Is it ever ok to not walk your dogs?

[PareyMortas]

No excuse, I'm not ill I'm just not in the mood and fancy a day off. I walk them everyday for a proper long walk, normally at the weekend DH takes them or we go together. DH is away today. Does this make me a bad dog owner?

[MadeOfStarDust]

it does not make you a bad dog owner - so long as they have access to some outside time, and a bit of playtime to tire them out -remember they may play-up more if you don't exercise them...

but dogs cope with the odd day off easily.... I had awful gut trouble when hubby was away last week - dog got a quick round the block (7 min) in 2 days because - well just because there was no other way... he was fine.. (but he also spent a couple of hours in the garden)

[littlewhitebag]

I felt the same this morning. I walk our dog twice most days, and at the weekend DH takes over and does the morning walks. He is away so i have had to do all the walks. This morning i was tired and could not be bothered, however i realised that i was being very selfish in my thinking so i put on my clothes and just got on with it. It paid off massively because she then went back to bed and let me enjoy time with a coffee just relaxing. Personally i would walk them.

[bellasuewow]

Unless they have crazy high energy levels they will be absolutely fine

[PareyMortas]

Well, I didn't go would have felt guilty but they've slept all day! I'll do a big one in the morning.

[Imsosorryalan]

Depends if the dog doesn't mind I guess. Mine hates walks and physically shakes when you get the lead out! She goes for walks twice a week!

[LesserSpottedNeckSnake]

It does depend on the dog. My spaniel has to go out every day, but would make do with once if he really had to. He couldn't cope with two days like that in a row, though.

[poachedeggs]

My dogs are really really old. One sleeps all day and all night. She had just started to refuse to get off the sofa and go out for a pee in the morning. She goes for a potter for ten minutes or so if she's feeling up to it but less and less so these days :(

The other is old but sprightly. He tends to get a quick whiz round the block most days and a longer walk a few times a week but he doesn't mind if he doesn't go out.

However, if I had young or energetic dogs, especially if they had a set routine, it wouldn't be great to skip walks. Not if you value your furniture!

[mumofthemonsters808]

My Lab would drive me insane if he was not walked. Every time I got up off the sofa he would be either be circling or staring at me.

[Scuttlebutter]

For us, the only exceptions to daily walks are either really severe heavy rain/gales or snow - especially when it is icy under foot. This works out usually at about four days a year - I'm comfortable with that. Otherwise they do get walked every day, though sometimes it may be shorter than usual. However, like others, I wouldn't beat myself up about it, especially if you are doing things like clicker training etc at home - this can be just as tiring/stimulating.

Ours also get short walks on teh days when they have other activities factored in e.g. dog shows, sighthound playdates, training workshops, sighthound events, etc. Although not as physically tiring, these can often leave them mentally tired. As they are all veteran greyhounds, we notice when they've had a busy day or two - even more sleeping than usual!

[CoolStoryBro]

My dogs have at least one day a week where they don't get walked. They are no different on those days than they are all the other days. However, unless it's freezing cold, I always have the patio doors open and we have a really big garden for them to run around in.

However, that's as far as I can push it as otherwise, one of them starts eating the furniture.

[cq]

Sometimes I just don't have time to walk mine at the weekends when we're all running round with sports fixtures, parties and visits. With all the comings & goings, the dogs get plenty of stimulation and I try and take them for a ride in the car if I'm going somewhere they can just tag along.

They don't seem to mind a bit. Wouldn't get away with it 2 days in a row though!

But totally get what you mean, OP, sometimes it is nice just to have a day off. I have even contemplated booking the dog walker for just that reason

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

My boy doesn't get a walk if the weather is foul and it's pissing it down and blowing a gale. But then he doesn't want to go out any more than I do. So he gets shoved out in the garden and hopefully he'll have a poo and then I'll clear it up when the weather clears up.

