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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:
pillsthrillsandbellyache · 01/05/2023 08:42

We are not a 'sports mad' family (does the make us inferior to you? Wondering why you mentioned that) but ours is walked numerous times a day, everyone bar youngest takes him out once. He is taken out so he can do his business and for the sniffs. Different breeds also have different needs with regards to exercise. I like to make sure ours stretches his legs cos otherwise he's flat on his back, snoring away!

Original poster
Bamboozleme · 01/05/2023 08:42

DanceMonster · 01/05/2023 08:37

I realised that, too late 😂

Show quote history

Me too. Late!

OP posts:
WillowtreeHouse · 01/05/2023 08:42

@Reasonableadjustments sorry, I didn't pick up on that and now realise that I'm a dickhead!

DanceMonster · 01/05/2023 08:43

My kids generally hate organised sport, but are very active and love walking the dog (well they did, until he passed away).

Reasonableadjustments · 01/05/2023 08:44

WillowtreeHouse · 01/05/2023 08:42

@Reasonableadjustments sorry, I didn't pick up on that and now realise that I'm a dickhead!

It's ok.

I'm autistic and quite often my jokes and/or sarcasm are more miss than hit.

Original poster
Bamboozleme · 01/05/2023 08:44

Yes agreed the mentioning of my “sports mad” children was an unnecessary! Thoughtless

OP posts:
Original poster
Bamboozleme · 01/05/2023 08:45

Irrelevant too as the ratio of them walking to me is 10:90

OP posts:
Reasonableadjustments · 01/05/2023 08:45

What you seemed to be saying was that lazy people who don't walk their dogs couldn't have sports mad and fit children.

It would be worth you examining why you did that.

I used to be very fit and healthy. Then I had a life changing accident.

Was I just supposed to give up my dog?

Reasonableadjustments · 01/05/2023 08:47

Also.

You made no reference in any way to understanding that some people might be disabled.

All you said was how do you fare if you don't like walking or are unfit.

Check your privilege.

WillowtreeHouse · 01/05/2023 08:47

Reasonableadjustments · 01/05/2023 08:45

What you seemed to be saying was that lazy people who don't walk their dogs couldn't have sports mad and fit children.

It would be worth you examining why you did that.

I used to be very fit and healthy. Then I had a life changing accident.

Was I just supposed to give up my dog?

This is actually a really good point.

Reasonableadjustments · 01/05/2023 08:49

Also. My friend with cerebral palsy and epilepsy has a service dog.

She actually can't walk the dog.

Shouldn't she have a service dog?

pillsthrillsandbellyache · 01/05/2023 08:51

It's ok OP, you value sports, we as a family are into things that would puzzle you probably. Wouldnt do for us all to be the same! I would like to point out though, me and OH have very physical jobs and both kids are active, they just don't love sports. Which is why we encourage them to walk the dog. The youngest will muck in when she is big enough.

ChaosOnTheCoast · 01/05/2023 08:51

It is the faux ignorance which grates. I do not have a dog and I’m not interested in dogs. However, I have picked up enough knowledge over the years to know that some breeds need more walking than others. A large bounding type will cover far more distance than a small animal that does not have the same genetic drive to run and need exercise. If I knew this, did the op really not?

Howmanysleepsnow · 01/05/2023 08:52

Well, I guess I’m in the unfit category! I’ve put on 2 stone since my lab got arthritis and our long walks gradually turned to slower, shorter meanders. My younger dog is just fine with that though- she spends the time off lead and charging about around us! She hasn’t put on weight or lost fitness and on the days we go out without her brother does 6-7 miles no problem. She’s perfectly happy and calm in the house too so no psychological ill effects.

Original poster
Bamboozleme · 01/05/2023 08:58

ChaosOnTheCoast · 01/05/2023 08:51

It is the faux ignorance which grates. I do not have a dog and I’m not interested in dogs. However, I have picked up enough knowledge over the years to know that some breeds need more walking than others. A large bounding type will cover far more distance than a small animal that does not have the same genetic drive to run and need exercise. If I knew this, did the op really not?

In my OP

and have a dog that needs and enjoys max walks?!

ie clear understanding that some dogs do not need or enjoy long walks

OP posts:
ShowUs · 01/05/2023 09:00

My brother loves dogs but won’t get one because he admits himself he’s lazy.
He doesn’t mind working out at the gym and he’s naturally well built but wouldn’t go for a walk in the rain.

