To think it's not cruel to keep dogs in one day a week?

[moneypie]

I have two small breed dogs. They are taken out walks 6 days a week, sometimes twice, they have a garden to run around in and I stuff there kongs, give puzzles etc and they play with each other and the cats. I am with them basically constantly unless I have to go to shop and then my daughter is with them. I take them out in the car all the time, incorporate them into any activity I can.

However, a Sunday I like to relax, I mainly stay in the house and potter about. So they don't usually get taken any walks on a Sunday. Just some kongs and playing. They sleep most of the day on Sundays to be honest.

My brother is now claiming this is cruel, dogs need walked every day and they are sleeping due to boredom. If I had a big dog I might agree however these are tiny tiny dogs. And sometimes when we are out on walks they will start leading me back to the house so it's not as if they're desperate to walk.

I'm now feeling worried and like a bad dog owner after this conversation with my brother though. AIBU?

They love being in my room with the fan on and they curl up under the duvet 🤣

It was 29 degrees at 6pm last night. It didn't drop below 20 until gone midnight and was above 22 by 8am.

@moneypie its not boredom, it’s happy. A bored dog chews, gets into mischief and mithers.

you look at all carnivores and they are designed to eat a small amount of high energy high protein food, and sleep. Expend a little energy to get the next meal and eat again-but mostly chill and relax. Herbivores have to do stuff all day because they need to eat.

let sleeping dogs lie…

Nahh it’s fine. I have a reactive gsd, it’s actually advised to give them rest days. If they have company and you do things in the house with them then you are still meeting their needs!

In my (admittedly limited) experience, my dog sleeps when he's content. If he's bored he becomes a pain in the arse. If yours are asleep I reckon they're happy enough and quite like the day off.

It would be cruel for my dog, walks are the highlight of his day.

Why should he? It's the dog owner's responsibility.

It’s almost as if people’s situations can change… it’s a crazy thought I I know.

Yes it is. So why is he sticking his fucking beak in then?

This is the thing isn't it? Lots of dogs are different. As I said upthread I rarely walk my dog as he gets exercise and stimulation in other ways, neither does he have a set routine to anything and hasn't done since a pup. He is fine, he's happy, healthy and content. There will be other dogs this may not work with.

Calling it a blanket "cruel" for every dog out there to not be walked for one day is silly.

Exactly, so he needs to mind his own business.

Depends if you have a garden. My dog was fine without a walk occasionally despite being larger but we had 1/4 acre plus he had the run of 2 neighbours gardens

@tenbob

Collies and other hill breeds are sensitive to high temperatures, mind goes swimming instead of walking once temperatures exceed 18 degrees - but he's fine at minus 5 without a coat!

@ComeOffIt

Well said, mine likes pottering around my parents place, never get a walk, he takes himself, he's got a few acres. He likes "helping" do jobs especially riding on equipment. Even taught him to fetch tools

My dog hasn't been out for 3 days, getting old and not coping with the heat. We have a garden he does his business in and potters about for outside time. He absolutely will not go for a walk if it's raining ( runs off and hides in someone's bed under the blankets ) so he misses walks quite a few days. We play with him indoors and outdoors and he gets alot of attention. He's also a small/ toy breed and a very happy dog. Your brother is talking crap.

Dogs do not need walking daily, as long as they have company and stimulation. I have a very energetic Springer spaniel, and although he does usually get daily walks, sometimes I do other things with him, in the garden,
10 minutes training, or a makeshift agility course instead. He would get very antsy if he didn't have a walk for a week, but a day off once in a while is fine. My mobility has deteriorated in the last couple of years, so some days I just cannot walk far enough.

Cruel is not an appropriate term. This isn’t animal abuse after all. Your dogs are warm, comfortable, fed, watered, loved, clean, healthy, can use the garden and presumably have toys etc.

Beyond that, in my area it’s one of the hottest days we’ve had this year, it’s probably cruel to force dogs out in 30+ degree temperatures! isn’t there a risk of their paws overheating/burning from touching the ground?

^ This
Our JRT hated walks, however my Lab always wants to go. Depends on the dog.

My dog hasn't been for a walk at all in this heat- 5 days of no walks. I offer at around 10pm every evening and it's a hard no. Not having any of it. And she loves her walks normally. She's an Eastern European rescue and really seems to understand what is best for her. I reduce her food slightly and she spends her days on shade of the garden or inside. But she isn't yampy or restless as a consequence of no walks.

So I'm lazy not having walked my dog for the last four days due to the heat?

He is eleven, has long hair and we have an acre of garden. He's pottered around the garden, chased the odd squirrel when the fancy has taken him.

It's not like he's confined to a tiny house with no garden.

My decision not to take him out is made with his best interests at heart.

As for walking him at 5am as suggested, we live rurally with no street lighting and on single vehicle width lanes so not a great suggestion to walk an hour before sunrise.

My 3 haven't been walked for a few days due to heat. We have done enrichment games, Kong toys , sniff games and training. All they want to do is sleep though.
One of my dogs is old, so she's happy for a Potter about, the other is waiting for an op, so he's reduced to very short walks anyway. It's the youngest that needs exercise, but I'll take him for a run later when it's cooler, but we've been doing tug games etc.
It really depends on the dog.

I agree with your brother, even if you did two half hour walks morning and evening. It's very boring staying home all day and not meeting any other dogs. X

@allboysherebutme you do realise that not all dogs like other dogs .

Well mines missed a lot of walks these last few weeks due to heat or had very short ones
Some people walk there dogs everyday for 10 mins and do nothing else , so its the whole picture that matters

Not all dogs want to meet other dogs. Some are reactive, or aggressive, or nervous, or just happy in their own company.

Also, staying home also doesn't mean their life is boring - lots of owners provide enrichment and indoor games for their dogs.