Walking/Not walking your dog

[Laurelin]

Okay, there's a big discussion on another forum about this.

Okay, so do you walk your dogs? Do you think it's necessary to walk a dog to make them happy? Anyone not walk their dogs or only walk them occasionally? Do you do other things for exercise and socialization?

I walk Summer a couple times a day while I'm at school but when I'm home I hardly ever take the dogs on formal walks. (ie, down the road on a lead). I'm just curious. The general thought on the other forum is that if you don't walk your dog (on a lead at your park, on a lead at your neighborhood) then they are somehow not fulfilled and you are letting them down as their owner.

 

[Tankstar]

I walk blaze any where from 1-3 times a day depending on the day, if we go to the dog park, he is running around offlead for anywhere from 2-5 hours (depending on how much time I have) and if we dont go to the dog park I walk him 2 times for about a hour each. I belive dogs should be walked daily. espeacially if you just have one dog like me. And espeacially if you do not have a large back yard like me. its good for them to get out and sniff things, excersise and just to get out. It would be much differnt if we had another dog for him to play with or a large property, and I could get away with not walking him daily,but we have neither.

 

[HoundedByHounds]

Hmm...walks aren't as often here as they are for some. Simply because when you have a pack it's more difficult to space out the walks so you have control of everyone...and really...they get so much in the way of stimulation from one another, exercise too. That and my yard is well, big...lol.

I think if you have multiple dogs the "need" becomes less and it's more a "want", or a special time to spend one on one with a particular dog, work on something, give them an outing etc.

It's kinda like taking your dog places...when you have FIVE...you have to choose one..lol. They can't all go.

Actually walking one is stimulating even for the one's left back at the house. You shoudl SEE the sniffing that goes on when they return LOL.

Just another aspect of dog ownership that is utterly situational and up to the individual owners and dogs to find out what works best for them.

 

[Sweet72947]

I walk my dogs every morning at 11 or 11:30AM to go to the bathroom and get some exercise. Benji loves walks, they are his favorite thing. Daisy likes to walk and sniff. If your dog has enough space where they can run and sniff, then walks all the time might not be necessary, but I think walks are great for dogs, it gets them outside, sniffing and exploring and its another activity that bonds dog and owner. As for being necessary for a dog's happiness, I would say that depends on the dog. My neighbor's old golden retriever only goes out on a short walk to go to the bathroom. If she never went on walks, I don't think she'd care much.

 

[bnwalker2]

We have 15 acres, and we walk on that. They run off leash (most of them), and I'll throw a ball or toy for them to chase. They get plenty of exercise. Since we live in the country, there are no sidewalks, and I don't like walking in the road.

 

[something_in_the_aire]

Daily walks in the evening time before dinner. I take Sissy to the local park and walk there. It is along a creek so we also get swim time as well. She loves it and it is a great way to end the day for both of us. I think she would die without her walk.

 

[smkie]

Yes i walk my dogs. Yes i think it is vital to rounding out their world and keeping them from becoming too territorial about their home and their yard.IT allows them to socialize with people and other dogs keeping things in perspective on the home front. I believe it is vital to teaching them how to behave in public and about road safety. I Think it has added years on to Mary's life, she gets much more exercise this way then she would ever get milling around the yard. It keeps her bowels in better order and helps her circulatory system. IT doens't hurt me either. It allows us to work on our daily obedience as well. And if something did happen to me and they had to go somewhere else in the world they would be more educated and thus able to have a better chance at the future because they have good manners, do not flip out when strangers or other dogs approach, and know something about cars and crossing the road safely. IT is good for our bonding for we move together as a pack, communicating as we walk in a way that is natural. I think it is a win win situation and it is free to boot.

LOgan and i have walked as many as 6 at a time with no troubles. IT takes some training but not as much as you would think.

 

[mrose_s]

Buster gets out 4-7 times a week. He has a big fenced backyard and others to play with, plus we do training and agility stuff almost daily so I'd say he's pretty stimulated.

