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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To never walk my dog?

98 replies

labradorcuddles3 · 12/07/2023 23:56

I was recently chatting to a friend who raised an eyebrow at the fact my dog never goes for typical walks round the street. But that’s because I have 3 horses and bring her to the stables with me everyday. We are there for at least 2-3 hours a day but often much longer and she gets to run about off the lead the entire time and can run about in the fields, or just generally run about at the stables. Sometimes there are other dogs for her to play with and sometimes she runs around with her best friend (a Shetland pony!) but sometimes she’s just happy to run and explore by herself. There’s also a big stream where she can play in (it’s not deep and she’s always supervised around water). She is usually exhausted with all the running, swimming, exploring, rolling in the muck heap (🤢) and just generally having fun. By around 2-3 hours she usually lies down and chills out and is knackered. When we get home she sleeps solidly.

this isn’t a humble brag about how my dog doesn’t get normal walks etc, but my friend said it would be better for her to get normal street walks too and our routine isn’t enough exercise for her.

she seems happy with our routine but if she’s missing out on other things by not going on normal street walks then I will find the time to squeeze it in. But if she’s happy, exhausted and getting 2-3 (usually more!) hours of exercise a day then I assumed that would be enough but I’m worried now that actually she needs more and I’ve not given her enough.

the only thing I can think of that she’s missing out on is practicing walking on a lead but she is fully trained in this and we do practice it sometimes as she is on the lead at horse shows. The other thing is she doesn’t always get other dogs to interact with as it’s hit or miss if the other dogs are at the yard or not.

basically I’m wondering if anyone knows should I be incorporating an on lead street walk into our routine or is my dog missing out on something by not having it?

Thank you in advance!

OP posts:
Azandme · 12/07/2023 23:59

Your dog needs exercise and stimulation. It doesn't matter how they get that, just that they do.

No dog would choose a street walk over dashing around fields with a pony friend.

Your friend seems to think exercise = walks. They're wrong.

clpsmum · 12/07/2023 23:59

It's sounds fine tbh and most dogs I know wouldn't get as much exercise as that tbh

similarminimer · 12/07/2023 23:59

Shepherds don't take their dogs for on lead walks

Babyroobs · 13/07/2023 00:02

Sounds like it has a great life. it's poor dogs that only ever get walked around the same block that i feel sorry for. Great big strong dogs that never seem to get an off lead walk.

NewtonsCradle · 13/07/2023 00:03

Your dog sounds cared for and well exercised. Your friend's criticism isn't kind or helpful.

Fleur405 · 13/07/2023 00:04

If you are really worried about it speak to your vet next time you are there. But sounds to me like your dog is living her best life!

Bubblesgun · 13/07/2023 00:04

I totally agree with the previous poster. Your dog has a great time and my dog (who has an amazing life) would be very jealous!!!!

what you are doing is fine. Do keep up with the lead training thats the most important for the just in case.

well done!!

Endlesssummerof76 · 13/07/2023 00:05

My dogs would consider a street walk the ultimate in boredom. They're happiest running around our fields or enjoying interactive games with us.

Original poster
labradorcuddles3 · 13/07/2023 00:06

Brilliant! Relieved there’s so major things she’s missing by not going on a normal walk. Great idea to ask the vet for more advice- she’s there next week for her vaccines so will ask then! Often she has to be carried in the house from the car she’s so knackered, bless her lol. I like having her with me for company too tbh and she has fun when she’s there so win win all round!

OP posts:
SchoolShenanigans · 13/07/2023 00:07

Whilst it sounds lovely for the dog in terms of stimulation and time outside, I've never seen a dog run or walk around a yard or field for minutes let alone hours on end without either being walked or having a ball thrown for them. My parents have horses and their dog goes with them and lays down the whole time chilling. It's good for them, but not the same as walking.

XenoBitch · 13/07/2023 00:08

Your dog sounds like she is living her best life, but personally, I would be adding some street walks anyway.
Is she not used to traffic? Other dogs? Other people?

Original poster
labradorcuddles3 · 13/07/2023 00:09

SchoolShenanigans · 13/07/2023 00:07

Whilst it sounds lovely for the dog in terms of stimulation and time outside, I've never seen a dog run or walk around a yard or field for minutes let alone hours on end without either being walked or having a ball thrown for them. My parents have horses and their dog goes with them and lays down the whole time chilling. It's good for them, but not the same as walking.

Sometimes I’ll throw a ball for her but she isn’t really interested tbh, she starts off by running about (zoomies!) then she entertains herself by running, swimming, sniffing, exploring, digging in the muck heap (🤮) and just generally running around like a nutter lol. She does take breaks and lie down but then all of a sudden she’s off having fun again. It’s amazing how she’s seen the same place hundreds of times yet it’s still as amazing for her as if it was the first time!

OP posts:
Azandme · 13/07/2023 00:12

SchoolShenanigans · 13/07/2023 00:07

Whilst it sounds lovely for the dog in terms of stimulation and time outside, I've never seen a dog run or walk around a yard or field for minutes let alone hours on end without either being walked or having a ball thrown for them. My parents have horses and their dog goes with them and lays down the whole time chilling. It's good for them, but not the same as walking.

