I do - I feel like I'm cruel if not.
Do you walk your dog every day?
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Yes. Every day. Even if I'm sick
Although those few days have been a short stagger down the street!
They get really antsy after a day or not walking.
Although those few days have been a short stagger down the street!
They get really antsy after a day or not walking.
If the dog is able, then anyone who doesnt (or doesnt get someone to do it) shouldnt have a dog.
My oldest dog is almost 18, he toddles out to the back garden twice a day to do his business and thats him. Wont cross the front door at all
. He then goes back to sleep for the other 22 hours that arent spent eating .
My oldest dog is almost 18, he toddles out to the back garden twice a day to do his business and thats him. Wont cross the front door at all
. He then goes back to sleep for the other 22 hours that arent spent eating .
My dogs get 3 walks every day, at least 1/2 hr each, if weather permitting the lunchtime one can be anything from 1 -2 hrs long.
My dog gets a walk twice every day but as hes got older they have become less lengthy as he doesn't want to go further, he prefers sleeping now. 
Not in the traditional sense of a walk round the park at the same time each day, no. I work from home and a couple of other places (outdoors) most of the time , my dog comes with me so she runs around wherever I happen to be for however long I'm there. If I've not had to go anywhere then I take her at various times in the day, usually the afternoon when I'm free to do so. She gets a 'proper' lead walk two or three times a week too, but mostly she simply goes with me places which is how most vets, gamekeepers, gardeners and other outdoor workers dog's get exercised around here. She's fit as a fiddle and built like an athlete so it can't be bad for her
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My dog gets walked twice a day try to aim for 2 30mins walks during the week and at least one longer walk at the weekend. Also she gets taken out the back frequently throughout the day
Depends how they and I feel, if I am in my wheelchair then no because Elsie is scared of it and Betty takes advantage of a lap to sit on rather than walking so it feels daft doing it. They both go out several times a day round the block for wees and poos etc but a proper walk has to be when either I am able or my husband has time. I have spoken to the vet about it and he was surprised as they are both very fit and healthy and his reaction was whatever we are doing is working fine as they are both very happy dogs.
I have had allergic dogs and agoraphobic dogs in the past so I am not convinced all dogs actually need a walk every single day it's more important to have quality walks than quantity. But all dogs and owners are different so we all know what suits our dogs best so I would never suggest anyone should do what we do as it may not suit their dogs.
I have had allergic dogs and agoraphobic dogs in the past so I am not convinced all dogs actually need a walk every single day it's more important to have quality walks than quantity. But all dogs and owners are different so we all know what suits our dogs best so I would never suggest anyone should do what we do as it may not suit their dogs.
I couldn't get away with not walking my little dog every day. He gets his lead and follows me round the house whining until I stop whatever I'm doing, put on my wellies and take him up the fields for a run around. Twice a day without fail, whatever the weather. He's only 2 though, perhaps when he's elderly he might slow down a bit.
I've had dogs all my life and every dog we've had has been walked at least twice a day. I would feel guilty too OP!
Sadly our present old boy is very arthritic at 16 and has just decided that he doesn't want to go out on walks anymore. he sleeps about 23 out of 24 hours. It's only happened in the last couple of weeks and I feel right out of sorts with not dog walking.
There are loads of people round here who buy dogs and walk them for the first couple of weeks and then leave the poor things shut up in the house all day. That is so cruel. Dogs love to be out running, walking, sniffing, weeing, socialising not asleep on a sofa.
Sadly our present old boy is very arthritic at 16 and has just decided that he doesn't want to go out on walks anymore. he sleeps about 23 out of 24 hours. It's only happened in the last couple of weeks and I feel right out of sorts with not dog walking.
There are loads of people round here who buy dogs and walk them for the first couple of weeks and then leave the poor things shut up in the house all day. That is so cruel. Dogs love to be out running, walking, sniffing, weeing, socialising not asleep on a sofa.
