big yard = no walks?

iheartsammy

ME+DOGS=CRAZY
Joined
Jun 17, 2006
Messages
2,220
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
32
Location
Northern California
#1
I've heard people telling me that they don't take there dog for a walk because they have a large backyard.. although I agree that their yard is huge and a great spot for playing, but for exersize (sp?) I'm not to sure.

I don't think it matters how big your yard is, your dog still needs to go out...I mean a dog can get great exersize in a large yard, but what about mental exersize? I mean go out in your back yard and run around for an hour or walk around the neighbor hood, which would you choose? I mean, you could get good exersize running around in a circle for a long time, is it as mentally pleasing..no.

I hope that wasn't confusing.. :p

What do you guys think?

(sorry for all the spelling errors..)
 

RD

Are you dead yet?
Joined
Aug 1, 2004
Messages
15,572
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
34
Location
Ohio
#3
For us, walks are for bonding, not exercise. If I were to provide Dakota with his daily requirements for exercise by walking him, I'd be walking all day. ;) He needs to do zoomies and play fetch in order to be sufficiently exercised.
 

darkchild16

We are Home.
Joined
Oct 22, 2004
Messages
21,880
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
35
Location
Tallahassee Florida
#4
definatly need walks hopefully in a place where they can get plenty of stimulation. THe woods, town, a place with a lot of new smells and sights. Only in one place can get rather boring if you ask me.
 

Rubylove

Training the Trainer
Joined
Jul 4, 2005
Messages
1,059
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
49
Location
Lovely sunny Perth! :-)
#7
Ohhh goodness I couldn't imagine spending 24 hours a day in the same place for my entire life. Wouldn't matter how big it was - how much fun would it be for you to trot up and down your own back yard every day and never, ever, EVER get to go anywhere else??

Ugggh that kind of thing freaks me out - poor doggies. If you hear people telling you that you should ask them how they would feel if they never EVER got to leave their house - even if it was huge! That might make them think a little more about it.
 

iheartsammy

ME+DOGS=CRAZY
Joined
Jun 17, 2006
Messages
2,220
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
32
Location
Northern California
#8
Ohhh goodness I couldn't imagine spending 24 hours a day in the same place for my entire life. Wouldn't matter how big it was - how much fun would it be for you to trot up and down your own back yard every day and never, ever, EVER get to go anywhere else??

Ugggh that kind of thing freaks me out - poor doggies. If you hear people telling you that you should ask them how they would feel if they never EVER got to leave their house - even if it was huge! That might make them think a little more about it.
it might..or there awnser would be... "Well thats different..." :rolleyes:
 

darkchild16

We are Home.
Joined
Oct 22, 2004
Messages
21,880
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
35
Location
Tallahassee Florida
#9
around here alot of people are like that but of course our yards are the woods its always changing you have animals come through your yard all kinds of things so here its not as bad as the city i do it with walker when my knee is havinga flare up.
 

ToscasMom

Harumph™©®
Joined
Sep 15, 2006
Messages
6,211
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Mother Ship
#10
I have a fair amount of land for her to romp on, but it's not socialization just being in the back and never seeing other things. I think walking is good for your relationship with your dog and it gives the dog a chance to adapt to other sights and things that go bump, other dogs, people etc. If Tosca hasn't had a walk in what SHE determines is her due time, she moans and groans and makes all those collie chewbacca noises. She expects a walk. I might get away with not doing it one day if it's really bad weather, but beyond that, she lets me know I had better get the leash and haul my butt about it. She has certain things she expects to do. For example, we often meet a bus that picks up a neighbor's profoundly retarded son. Not only does she expect to do that several times a week but the bus driver expects it. So if I slack off, she does her routine. It's the same for her walks. Hard to tell exactly which one of us is trained.
 

ToscasMom

Harumph™©®
Joined
Sep 15, 2006
Messages
6,211
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Mother Ship
#11
I have a fair amount of land for her to romp on, but it's not socialization just being in the back and never seeing other things. I think walking is good for your relationship with your dog and it gives the dog a chance to adapt to other sights and things that go bump, other dogs, people etc. If Tosca hasn't had a walk in what SHE determines is her due time, she moans and groans and makes all those collie chewbacca noises. She expects a walk. I might get away with not doing it one day if it's really bad weather, but beyond that, she lets me know I had better get the leash and haul my butt about it. She has certain things she expects to do. For example, we often meet a bus that picks up a neighbor's profoundly retarded son. Not only does she expect to do that several times a week but the bus driver expects it. So if I slack off, she does her routine. It's the same for her walks. Hard to tell exactly which one of us is trained.
 

Rubylove

Training the Trainer
Joined
Jul 4, 2005
Messages
1,059
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
49
Location
Lovely sunny Perth! :-)
#12
it might..or there awnser would be... "Well thats different..." :rolleyes:
That's true - and when I come across that kind of attitude I tend to do a role-play. It's a tool I use a lot and boy does it wake people up.

I left a guy outside in his backyard once with just a ball and a glass of water. I went and visited someone else and then came back to see him after two hours. He was very nearly in tears. He couldn't cope with it for a measly two hours, and he was leaving his dog out there virtually 24/7 with no toys or any type of stimulation, and walking him once every two days for 30 minutes. And wondering why the poor thing was shredding his yard.

Needless to say, his wife thought it was hysterical but it certainly taught him a lesson.
 
T

tessa_s212

Guest
#13
I'm one of those people that have a very large fenced in yard and do not walk my dogs. The two dogs that are actually playful and very active get plenty of excersize running and running around our yard. For my pointer, there's even always plenty of birds in our trees and bushes to keep him entertained.