I woudl love to have acreage, and just be able to let them all out for massive run everyday but I do think its just as important to get them out in public whenever possible.

 

[Laurelin]

We have 15 acres, and we walk on that. They run off leash (most of them), and I'll throw a ball or toy for them to chase. They get plenty of exercise. Since we live in the country, there are no sidewalks, and I don't like walking in the road.

At home our house is very similar. We have acreage and no trails near us.

Here's my opinions:

There are a lot of ways to exercise your dog and quite honestly I think a walk is one of the least tiring, least fulfilling of those.

Just because I tend not to walk all my dogs doesn't mean I don't give them plenty of exercise, stimulation, or time. They're not just sitting around the house all the time. I think you need to take into account the breed of dog, the individual dogs, their age/health, and then the area the owner lives in before making your judgement.

A walk back home is quite frankly VERY boring. Not just for me but for the dogs as well. There are no places with trails anywhere near me. It's not safe to walk on the side of the road. Our neighborhood is tiny with 3 streets and no one is ever out. So... we can walk down those few streets repeatedly. I will tell you already that that is not going to do a thing for my dogs. So we just don't. The dogs get out and go to the feed store, the pet store, the school to pick up siblings, sometimes the track but it's been used by the high school lately. The exercise is all done around the house. We use toys, balls, frisbees, I even made a mini flirt pole for Beau. We have a pool, but none of our current dogs enjoy swimming, but Nikki did. We have acreage and a whole section of woods to explore. We also have a full agility set for the papillons minus weaves that they get to run on. I go out daily and run the entire pack a couple times-literally we all jog around the yard. Then we usually have one on one training sessions/play sessions outside with agility practice for Beau and Summer. Plus they play with each other and play inside every day.

If you think dogs get excited for a walk, try seeing them when you tell them it's time to play 'the game'. (key word for agility around here) They go ballistic. I get a line at the door with the others wanting their turn. (Though Rose is not good she can do a few jumps but we mainly work on obedience with her and Trey)

At college, Summer is not nearly as stimulated all the time. We live in an apartment and it is a struggle to make sure all her needs are met, especially as an only dog. We go on walks daily. Long walks in crowded areas and I can say that's her favorite thing around here. She gets to meet people, see squirrels (her favorite) and get some exercise. She loooves her walks here. Still, it's not nearly as satisfying to her as the exercise we do at home. I just keep adding on things for us to do during the day so she's not bored.

I also don't see this as giving 'excuses' but rather analyzing what's best for me and my dogs in our situation. They are very very happy, well cared for and fulfilled so I don't worry about their lack of formal walks.

 

[Gempress]

I admit it. I don't walk the Horsemen that often anymore. It's not the fault of the boys. They behave beautifully on walks. It's the fault of the other idiots in this town. I swear, I seem to be the only person in this area who believes in keeping my dog UNDER CONTROL on a leash. You know...the way the LEASH LAW specifies. And no, letting your hyperactive, untrained samoyed charge around on the end of a 20-foot flexi-lead does NOT count as keeping your dog under control.

I have two DA dogs. They aren't maniacal "kill all dogs!" monsters....they just do not tolerate strange male dogs getting right up in their faces. I've posted on here how many times my dogs have been attacked by smaller off-leash dogs. I'm terrified that Zeus or Voodoo will get up fed one day and take a chomp at the next dog that charges them. Yes, I could muzzle them or something....but why? My dogs are doing nothing wrong. If people just OBEYED THE LAW, I would have no problems taking them anywhere. I hate stupid dog owners.

But on the other side, my boys don't lack for socialization. I take them to Petco and Petsmart pretty often, since those places at least require a leash. They love it.

