To not walk the dog every day?

[StuRedman]

Just had a horrible row with DH and dd (12) because I asked her to take the dog for a walk and she refused, DH kicked off a bit about getting rid of her because she doesn't get a daily walk and he never wanted a dog anyway. He never walks her, although sometimes comes with me or dd when we do. They have now both gone out with her, although she would have gone alone.

She is a miniature breed, a chihuahua cross, she's tiny (2kg) and I walk her maybe four days out of seven but not every day. I have severe depression and often can't face getting dressed let alone taking the dog out. We have a large garden that she spends a lot of time in. She's a happy little thing and mostly sleeps on me all day with a few bursts of playing outside, with me with her rope toys, or with a kong. Imo she is fine with the amount of exercise she gets but dh can get very fixed on rules and in his mind you walk a dog every day.

I love her, we've had her since she was a puppy (she's 15months now) and dh saying he would put an ad in the paper has broken me. I know he won't, it was just a rare loss of temper, but the whole exchange has really upset me.

What do you think? Am I a terrible dog owner? Would she be better off elsewhere? I can make more of an effort to take her out, and will, but I just wanted to find out if anyone else has a happy dog that doesn't get a daily walk or if I'm deluded.

[Janecc]

Thx AnotherEmma

[StuRedman]

So I didn't manage to take her out yesterday as I had therapy in the morning and again in the afternoon and by the time it came to the evening she was fast asleep on my lap.

But today I strapped on my big girl pants and took her and ds2 to the local country park and walked for an hour and a half with a good amount of off lead and playing around the edge the lake.

This thread has been really motivating and I'm glad I posted.

[Costacoffeeplease]

Great - well done!

[StuRedman]

Thank you. I was going to drive down to the coast but wimped out, and we have the park with a big lake and a 'beach' on the doorstep so I went with that idea instead. She's now asleep on my lap (so is ds2).

[OnlyLovers]

That sounds like a great day's work for a little dog, OP. No wonder she's fast asleep I would be too after walking/running for an hour and a half