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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder how unfit dog owners manage?

262 replies

Bamboozleme · 30/04/2023 14:26

I love walking and run 4x a week. Children sport-mad.
we have a lab
2 long (and fast!) walks a day plus and 20 min evening stroll

scrolling through my steps history and realised… on the days I run and do all the dog walks (I mainly do all the dog walks despite promises otherwise!) my step count is never below 25k. On days I won’t run, never below 18k.

Some days - substantially more!

how do you fare if you don’t enjoy walking and / or unfit and have a dog that needs and enjoys max walks?!

OP posts:
PearlOnion · 30/04/2023 14:51

I couldn't fit all of that in and work full time. I walk the dog on the weekend. During the week he gets walked by a combination of dog walkers and dp. Dp is overweight and has bad knees so if he walks him, he will take him somewhere closer and play with him whereas I do longer walks as does the walker.

SidekickSylvia · 30/04/2023 14:52

Each time I take my dog out I average 8,000 steps, but if he's off lead and I'm throwing a ball then he easily does 4 x the amount of distance that I do. I don't think they necessarily are only as fit as their owners. I sometimes see a guy in our local field in a mobility scooter throwing a frisbe for his collie, collie looks as fit as a fiddle.

BusySittingDown · 30/04/2023 14:53

I'm not a dog owner but I live near a huge park. I see dogs running and running but their owners are standing still.

Fairislefandango · 30/04/2023 14:54

YABU. I'm fairly fit, enjoy walking and run once a week. I have a pointer - large and energetic. If I wanted to, I could take him on the estuary or to the woods and wander along very slowly (or even stand still) and he'd run about to his heart's content.

Nevermind31 · 30/04/2023 14:54

I used to ride my bike and dog would run, then an hour dog socialising….

User165342 · 30/04/2023 14:55

You don't have to walk miles but then it wouldn't be worth doing your smug post, would it

lapwnbx · 30/04/2023 14:55

Twopoodlesarebetterthanone · 30/04/2023 14:50

You can smell the superiority coming off this post from afar

😂

lightinthebox · 30/04/2023 14:58

CantFindTheBeat · 30/04/2023 14:32

Do you work, OP?

I'm going to assume not. Goady Sunday afternoon thread time.

Delatron · 30/04/2023 14:59

I don’t see this post as smug and I don’t see the relevance of whether the OP works or not.

I don’t think all labs need 3 walks a day though. I run 4/5 times a week and then walk my lab for about an hour and a half. Then he gets a sniffy 20 mins in the eve but not by me.

So my step count is high and I also have a job where I’m on my feet. I’m basically quite knackered most of the time. But I love running, the dog needs to be walked and I have to work.

I think dogs adapt. You can definitely walk them too much and that is what they expect/ then need. Creating a rod for your own back. There’s a good middle ground.

I don’t think unfit people would get a high energy dog.

drpet49 · 30/04/2023 15:01

Cooknook · 30/04/2023 14:33

Because some people have dogs as pets without considering what's best for the dog and what they need to remain fit and active, and this includes walks etc. Me neighbour has a lab and goes for a short 15 minute slow walk a day. I only know this as she complains about how energetic and 'naughty' it is in the house and describes how she finds this shocking as a 15 min walk a day should be enough. I do feel sorry for dogs who don't get enough opportunity to run around.

This. I feel sorry for those dogs

Shopper727 · 30/04/2023 15:02

I used to walk my dog far and wide was fairly fit then hurt my knee quite severely to the point I couldn’t walk or work for some time! So affected my fitness and confidence as it can buckle so I am building up the walking again but get a sore back if I go too far just need to push through but with a job kids etc it’s tiring - I have no thyroid so if I overdo it one day it has a knock on on the next few days I’m exhausted so it’s about balancing it all. Dog is a retriever but gets fab walks with my son and boyfriend too so doesn’t miss out. We can’t all be super mum and for the dog walker moaning about lazy dog walkers- does that not keep you in work? I wouldn’t moan too much if I were you!

Aylestone · 30/04/2023 15:03

Athena51 · 30/04/2023 14:50

Subtext:
Me, my family and my dog are amazingly fit and active and amazing. Marvel at my lithe fitness!

How do you lazy fatties manage?