Lots of dogs don’t need much exercise and I would assume someone lazy wouldn’t get a high energy breed.

People also have gardens which the dogs can run around in which burns their energy so the walk is just more mental.

Some people forget that physical exercise is only part of it and mental exercise is just as important.

Dogs will also adjust to their owners lifestyles.

NerdyIsMyMiddleName · 01/05/2023 09:00

My parents (one of whom is in their 80s and has a life limiting illness) still walk their dog twice a day, and it's been very good for them, as it gets them up and moving regularly.

They walk half a mile though, and their dog (a small breed with very short legs) walks about three as she's constantly diving into bushes and running ahead and then back.

mrsfennel · 01/05/2023 09:04

Someone is home all day with our dogs, one 20 min off lead walk morning and most days 30/40 min walk late afternoon. They like to sniff everything whereas I would rather walk fast but obvs. I let her sniff and just get her to walk between sniffy areas!

We also have a good size garden.

@ToBeOrNotToBee I agree.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 01/05/2023 09:05

ie clear understanding that some dogs do not need or enjoy long walks

Then surely that answers your question and there was no need to come on and act as though you don't understand how anyone could possibly do dog ownership in a different way to you Hmm

DanceMonster · 01/05/2023 09:06

Bamboozleme · 01/05/2023 08:58

In my OP

and have a dog that needs and enjoys max walks?!

ie clear understanding that some dogs do not need or enjoy long walks

Show quote history

But how do you know that there are loads of people around who are both lazy, hate walking and have a dog that ‘needs and enjoys max walks’? Surely it makes more sense that lazy people who hate walking wouldn’t take on a dog who needs and enjoys long walks?

Iminthemoneylife · 01/05/2023 09:07

I’m over weight and unfit. I easily mange 15k step on a normal day. I don’t have a dog.

QueenofLouisiana · 01/05/2023 09:07

I got a greyhound. Sniffy walks of about twenty minutes twice a day are fine for him. He sleeps about 20 hours a day.

Two weeks of covid? No problem, mooching in the garden and snuffle mat time was fine. Long covid? Not ideal for me, he is happy with short walks on bad days and longer ones when I can.

Also, there is a huge need for homes for these beautiful dogs.

tabulahrasa · 01/05/2023 09:08

KvotheTheBloodless · 01/05/2023 08:33

My dogs are just as happy with their 30 minute walks as their 4 hour walks.

Sure they are Hmm

If they get a good amount and range of activities overall they should be tbh.

Most weekdays my dog gets an hour and a halfish of walking, that’s more of a stroll for me - though he runs about, somewhere he can sniff lots of stuff and explore... and I can play recall games and stuff with him.

A couple of those weekdays and weekends my DP will take him out as well or instead, the shortest walk he does is 4 miles, the longest he’s done with him was 14 miles. Those may or may not be interesting to the dog places because he picks them for himself. That’s not a criticism, just, my primary aim is the dog enjoying it, DP’s is his enjoyment and the dog just goes too, not that they’re bad walks but I don’t think the dog particularly cares which hill in the pentlands they’ve made it up or how interesting the waterfall they walked to was.

The dog gets plenty of interaction at home, has a scent dummy, lickimats etc., lots of different toys and chews.

Occasionally work or family stuff or something means he gets the shortest walk we have to fit in, it’s 30-40 minutes depending which of us does it, some weeks that doesn’t happen at all, done it’s a couple of times.

You’d absolutely never know from the dog’s behaviour whether he’d had a 30 minute walk, an hour and a half stroll in the woods or a 14 mile hike that day.

Original poster
Bamboozleme · 01/05/2023 09:09

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 01/05/2023 09:05

ie clear understanding that some dogs do not need or enjoy long walks

Then surely that answers your question and there was no need to come on and act as though you don't understand how anyone could possibly do dog ownership in a different way to you Hmm

But the question was if you have one of these types of dogs and you don’t like walking and or unfit

it was specific!

OP posts:
Reasonableadjustments · 01/05/2023 09:09

I'll try asking this again.

What you seemed to be saying was that lazy people who don't walk their dogs couldn't have sports mad and fit children.

It would be worth you examining why you did that.

I used to be very fit and healthy. Then I had a life changing accident.

Was I just supposed to give up my dog?

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