 

[Suzzie]

I walk my dogs once or twice a week here lately, because of a few issues (i do like to walk them though).... Murphy almost never gets walked, it would mean a separate walk just for her because she can't go very far, and she's not *my* dog (i have my own to exercise), but every once in a while we go for a slow meander around the block.

BUT

I spend at least an hour a day (usually more, broken into two sessions or so) just playing fetch or frisbee with the dogs... so a lot of constant running, which IMO is better than a sedate walk. In addition, Popper and Merlin are working on agility in the backyard (doesn't count towards that hour of play), which we do at least three times a week, and Popper has agility class as well once a week. We do flyball inside our house once a week for everybody but Murphy (and flyball definitely is a lot of exercise!). Sometimes we go to a dog park (just the boys) but not terribly often because it's a good 12 miles away.

I used to go over to my parents' house because they have a nice big backyard (and doggie friends) and that was always great exercise for them to run around like idiots for a couple hours, but I'm still waiting on their neighbors to put that promised fence up. I used to do that at least twice a week and it was awesome. Stupid neighbors.

Right now I've got my doors all open and every ten minutes the dogs see a squirrel, race through the house, out the backdoor and zoom around the yard trying to get the pesky thing. That's some nice natural exercise too LOL. At least they aren't cooped up in a house all day.

Ideally I'd love to have 50 acres of land and just walk around with my dogs nipping at my heels.. just not doable right now. To walk them is an ordeal, with all the loose dogs or dogs tied out in their front yards. And people always want to stop and talk to me about the dogs, which gives them an opportunity to run around my legs and get everyone tangled. Money for gas is an issue as well, otherwise I could drive them all somewhere... but there would still be other dogs, and Roofus in particular gets VERY excited at the prospect of a new friend!

I don't feel like my dogs don't get enough exercise. I feel, unless your dog is a working dog, they could always have MORE!

ETA my dogs don't lack socialization we go to the pet store (one or two at a time), and my boys went to doggie daycare for the longest time. Plus I have a tendency to take at least one dog with me nearly everywhere I go.... Roofus is the friendliest dog you'll ever meet.

 

[Jules]

I walk her... and I believe it is a part of her well-being. Now, there are different dogs, different areas... and I do not want to imply that someone not walking their dog is neglecting him.

T-Bone needs the stimulation. We live in a relatively quiet suburban area and there are some fields and parks around us. So we walk there... and then I make it a point to take her out swimming as often as I can during summer. She thrives on these trips.

 

[borzoimom]

We have 15 acres, and we walk on that. They run off leash (most of them), and I'll throw a ball or toy for them to chase. They get plenty of exercise. Since we live in the country, there are no sidewalks, and I don't like walking in the road.

I think I am more along the lines with you. I have two yards- one general and one more open fields with woods. That is the bulk of it. Additionally now I live off a very busy road, and would not risk walking them on it either. When I lived on the mountain I use to walk down the road but then again- cars were rare.
When I have a young dog, once we get past the shots being done, I use to take them in town to walk on the sidewalk to meet people etc..

 

[Adambesme]

I walk Thomas because it makes sense to...we live in a suburb, the roads aren't busy, he meets other dogs and people, he enjoys it and I enjoy it...even this morning in the rain. However, I grew up out in the country and we never walked our dogs. Where would we walk them to? They definitely had excercise, and were leash trained for when that was needed, but walking for the sake of walking doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Beanie]

I don't walk Auggie a lot. I would like to more, but there are too many obnoxious children around here that tease him when we're out on a walk. I try to be smart about which direction we go, but there's no direction that's free of children anymore. =/

 

[Angel Chicken]

I don't walk Kona, unless it's to the bus stop to get the boys. My neighborhood is an off street from VERY busy road, so there are no sidewalks. That is my main reason for not walking, I'm not putting my or her life in danger for a walk.

I mainly do off-lead walks with her around the fields, since I have two right next to my yard. Coupled with lots of outside playtime, she gets plenty of exercise.

