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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:
hiredandsqueak · 30/04/2023 15:28

I rescued a nine year old lhasa apso, who is now 13 and quite happy with a 45 to 60 minute stroll daily mooching and sniffing off lead for the most part. I got a dog who would be happy with what I could offer. I wouldn't have taken on a dog that wants 4 hour walks and runs daily as I don't have the time.

tothelefttotheleft · 30/04/2023 15:30

Supernova23 · 30/04/2023 14:39

25,000 steps is 12 miles. Sometimes you do "substantially more". You clearly don't work much if you have time do to that daily.

I'm 5'5" and 14k steps is only 6 miles for me?

BeyondMyWits · 30/04/2023 15:34

I'm a fat, unfit, lazy arse, but the dog still has an hour - equating to 1.1-1.4 miles depending which way we go - of sniffy walk in the morning, and 30 min in the evening ... it is a stroll, a slow amble rather than "a walk"

tabulahrasa · 30/04/2023 15:37

I mean... why would you get a dog if you hated walking?

But also, that’s a lot of walking, that’d take about 4 hours out of my day... I usually walk the dog more like an hour and a half.

GonnaBeYoniThisChristmas · 30/04/2023 15:38

OP.

You are significantly more active and fit than average.

Lots of people significantly less active and fit than average have dogs and exercise them in different ways such as throwing balls and adapt their dogs needs to their situations. Loads of dogs don’t get much walking and they’re fine.

No one likes walking out in the pissing rain to let their dog do the night time wee.

Hope the above basics help.

Scottishskifun · 30/04/2023 15:39

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!

My dog refuses to go out in the rain!

But we also have a breed which is suited to our lives of a greyhound she is most happy asleep on a sofa!

We actually enjoy walking but she won't do more then 5km! She has 3 walks a week with a sprint try to take her more and she refuses to step out of the house! But she is built for sprinting and she is 9!

CountryParsonPetal · 30/04/2023 15:41

I'm really unfit but have 2 very happy high energy dogs. We walk twice a day for an hour each time, I stroll slowly with the other regular dog walkers whilst the dogs run around us and play together. We frequently stop to chat with other local dog owners we meet on the way.

According to my very experienced dog trainer, there are more over exercised dogs than under exercised dogs. Slow sniffy walks are much more stimulating and tiring for dogs than a fast jog or ball chucking which will cause them to become hyper and lay foundations for early onset arthritis and cruciate problems.

tweener · 30/04/2023 15:45

I have a 14 year old dog. He gets 1.5km in the morning and 1.5km in the evening, that suits him. He's getting on a bit and his back legs get tired if he walks too far.

NotQuiteUsual · 30/04/2023 15:46

My girl would be absolutely furious if expected to walk that much! Plus she's of an anxious nature and that much stimulation would too much. It would be awful on her joints too. She is happiest with a handful of shorter sniffy walks most days and one or two big explores and swims a week.

My point being that dogs and their needs are as varied as ours. The importance bit is choosing a dog that matches yourself well.

deepspace9 · 30/04/2023 15:47

We have 2 Weimaraners. One is only 6 months. Whew! I've never been super fit but what keeps me slim is definitely the dog walking. Plus it works absolute wonders for my mental health. I do see some dog out and about who are very overweight and seem to be struggling to walk or are out of breath quickly.

Good for you though OP. Ignore the hate. People are on it today!

NeatCompactSleeper · 30/04/2023 15:47

I've got a lazy greyhound who I have to drag from the sofa. She looks longingly over her shoulder at it as I attach her lead.

I'm sure she counts down the minutes on her walks until she can get back on it and snuggle down with her teddy again.

poshme · 30/04/2023 15:48

If I take my (fit) lab to the beach, I could easily stand still for 30 minutes, throwing a ball into the sea. She'd be very happy- and fairly knackered after 30 minutes of constant swimming/running into and out of the sea to get the ball. Very little effort from me.

Some day she gets a gentle slow sniffy walk, other days it a the beach, other days a 2 hour walk. It varies- which she's very happy with.

Original poster
Bamboozleme · 30/04/2023 15:49

I enjoy walking
and a run less than a handful of times a week

only on mumsnet and in the Uk would this constitute me being smug and superior 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Bamboozleme · 30/04/2023 15:51

They’re not 2 hour walks??!! How slow do you think I’m walking?!

OP posts:
alittlehelp22 · 30/04/2023 15:53

Bamboozleme · 30/04/2023 15:49

I enjoy walking
and a run less than a handful of times a week

only on mumsnet and in the Uk would this constitute me being smug and superior 😂

Erm no, only on Mumsnet would people feel able to tell you that you were being smug and superior. If you droned on in real life about how many steps you take daily and how long and how quickly you walk your dog, whilst expressing astonishment that unfit people own dogs, most people would smile politely, judge you internally and try to get away.

CarolDunne · 30/04/2023 15:54

We have a greyhound😐9

Reasonableadjustments · 30/04/2023 15:55

I'm disabled. I have a dog. I pay a dog Walker to walk the dog every day and when my kids are home from uni they walk the dog.

What a judgemental post.

QueefQueen80s · 30/04/2023 15:56

People just do a slow short stroll or let them out in the garden.

TrashyPanda · 30/04/2023 15:57

I’m disabled.

my dogs (small terriers) have no recall so they do go off lead

they get plenty of short walks/sniffing time and are happy and healthy

Scottishskifun · 30/04/2023 15:57

NeatCompactSleeper · 30/04/2023 15:47

I've got a lazy greyhound who I have to drag from the sofa. She looks longingly over her shoulder at it as I attach her lead.

I'm sure she counts down the minutes on her walks until she can get back on it and snuggle down with her teddy again.

😂 I know this look well especially if we have been for a walk the day before! Mine is currently nudging me and wondering back to her spot infront of the fire as I haven't lit it today!

dottiedodah · 30/04/2023 16:03

This is one of those smug posts about how

Reasonableadjustments · 30/04/2023 16:05

Also you've roughly twice as many days off a week as I do.

Of course if I was fit and healthy I would walk the dog more on my days off. I certainly used to when I was able.

Somethingsnappy · 30/04/2023 16:08

A lovely woman I knew who had very limited mobility, used a mobility scooter to walk her 3 dogs twice daily. They would walk alongside her on the lead, and be unleashed in the park to play with a ball. They were happy, healthy dogs,cand she had trained them well, so great recall.

It's lovely that you are super-fit, op, but others who aren't as privileged manage in their own way 🙂

NeatCompactSleeper · 30/04/2023 16:08

Scottishskifun · 30/04/2023 15:57

😂 I know this look well especially if we have been for a walk the day before! Mine is currently nudging me and wondering back to her spot infront of the fire as I haven't lit it today!

Show quote history

They actually roll their eyes, don't they? 😂

Like they're thinking, 'FFS it's time to walk the human again' 🙄

Beetlewings · 30/04/2023 16:09

The over-stimulated dog is definitely a thing. Also it's quality over quantity.