenji, Beagle, Bearded Collie, Beauceron, Bedlington Terrier, Belgian Groenendael, Black Russian Terrier, Bluetick Coonhound, Border Terrier, Bouvier des Flandres, Boykin Spaniel, Bracco Italiano, Brazilian Terrier, Briard, Bull Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Catahoula Leopard Dog, Cirneco dell'Etna, Cockapoo, Cocker Spaniel, Collie, Croatian Sheepdog, Curly-Coated Retriever, Doberman, Dogo Argentino, Drever, English Cocker Spaniel, English Setter, Field Spaniel, Finnish Lapphund, Finnish Spitz, Golden Retriever, Goldendoodle, Gordon Setter, Harrier, Hokkaido, Hovawart, Hungarian Greyhound, Icelandic Sheepdog, Irish Terrier, Irish Water Spaniel, Karelian Bear Dog, Kerry Blue Terrier, Kishu Ken, Kooikerhondje, Korean Jindo, Lagotto Romagnolo, Lakeland Terrier, Lapponian Herder, Manchester Terrier, Medium Poodle, Miniature American Shepherd, Miniature Australian Shepherd, Miniature Bull Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer, Mudi, Norfolk Terrier, Norwegian Elkhound, Norwich Terrier, Otterhound, Papillon, Parson Russell Terrier, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, Pharaoh Hound, Picardy Shepherd, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Pomchi, Pomsky, Poodle, Puli, Rat Terrier, Redbone Coonhound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rough Collie, Russian Toy, Saluki, Samoyed, Schipperke, Schnoodle, Shetland Sheepdog, Shiba Inu, Shikoku, Silky Terrier, Sloughi, Smooth Fox Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Spanish Greyhound, Spinone Italiano, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Standard Poodle, Standard Schnauzer, Swedish Vallhund, Thai Ridgeback, Toy Fox Terrier, Welsh Springer Spaniel, Welsh Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, Whippet, White Swiss Shepherd, Wire Fox Terrier, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
Medium energy
68 breedsRoughly 45 to 60 minutes a day for a healthy adult, a solid daily walk and some play.
Affenpinscher, Akita, Akita Inu, American Akita, American Bully, American Cocker Spaniel, Anatolian Shepherd, Bergamasco Shepherd, Bernedoodle, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bichon Frise, Biewer Terrier, Bloodhound, Boerboel, Borzoi, Boston Terrier, Brussels Griffon, Cane Corso, Caucasian Shepherd, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cavapoo, Central Asian Shepherd, Chihuahua, Chinese Crested Dog, Chinese Shar-Pei, Clumber Spaniel, Coton de Tulear, Dachshund, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Eurasier, Fila Brasileiro, French Bulldog, German Spitz, Glen of Imaal Terrier, Great Dane, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Greyhound, Havanese, Irish Wolfhound, Italian Greyhound, Japanese Spitz, Kangal Shepherd, Keeshond, Kuvasz, Leonberger, Long-Haired Dachshund, Malshi, Maltese, Miniature Dachshund, Mixed Breed, Morkie, Newfoundland, Old English Sheepdog, Pomeranian, Presa Canario, Pug, Rottweiler, Scottish Deerhound, Scottish Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, Skye Terrier, Sussex Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier, Tosa Inu, Toy Poodle, Wirehaired Dachshund, Xoloitzcuintli, Yorkshire Terrier.
Low energy
20 breedsRoughly around 30 minutes a day for a healthy adult, gentle daily activity, no marathon required.
Basset Hound, Bolognese, Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Chow Chow, Dogue de Bordeaux, English Bulldog, English Mastiff, Great Pyrenees, Japanese Chin, King Charles Spaniel, Komondor, Lhasa Apso, Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Pekingese, Saint Bernard, Shih Tzu, Spanish Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff.
Common questions.
What is the highest-energy dog breed?
The highest-energy breeds are working and herding dogs bred to run all day, like Alaskan Malamute, Appenzeller Sennenhund, Australian Cattle Dog. Breeds at this level typically need 2+ hours of daily exercise plus mental work, and become destructive or anxious without it.
What are the calmest, lowest-energy dog breeds?
The lowest-energy breeds are content with around 30 minutes a day, including Basset Hound, Bolognese, Bulldog. They still need daily activity for health, just not the intense exercise a working breed demands.
How much exercise does my dog actually need?
As a rough guide for a healthy adult: very-high-energy breeds need 2+ hours a day, high-energy breeds 60 to 90 minutes, medium-energy breeds 45 to 60 minutes, and low-energy breeds around 30 minutes. Puppies, seniors and dogs with health issues need less and should build up gradually. Mental enrichment (sniffing, training, puzzles) counts toward a dog's needs alongside physical exercise.
Does a low-energy breed still need walks?
Yes. Even the calmest breeds need daily activity to stay healthy and avoid boredom, they simply need less of it. A low-energy dog skipped on exercise still gains weight and can develop problem behaviors; the difference is one relaxed walk versus a working breed's two hours.
Can a high-energy dog live in an apartment?
It can work, but only if the energy is met. A high-energy dog in a small space without enough daily exercise and mental work is where destruction, barking and anxiety come from. Match the dog to the lifestyle you can actually provide, or commit to meeting a high-energy breed's needs every day.
Match the training
to the energy.
TailorPup builds a 12-week plan around your dog's breed, energy and behavior, high-octane or couch companion.