To think this is cruel to dogs?

[liftitlikeitshot]

My friend has two chihuahuas who are around 4 or 5. She has an average size garden, enough for them to run about in which they do in the summer. However, we were talking the other day about how much I have to walk my Alsatian and was shocked to hear she doesn't walk her dogs every day.

Of course I know that chihuahuas need less exercise than my type of dog but she says she walks them 2-3 times per week if they're lucky and the rest of the time they just run about the garden and house and play together. She also said, 'I take them out loads in the car' ?? Not sure how that is relevant as obviously that isn't exercise.

AIBU to think that this is pretty cruel to those dogs? Should I say anything? I would offer to walk them when I walk mine but they aren't good with other dogs except each other.

My Chihuahuas will NOT go out if its windy/rainy/snowy/bit chilly I'm talking standing totally still and refusing to move.
They're a funny breed and very stubborn if they aren't in comfort
If you know the breed you'll know exactly what I mean.
I wouldn't comment about a German Shepards needs so I think you need to chill op.

*Shepherds

Depends on the dog, it's age and greed. Our 3 year old border collie gets long walks twice a day, but BCs are very energetic and need that level of exercise. The only time we miss it is if its absolutely pouring (a bit of drizzle or light rain is fine.)

Breed not greed!

This is a slightly different situation as my dog has severe anxiety over going outside for a walk (only aince she was spaywd at 6 months) - we have taken to her a behavioural specialist and spoken to the vet and followed advice, but she hates it (to the point where she cries, shakes and has diarrhoea) and I've come to accept she is a 'house dog'. We're lucky that we have a huge garden (she's only small) and she can get all of the exercise she needs. Her little world consists of our home and visiting our parents houses and that's as far as she goes (apart from the groomers every 6 weeks which she copes with and vets appointments when she needs them, we're lucky she hasn't had any health issues). I worry that she's missing out as I'm sure she'd love to be able to explore and have fuss and attention if she could get over her anxiety. However, she seems perfectly happy and content with her world and that's the main thing! So I think as long as your friends dogs are happy and they're going out for a walk a few times a week, that's the main thing.

I don't walk my husky everyday, for a variety of reasons tbh! Anything over 20 and it's too hot and dangerous for her, sometimes life get a bit in the way so I haven't had time, she is well loved, has someone around most of the time so she's def not hard done by. I have a friend who's dog refuses to walk he's old and has sore feet and she still forces him out which I feel is a bit mean and only recently has she got out of the routine of having to walk him twice daily as it's obvious he doesn't always feel upto it.

I don't think she's being cruel to her dogs, you can't compare the needs of different breeds like that. It sounds like she didn't socialise them as puppies, so they might find interacting with other dogs more stressful anyway.

The only thing I will say is that its worth teaching your dog the layout of the local area, so they have a better chance of finding their way home if they are ever lost.

They have exercise needs, enrichment needs and social needs. All are being met.
Just because its not how you would do it, doesn't mean its wrong.

I agree with this. Don't worry about what 'should' be done. Look at the dogs - are they healthy and happy? If so, there isn't really a problem.

I found a stray chihuahua recently. I reasoned it can't have gone far so knocked on a few doors nearby and sure enough, found the owner. Contrast with lurchers who can be several miles away from where they started. Chihuahuas are smaller than the average cat. The idea they need a two hour walk is ludicrous.

Agree it's cruel.

A neighbour across the back has a small dog. When they first bought it (one of those cross breed dogs) they used to walk it, but it just uses the back garden as a loo now. It stinks out there. They do pick up the mess, not always straight away, but the smell is bad. Then they sit on and play in that patchy grass with the two children 🤢

They're really bad with pets. They used to have rabbit, fish and a bird, and a lizard, all gone when they grew bored. The neighbour doesn't work either so there's no excuse for it.

I actually get a bit jealous of people with small dogs who can run around the garden and it’s probably the equivalent of mine running around a big field (I got a golden retriever).

Try getting my 1 pound chihuahua to walk We will take her on walks, but always end up carrying her as she refuses to walk far. Although we have 12 acres of land so it's not like she's cooped in 24/7

The dog I was referring to is bigger than a chihuahua and they have a teeny tiny garden.

Is it true you can train chihuahuas to use litter trays or is that nonsense? A friend of a friend claims to know someone with a chihuahua who uses one.

Sorry for going off topic

I have a chihuahua who is a rescue, totally and utterly traumatised and just starting to wag 3 years in. He only uses pads, hates being more than a few feet from his bed. If it has more than one wee on it, he uses the doormat instead. He is perfectly able to use the cat flap just just hates being too far away. He has never made a mess in the house at all apart from using pads and doormats.

Just because you know some shitty, neglectful owners, doesn't mean all owners who don't walk their dogs daily are shitty and neglectful.

Plenty of dogs don't need daily exercise - in fact, skipping walks is often recommended so that dogs have a chance to chill and relax, and decompress from the wider world.

I would actually argue that the vast, vast majority of dogs would benefit from not being walked everyday, for a whole number of reasons.

All dogs and breed are different and need different levels of exercise so every day might not necessarily be ideal for her dogs.

My dog (JRT) is thirteen now and has never really enjoyed a walk around our neighbourhood. She used to dig her heels in a few steps from home and insist on going home. I did persevere when she was younger but it was quite stressful for all of us, to be honest, so I don't in the same way any more. She'd always rather run around a garden - which is less nowadays as she's getting old but she still does on occasion.

We got her as a rescue so I wonder how much of her behaviour stems from training in her first few years. I'm hopeful that any future dogs we get will be a bit more willing to go out on walks as we could all do with the excuse to exercise that bit more!

I think I was projecting a little @coffeecupsandfairylights I was wrong and had forgotten everything, of the little I did know, about chihuahuas.

I'm happy to have been corrected and read the thread before making my second comment. Sorry!

I have two Italian greyhounds and they both hate going for a walk! They only have to see the cupboard open where their harnesses are kept and then I’m chasing them round for 5 minutes to get their leads on. It’s just the breed, they are homebodies, and if they weren’t forced to walk every day (they actually enjoy it when they’re out), they’d quite happily stay in the house and garden. Different breeds, different needs. I wouldn’t like my dogs not to get their daily sniff fix but as long as the dogs are happy, able to toilet and getting plenty of stimulation, it’s not cruel.

It's not very cruel.

Exercise needs vary by breed, age, fitness, the dog's personality, weather concerns.... I've had dogs who would have hated walking for two hours and dogs who two hours isn't quite enough. I had Yorkshire Terriers who would have been exhausted by a two hour walk.

My current dog is a Jack Russell who doesn't get walked every single day because he can be quite anxious and it can make him worse. We do brain games or work on training at home on non walking days.

I don't walk my small breeds every day. Sometimes they don't want to go! We have a good size garden and we play fetch and chase and find the toy/ treat. We play sniffing out games.

They're (rescue) brachiocephalic(sp?) breeds and only like very short walks when we do go.

Also one of them has bad anxiety and although she does enjoy the field the people /other dogs/birds/cars/kids all make her scared so sometimes it's not a happy experience for her and she sees her lead and runs away

Yes it's cruel. Walk your dogs daily people. How would you like your day to be confined to your house and garden only? Don't get a dog if you can't meet its needs.

I wouldn’t like to be confined to my house but I also wouldn’t like to pee in the garden nor be greeted by strangers sniffing my bottom!
I walk my dog every day but there’s more to decent dog ownership than a daily walk.