 

[smkie]

I walk my dogs once or twice a week here lately, because of a few issues (i do like to walk them though).... Murphy almost never gets walked, it would mean a separate walk just for her because she can't go very far, and she's not *my* dog (i have my own to exercise), but every once in a while we go for a slow meander around the block.

BUT

I spend at least an hour a day (usually more, broken into two sessions or so) just playing fetch or frisbee with the dogs... so a lot of constant running, which IMO is better than a sedate walk. In addition, Popper and Merlin are working on agility in the backyard (doesn't count towards that hour of play), which we do at least three times a week, and Popper has agility class as well once a week. We do flyball inside our house once a week for everybody but Murphy (and flyball definitely is a lot of exercise!). Sometimes we go to a dog park (just the boys) but not terribly often because it's a good 12 miles away.

I used to go over to my parents' house because they have a nice big backyard (and doggie friends) and that was always great exercise for them to run around like idiots for a couple hours, but I'm still waiting on their neighbors to put that promised fence up. I used to do that at least twice a week and it was awesome. Stupid neighbors.

Right now I've got my doors all open and every ten minutes the dogs see a squirrel, race through the house, out the backdoor and zoom around the yard trying to get the pesky thing. That's some nice natural exercise too LOL. At least they aren't cooped up in a house all day.

Ideally I'd love to have 50 acres of land and just walk around with my dogs nipping at my heels.. just not doable right now. To walk them is an ordeal, with all the loose dogs or dogs tied out in their front yards. And people always want to stop and talk to me about the dogs, which gives them an opportunity to run around my legs and get everyone tangled. Money for gas is an issue as well, otherwise I could drive them all somewhere... but there would still be other dogs, and Roofus in particular gets VERY excited at the prospect of a new friend!

I don't feel like my dogs don't get enough exercise. I feel, unless your dog is a working dog, they could always have MORE!

ETA my dogs don't lack socialization we go to the pet store (one or two at a time), and my boys went to doggie daycare for the longest time. Plus I have a tendency to take at least one dog with me nearly everywhere I go.... Roofus is the friendliest dog you'll ever meet.

What we do is walk slowly around the block once and that is good enough for Mary, i then put her up and take the youngsters on. They have learned that they have to walk slowly for her, and that doens't hurt them any tho in the beginning they protested. I think now they understand, the don't get antz in their pantz even if we all have to sit down and let her rest. Mary has good days and not so good.

 

[corgi_love]

Living out here I don't have any SAFE place to walk, unless I drive out somewhere with sidewalks. So I do that a couple times(I also take them to errands with me).

But because I won't walk them in the road where people here drive on the wrong side of the road out of lazyness- They spend more time outside running around, fetching, playing in the house, etc etc.

Socialization, I take them to other people I know with dogs, our neighbors have dogs, and there are some cute pet shops around. Every Friday there is a big thing in town where theres a ton of dogs, where I go every week

 

[Squishy22]

I dont walk reggin that often, and NEVER alone. My fiance works 12-16 hour days, he has no time or energy to go for walks. Just on days he is off.

I would be a fool to walk alone. In my area, its guaranteed you would come across a stray/loose dog, and one thats probably aggressive as well. Reggin flips out over other dogs, although he is not DA. Its more like a "OMG OMG OMG ANOTHER DOG ANOTHER DOG". And then it can turn into aggression depending on how pushy the other dog is. Most meetings turn into scraps/fights. He is 63 pounds of muscle, and I cannot handle that.

I do take him out in the yard and play some fetch with him, every day. I do not think dogs NEED walks to be happy. Thats ridiculous.

 

[lucyloo2]

I walk Lucy 4-5 days/week, and pretty much every day we are playing in our big yard outside with balls, etc...

Things will change when winter hits There will be too much snow in the yard to play, and walks will be shorter (sooo cold LOL) but I hope to have her in some agility classes (indoor obviously LOL) that will help with her exercise!