Originally Posted by duffsdad:
“If the dog is able, then anyone who doesnt (or doesnt get someone to do it) shouldnt have a dog.
My oldest dog is almost 18, he toddles out to the back garden twice a day to do his business and thats him. Wont cross the front door at all. He then goes back to sleep for the other 22 hours that arent spent eating .”
“If the dog is able, then anyone who doesnt (or doesnt get someone to do it) shouldnt have a dog.
My oldest dog is almost 18, he toddles out to the back garden twice a day to do his business and thats him. Wont cross the front door at all
. He then goes back to sleep for the other 22 hours that arent spent eating .”
Ha Ha same here! Are you at the "who am I, where am I?" Stage yet. Our old boy goes out in the garden .... We leave the patio doors open all day if we're here. He stands there and barks because I think he remembers that's what he's supposed to do and then stands there looking bewildered as if to ask what should he do next. Sometimes he just stands with his head about a foot from a shrub and stares at it until I go and turn him round. It's very sad but you have to laugh sometimes.
Originally Posted by Fizzee Rascal:
“Doesn't everyone?”
“Doesn't everyone?”
Sadly no. I think the current statistics are that 1 in 5 British dogs doesn't get walked daily. Most of the people I know with dogs don't walk their dogs regularly. Probably once a month if that.
Originally Posted by Fizzee Rascal:
“Doesn't everyone?”
“Doesn't everyone?”
Our neighbours haven't walked their dog once in over 2 years. It's a young-ish labrador.
We walk our little staffy/JRT cross every day and the kids play chase and ball with her as well. She is quite small and doesn't walk as long as my full staffies used to so she is happy with about an hour a day. We change up the walks a lot, too.
Depends. I have a Yorke but he hates going out in the rain. I have a coat for him but trying to get his coat on him is a nightmare. Other days he might get a couple of walks. Some days I miss a walk but I can only get away with it for one day. After that he gets really restless. Other days I might take him for a few short walks. Depends on how I'm feeling.
Originally Posted by molliepops:
“Depends how they and I feel, if I am in my wheelchair then no because Elsie is scared of it and Betty takes advantage of a lap to sit on rather than walking so it feels daft doing it. They both go out several times a day round the block for wees and poos etc but a proper walk has to be when either I am able or my husband has time. I have spoken to the vet about it and he was surprised as they are both very fit and healthy and his reaction was whatever we are doing is working fine as they are both very happy dogs.
I have had allergic dogs and agoraphobic dogs in the past so I am not convinced all dogs actually need a walk every single day it's more important to have quality walks than quantity. But all dogs and owners are different so we all know what suits our dogs best so I would never suggest anyone should do what we do as it may not suit their dogs.”
“Depends how they and I feel, if I am in my wheelchair then no because Elsie is scared of it and Betty takes advantage of a lap to sit on rather than walking so it feels daft doing it. They both go out several times a day round the block for wees and poos etc but a proper walk has to be when either I am able or my husband has time. I have spoken to the vet about it and he was surprised as they are both very fit and healthy and his reaction was whatever we are doing is working fine as they are both very happy dogs.
I have had allergic dogs and agoraphobic dogs in the past so I am not convinced all dogs actually need a walk every single day it's more important to have quality walks than quantity. But all dogs and owners are different so we all know what suits our dogs best so I would never suggest anyone should do what we do as it may not suit their dogs.”
I think it's company and stimulation( like yours are obviously getting) they need as much as walks - unless they're very young and hyper. A groomer I know who has several dogs does 15 minutes intensive training with them and says they are as tired after that as they would be after a long walk.
My old boy still insists on two walks a day but he's a springer who doesn't know he's elderly until the evening when his arthritis kicks in.
If it's raining, sometimes I cannot drag/lift him out the door. So he doesn't get walked. Strange thing is, he gets excited when I put his coat on!
Not proud to admit it, but I did skip a couple of days walkies last winter.