I would also like to remind you that there ARE other forms of excersize than just walking(and I assure you, walking isn't much excersize at all compared to what my dogs get). We train in agility, obedience and compete in jrs and conformation as well. And yes, though not as physically and mentally demanding, even jrs and conformation takes training. My dogs get PLENTY of mental stimulation. Some of the cockers that are getting older might even argue that they get a little too much! :p Our oldest of dogs that are retired are more than happy to sit in our house all day, get petted, cookies, and go outside in our yard. Not only must you take into consideration what other activities a person does with their dog, but you also have to consider the age and breed of the dog. Seven out of nine of our dogs are cockers. And all of those cockers are soon going to be 8+ years old. Though cockers are silly and goofy and fun, once they start getting older, they are just fine with sleeping just about all day when they aren't getting attention.
 
A

Angel Chicken

Guest
#14
We have a huge yard... and to tell you the truth, I am a bad mommy... I hardly ever walk Kona. She comes with me to the bus stop every afternoon (less than 1000 feet) offleash, but that is it.

BUT, Kona walks herself. We are in a very rural area and I let her romp around the two cornfields next to my apartment. That would be the extent of her walking.

Like RD said, walking wouldn't just do it for Kona. She, too, needs to play and run and jump to get good and tuckered out. Lemme tell ya, when she isn't tired, there is hell to pay!
 
Joined
Apr 25, 2006
Messages
2,947
Likes
0
Points
36
#15
For us, walks are for bonding, not exercise. If I were to provide Dakota with his daily requirements for exercise by walking him, I'd be walking all day. ;) He needs to do zoomies and play fetch in order to be sufficiently exercised.
BINGO!! I think that says it best!! In my situation anyhow.

I used to let the danes rip through the acreage all day, but when it came time to walk our two mile jaunt in the evenings (which was part of MY exercise regimen), they all went crazy. It was OUR time and they loved it.

A walk alone was not adequate for them to release all their zoomie/wrestling/tag energy needs, and running the acreage was not enough to satisfy their personal needs for bonding and attention.

Hannah also needs both - high energy exercise and slow long walks.
 
Joined
Sep 17, 2006
Messages
2,765
Likes
0
Points
0
#16
Well, whenever I beg my mom to go out for a walk, I beg to take Hershey, so he can get out of the yard, and my sister complains because I hear this, "Hes stinks" Then I say "Well then, give him a bath, I just gave him one!" But, in the spring he gets walked a lot, Because I can't walk on the road by myself. Since Sugar is gone, I have been taking this boy, on as many walks as I can. If it is threw the field to grandma's house we go! lol, but I take him on walks, and he runs in the yard, so he gets lots of exercise. :) And walking. But I hope I am doing it right. I feel bad that I can't walk him in the Winter. Because my family is kind of lazy. And don't want to do anything because its cold, but other than that, he gets many walks. :)
 
Joined
Mar 30, 2006
Messages
909
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Indiana
#17
I think

I thought dogs also needed walks as a means to learn dicipline, be exposed to the outside world (noises, people ect that you don't encounter at home, in the yard or at the dog park). I see a noticable difference in Wrigley's demeanor if oh say we don't go on a walk for 2 days in a row even though he gets just as much exercise playing indoors with us (for example in bad weather).
I also think other exercise is very important though--running around outside playing, playing games, going to the park ect--but it seems walks are a great way to teach obedience and stay in control of your dog.
 
Joined
May 13, 2005
Messages
1,736
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Pidjun Haller, with ma uncle Palmer
#18
I have a big yard, and we don't do daily walks. Partly, in my defense, this is because I've had so many violent encounters with other people's dogs in my neighborhood, I am just not up to arming myself and going forth each night with a suitable attitude. I think that if you're just shoving the dog outside twice a day to eliminate, it's not exactly perfect exercise, but I don't think it's a huge deal that you have to walk the dog every day to 'socialize' them. It's a big defense from apartment dwellers that they know their dogs better since they walk them all the time, and while I see their point, I also see that my dog likes being out in the yard alone for extended periods of time without Mommy looking over her shoulder. I keep a sharp ear out for noises (or silences) but I let her hang outside alone for a while, and she loves it. Of course, we do live on an alley, so she has much scope for spectacular barking and posturing. She comes in from being outside with a boom, most nights, all jazzed and energized. I don't think she finds being outside boring at all, even if I'm not there to 'stimulate' her mind.
 

rij73

New Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2006
Messages
642
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Brooklyn, NY
#19
Well, I have no choice since I don't HAVE a yard, LOL! Hudson gets FIVE walks a day. All together it's about 3-4 miles each day of city walking. Every few days we go to Prospect Park, and I break out the 30 foot lead and let him get a little freedom to roam among the leaves and trees.

I wish I had a yard, not to use as a substitute for walks, but just to have a place to play a good round of fetch or something. Even with a yard, though, I think walking and meeting people and dogs is good for a dog's spirit.

My childhood dog never EVER got walked and neither do my mom's current dogs. And boy, you can really tell... they are very unsocialized.
 

Fran27

Active Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2005
Messages
10,642
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
45
Location
New Jersey
#20
I'll admit it, we don't walk the dogs much. Part of it is that walks are just as boring, as the neighborhood is small and it's basically always the same thing anyway, and half the time we don't even meet anyone. There's no sidewalk on the streets around so otherwise we would have to take the car, and Boris hates the car, so in the end they definitely don't get walked every day. They used to much more when puppies though, but I really don't think the socialization here was that great, and we just don't always have the time on week ends for the drive to the park.

They really get their exercise in the yard, chasing each other with sticks etc, or running left and right to bark at people :rolleyes: (I really hate that...).
 

Members online

No members online now.
Top