The op described what her dog does at the stables - and it wasn't lying down until after it had spent 2-3 hours playing with other dogs, swimming, running with a pony etc.

Your parents dog may just go to sleep, but the op described a very different experience for her dog.

Original poster
labradorcuddles3 · 13/07/2023 00:12

XenoBitch · 13/07/2023 00:08

Your dog sounds like she is living her best life, but personally, I would be adding some street walks anyway.
Is she not used to traffic? Other dogs? Other people?

She’s used to all - people because there’s often people at the yard and also because I bring her to the tack store etc, dogs because she sees other dogs at the yard sometimes and she sees them at shows, she has been for normal street walks it’s just not the norm for her and she can do it and she’s used to traffic etc but she definitely prefers the stable environment. She behaves impeccably on the lead at shows etc and isn’t bothered by anything including big horse lorries but I wonder if maybe it would be a good idea to go for normal street walks more regularly just to sort of keep it up, might be a good idea to do that

OP posts:
Original poster
labradorcuddles3 · 13/07/2023 00:13

Never thought her bff would be a Shetland pony lol but it’s adorable. She’s not much smaller than it tbh and they race each other about the field, it’s absolutely hilarious

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 13/07/2023 00:16

In effect though your dog runs around entertaining herself in the same way as a dog would in a large garden yet most people with large gardens would still physically take their dog out . Where we keep our pony there are a couple of dogs who are around the yard / fields but they still get ‘walked’ by the owner which is time set aside just for them .

StayAnonn · 13/07/2023 00:19

It sounds absolutely fine to me, I'd not be bothering trying to shoe horn in an on lead walk just for the sake of it.

On the days we go somewhere a bit different and take ddog with us (like an afternoon at a relatives house), they're the days when we don't walk her on top. The different environment, running around a different garden, playing with relatives dog etc - high enrichment and she's exhausted after it. More so than on any 'normal' day when she gets at least an hour off lead walk.

Original poster
labradorcuddles3 · 13/07/2023 00:20

Floralnomad · 13/07/2023 00:16

In effect though your dog runs around entertaining herself in the same way as a dog would in a large garden yet most people with large gardens would still physically take their dog out . Where we keep our pony there are a couple of dogs who are around the yard / fields but they still get ‘walked’ by the owner which is time set aside just for them .

That’s a good point I hadn’t thought about it like that. I suppose she sometimes is ‘walked’ as in I come with her, mainly when she goes near the stream as I won’t let her near water unsupervised and she sometimes follows me walking about eg to the tack room, the feed room etc and often we go for a hack up the trails and she runs along side us and goes exploring and running etc but yeah sometimes she entertains herself but I always assumed it was ok because there’s lots of stimulation and things for her to do if you see what I mean

OP posts:
Rainbows89 · 13/07/2023 00:24

It sounds idyllic for her!

Our dog does go on walks round the streets on a leash but I am sure she would prefer the scenario you describe!

it sounds like she gets lots of exercise and lots of stimulation which is perfect!

XenoBitch · 13/07/2023 00:25

Being pooped out after a lot of fun running about in the yard is fine, but dogs also need mental enrichment in the form of discovering new smells etc. My old girl gets more exhausted going somewhere new than she does doing the same old walk and running about.

I am now going to say YABU, on account you have not posted a photo of your dog Wink

Balloonhearts · 13/07/2023 00:32

Well she is being walked really. When I take mine out, we walk to the field or down to the stream, let her off to run about like a maniac, have a play with any of her doggy pals that we run into then we walk home.

You're doing exactly the same from the sound of it. She gets exercise, socialises, has a change of scene and free time to sniff around a new place so getting mental stimulation.

What is she missing? Nothing I can think of. She's off lead mostly so gets her training reinforced every time you call her back or tell her to sit/wait. Your routine is fine to me.

ErrolTheDragon · 13/07/2023 00:33

but dogs also need mental enrichment in the form of discovering new smells etc.

It doesn't sound like the OPs dog is short of those!

GenerallyGreenerGrass · 13/07/2023 00:35

Ignore your friend, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about ….

PodgePie · 13/07/2023 00:38

It totally depends on your dog, mine have a very similar life (stables at home & lots of land) so we rarely walk them, but they’re safe and happy booming around. Never thought twice about it - if they ever showed any signs of being unhappy I would but why change something that’s working? Sounds like your dog has a lovely life.

SindyisbetterthanBarbie · 13/07/2023 00:45

Babyroobs · 13/07/2023 00:02

Sounds like it has a great life. it's poor dogs that only ever get walked around the same block that i feel sorry for. Great big strong dogs that never seem to get an off lead walk.

So you feel sorry for my rescue dog because she doesn't get on well with other dogs so I don't have her off lead? You would rather she was running about and causing mayhem and possibly injuring another dog? You're one of "them" that lets your dog harass others and doing as they please, aren't you 🙄

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