It was treacherous out on the pavements etc with frozen worn/polished ice, and the ice-grips for my shoes snapped. I was in fear of my safety with every step and if I'd had an accident the consequences would have been far greater than one or two missed walks!
It was treacherous out on the pavements etc with frozen worn/polished ice, and the ice-grips for my shoes snapped. I was in fear of my safety with every step and if I'd had an accident the consequences would have been far greater than one or two missed walks!
Originally Posted by Hogzilla:
“Our neighbours haven't walked their dog once in over 2 years. It's a young-ish labrador.
We walk our little staffy/JRT cross every day and the kids play chase and ball with her as well. She is quite small and doesn't walk as long as my full staffies used to so she is happy with about an hour a day. We change up the walks a lot, too.”
“Our neighbours haven't walked their dog once in over 2 years. It's a young-ish labrador.
We walk our little staffy/JRT cross every day and the kids play chase and ball with her as well. She is quite small and doesn't walk as long as my full staffies used to so she is happy with about an hour a day. We change up the walks a lot, too.”
there were People near us who had a young German Shepherd and they had it for about two years. In that time we never saw them walk it and neither did any of the neighbours. They also have a pug which they don't take out. They don't have a garden either just a shingle area to the front about a metre wide. Thank god they have now got rid of the GS. Some people just shouldn't have dogs.
I would be nervous to say a dog was never walked unless you sit by your window 24/7 they may just be walking at times you don't see them. One of ours was very dog reactive so we walked him middle of the night for safety. Neighbours never saw him go out and complained but RSPCA had to admit they were wrong. It may be they don't walk the dog but they may have a reason or they may just be walking when you don't see them.
I suffer from CRPS and on bad days it's not easy to even get dressed but I do and take my girls out for a walk - on bad days it'll be a shorter walk but on my better days they'll get a walk that's at least double the length of the short walks.
They get a walk at least twice a day - even on my bad days - sometimes they'll get 3
At the weekend I'll take take them to the lake and they'll get a walk, run and swim there and they'll be out for at least 3 hours, even if I'm having a bad day cos I can just sit on a bench and watch them play.
I thought everyone took their dogs out everyday or had someone take them out for them, if not, it's cruel
They get a walk at least twice a day - even on my bad days - sometimes they'll get 3
At the weekend I'll take take them to the lake and they'll get a walk, run and swim there and they'll be out for at least 3 hours, even if I'm having a bad day cos I can just sit on a bench and watch them play.
I thought everyone took their dogs out everyday or had someone take them out for them, if not, it's cruel
Many things are cruel missing a walk sometimes isn't one of them, dogs need mental stimulation almost more than physical sometimes.
Originally Posted by jaycee331:
“Not proud to admit it, but I did skip a couple of days walkies last winter.
It was treacherous out on the pavements etc with frozen worn/polished ice, and the ice-grips for my shoes snapped. I was in fear of my safety with every step and if I'd had an accident the consequences would have been far greater than one or two missed walks!”
“Not proud to admit it, but I did skip a couple of days walkies last winter.
It was treacherous out on the pavements etc with frozen worn/polished ice, and the ice-grips for my shoes snapped. I was in fear of my safety with every step and if I'd had an accident the consequences would have been far greater than one or two missed walks!”
At the end of the day, I think it's not a disaster if your dog misses a walk or two in the course of a year. It's like brushing your teeth - you do it twice a day almost every day, but if you miss a go your teeth don't fall out. We dogsat my MIL's greyhound when they were on holiday, and when she was younger she simply wasn't excited by walks, and she'd picked up a slight limp somehow, so we skipped a day. She didn't suffer for a day indoors, and got plenty of company and affection. And as a greyhound, she is lazy as hell!
I do worry about getting a dog of their own properly though, because it's my other half who really wants one. However, he didn't grow up with pets the way I did. I am used to looking after my pets first when I come in the house since I was a little girl. My boyfriend hasn't had that experience (I already look after 'his' fish for him!), and I don't want to be the one who walks the dog all the time!
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