We had a lovely long walk yesterday morning. The sun was shining, it was gorgeous. Then dh announced he was popping out pigeon shooting and taking the dog with him to pick up. So he had a very busy day yesterday. He was absolutely knackered last night. He could barely go out for his wee in the garden. Think we overdid it.

Re-reading that last bit I would like to point out the fact that I am talking about the dog and not dh.

[TheCunnyFunt]

My dog probably wouldn't notice if I didn't walk him for a day :o He is a Greyhound though...

[PareyMortas]

TheCunny - mine are greyhoundy lurcher so inherently lazy too. We had a two hour walk this morning and bumped into the lady who'd fostered them both with her six dogs so lots of running about. Instead of coming home and sleeping all morning as I'd expected they both wanted to run around the garden till lunchtime.

Hmm, the time I saved yesterday I paid for today so won't be doing that again in a hurry.

[Judyandherdreamofhorses]

Mine doesn't care, and he's a young springer spaniel. He loves to go out, and usually gets a long on-lead run (DH runs 5-13 miles at a time) or a long off-lead woodland run/ play. He hates a slow stroll around the block, so would prefer to not bother if that's the option on offer. We have young DC, who are generally happy and able to come out, but on the odd occasion when it's too wet for the baby, or the 4yo is knackered, DDog is happy with a new bone and extra cuddles.

[digerd]

Dogs love their walks even for those, like mine, who do not need or wish to bound around for hours. It is the sniffing of the smells especially of other dogs or just exploring.
Today I met the most gorgerous looking ex-racing blue greyhound that had been rescued at age 4 and is now 9. The owner and I chatted while he stood there like a statue and I was amazed he had no interest in my little minx as most males love her. He said at home he just sleeps for hours < but had just been for a long bunny chase in the fields>.

[VanitasVanitatum]

Mine is a lurcher and would be insufferable without her daily walk, an hour minimum!! She sleeps most of the day but starts whining if she hasn't gone out by four (my ex works from home). I don't know what would happen if we missed a day cos we haven't had to yet, but I know what she's like if it gets delayed so I can imagine..

[ErrolTheDragon]

My dog doesn't much like walking locally, esp if its only one of us taking him. Or if the weather is bad. He likes to go out as far as the grass verge on the other side of the road, sniff, deposit and then be pulling to get back home while I'm struggling with the bag. But he's really not that bothered and is happy enough to go in the garden.

Take him out somewhere else though and he'll walk all day up hill and down dale.

[Ihaveranoutofsteam]

My dog can go a few days without a walk in icy weather as he would have me over as he pulls so much

[exexpat]

My terrier would make my life a misery if he didn't get walked all day.

Normally we go out by 8.30; if we don't, the whining starts at around 9.30 (even if he has been out in the garden). As time goes on, he whines louder and louder, and follows me around; every time I move, he jumps up with an expectant look on his face and more whining... So he gets walked every day. But sometimes it's only 20-30 minutes in the local park.

[neepsandtatties]

Sniffing is like television for dogs!

[mistlethrush]

My lurcher would drive us mad in the evening if she hadn't been out - despite running down the garden to chase whatever might be there very enthusiastically several times during the day. I took her out delivering leaflets last night - I was out for about an hour and a half and this was after she had been out for her normal off-lead walk at lunchtime - and I saw a fox (she smelt it) and we saw a cat so lots of stimulation - and got home and I still had to play with her...

[ZingWantsCake]

In Hungary if you live in a house with a garden you don't walk your dogs.
they run around in the garden

[mistlethrush]

Zing - that doesn't necessarily make your dogs happy though.

[WiddleAndPuke]

Mine miss the odd walk. No biggie.
I also vary the duration/type of walk - I've gone through the stage of doing 2hours off lead every day and IME you then end up (depending on breed) with a very very fit dog who just needs more and more exercise and in fact is so over stimulated and hyper that it can't "switch off".

On the days I can't get out or it's pissing down they get extra games in the garden and a couple of extra clicker sessions (which knackers them!) and they're absolutely fine.