Hmm
Show quote history

This. Unless you’re a bit thick then it’s not really hard to think of ways to tire out a hyper dog without walking 15 miles a day. I’ve got two working dogs, I use boomer balls, flirt piles, fetch etc to knacker them out between walks, without even having to leave my garden 🙄

depre · 30/04/2023 15:03

You are a clear outlier.

Pollymollydolly · 30/04/2023 15:04

We’re non-lazy dog owners with a supposedly ‘high energy’ breed dog.

He clearly hasn’t read the breed standard as he is the laziest (but most adorable) lump you will ever come across. He will NOT walk further than he wants, he throws himself down and refuses to move when he deems he has had enough.

Absolutely no health issues other than laziness (verified by vet….several times).

Luckily said lazy lump is small enough to carry.

Annabel073 · 30/04/2023 15:05

Aylestone · 30/04/2023 15:03

This. Unless you’re a bit thick then it’s not really hard to think of ways to tire out a hyper dog without walking 15 miles a day. I’ve got two working dogs, I use boomer balls, flirt piles, fetch etc to knacker them out between walks, without even having to leave my garden 🙄

Show quote history

I was actually shocked that the OP think this is acceptable - no mention of the mental stimulation needed for working breeds. Mine would be climbing the walls with such a dull daily schedule.

LubaLuca · 30/04/2023 15:07

Most working people don't have enough hours in the day to walk for that long. They get either a dachshund or a cat.

MumofSpud · 30/04/2023 15:08

My springer has slowed over the years - now, with a touch of arthritis, he prefers shorter, more frequent walks
But I agree that a dog will (say) learn to fit in with the owner
If I walk him in the morning I go early -09:30 if I am later he is v antsy! but my husband would go later -11:00 and remain calm til the !
How does he know!

Vallmo47 · 30/04/2023 15:10

I don’t agree with bringing in OP’s work status generally (because unless you pay their bills it’s not your business), but I can understand how we got there so quickly. OP, you worded yourself badly. People are trying their best, including yourself. Something could happen to you physically that would mean your fitness levels changed and I hope you never encounter judgment for not walking your dog as much as you planned on.

kdramaqueen · 30/04/2023 15:10

BringBackCoffeeCreams · 30/04/2023 14:40

My dog was an even lazier arse than I am. All she wanted to do was mooch around our garden and sleep in the sun. I'd call walkies and she'd be all excited and ready to go, but half way down the street she sit down and refuse to go any further.

Hahaha, my friend had a dog like this! She usually ended up carrying the duchess home in her arms.

Original poster
Bamboozleme · 30/04/2023 15:19

Yes I work! Part time (2/3). WFH

run at 5.45

walk

work

lunchtime walk

work

evening stroll

and the odd walk to shops, coffee shop (live in centre of market town) during the day, definitely on day off

id been stupid not to think that of course dogs adapt to owner! Although surely within reason?

OP posts:
Original poster
Bamboozleme · 30/04/2023 15:20

Good grief - no judgement!!

I was bloomin exhausted last night! And when it’s peeing it down, I’d love to dodge a walk!

I just wondered how people coped if they hated walking, of which, esp post covid! 😂 there’s quite a few according to mumsnet!

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 30/04/2023 15:21

The dogs adapt , people use ball throwers etc . I’m in the opposite situation at the moment where my walks have had to be curtailed to fit in with my elderly , ailing dog .

depre · 30/04/2023 15:23

I just wondered how people coped if they hated walking,

I found not having a dog a perfect way to cope.

DanceMonster · 30/04/2023 15:25

Bamboozleme · 30/04/2023 14:26

I love walking and run 4x a week. Children sport-mad.
we have a lab
2 long (and fast!) walks a day plus and 20 min evening stroll

scrolling through my steps history and realised… on the days I run and do all the dog walks (I mainly do all the dog walks despite promises otherwise!) my step count is never below 25k. On days I won’t run, never below 18k.

Some days - substantially more!

how do you fare if you don’t enjoy walking and / or unfit and have a dog that needs and enjoys max walks?!

Maybe walking the dog makes them fit? Or they pay a dog walker. Or another family member does the walks.

DanceMonster · 30/04/2023 15:26

Bamboozleme · 30/04/2023 15:20

Good grief - no judgement!!

I was bloomin exhausted last night! And when it’s peeing it down, I’d love to dodge a walk!

I just wondered how people coped if they hated walking, of which, esp post covid! 😂 there’s quite a few according to mumsnet!

In the main, I think people who really hate walking don’t have dogs.