To think dogs might not mind a couple of days chilling at home too

[Needanewphonenow]

We have an almost 11 year old wonderful dog, she’s young at heart and still has a good amount of energy, her back legs get sore if she runs/swims too much, so can’t run after the ball hundreds of times, like she did when younger. In recent weeks, she’s been out with us everyday for long walks…trips to the beach to chase the ball and swim in a nearby lake, 2 hr walks in the woods etc. The last couple of days have been storms and lots of wind and rain, plus we’ve all been quite fluey, so I’ve been just dropping Dd at school then coming home and staying in, my lovely dog has been lay beside me on the sofa with a blanket and the fire on, she’s been sleeping for two days all day really and quite happy.
Took her out today after school with Dd with our wellies on and Ddog got a good run around, I saw one of the neighbours walking her dogs, we had small talk about the recent weather and I said that it was the first time out in a couple of days for Ddog, she was shocked and said does she not go out everyday, I said usually, but occasionally she’ll stay in
Aibu a mean dog owner??

I love the bad weather, all the fair weather walkers stay at home so much more space for the rest of us!

Our working black lab doesn't give a hoot about weather. She is 3 with bags of energy. She does approx 10 miles during the day with DH but always up for more with the DC or me in the evening.

She started dog agility in the last couple of months and is very tired after that session on a Saturday.

I think dogs can adjust to the lifestyle the are brought up in. My ddog was fine during lockdown when they weren't walked so much. He hates the cold/ ice/ snow so it's hard to even get him out for a wee in this weather. I notice no real difference in his behaviour if he doesn't go out for a walk but we then do some scent training and brain games at home.

We have a high energy breed dog. She gets 2 walks every day but she does love a Sunday off! She likes the day chilling out at home in front of the fire. She has enrichment inside and lots of times to run in the garden. I don't think they mind the odd day off

Not a chance these 2 were up for a walk in - 4 yesterday..

My ddog doesn't mind chilling now he's old, he's still keen on going out on walks (as in leaving the house) but tries to drag you into the pub 300m down the street rather than go further (not helped by the staff there having dog treats in their aprons!) it's like his brain forgets he's old when he sees his lead but a few minutes later he's had enough

@Donkeysdontdance

My collie is super lazy these days.

Our Lab would go stir crazy if she did not go out everyday Regardless of the weather we are out first thing and late afternoon..

My mutt is 8 and I think there has only been one day where he hasn’t had a walk at all and that’s because his back legs were dodgy and he needed to rest (he now takes YuMove capsules which have made a huge difference). Aside from that, we’re out every day in all weathers. I don’t think you’ve done anything wrong though in missing a couple of days as it sounds like your dog had had some very busy days prior to this!

Ours get 2/3 walks a day but we’ve had a few times where ours haven’t been out due to snow/ice or everyone being ill. They’ve just played at home and snoozed the days away quite happily. There’s almost always one or more of us at home so they get lots of attention and play. We have a lot of outside space and they choose not to use it in bad weather so I’m guessing they’d rather stay home.

I was told my dog was a high energy breed who needed 2 hours a day. Great I thought. In reality, he's a lazy shit who I regularly have to check is still alive because he moves so little. He loves a walk when it's offered but not if it's raining or windy. If it's not offered, he can go days without and doesn't care.

Our dog stays under his blanket if it’s raining or windy. He is a small breed and if he is out in the rain he cries and claws at our legs until we pick him up and tuck him in our coat.

While dogs do need good quality exercise, they certainly don't need it everyday.

In fact, I don't think it's great when dogs are so dependent on a walk that their behaviour deteriorates if they go a single day without one. It's not healthy for either dog or human, imo.

My beagle is five and while he goes out most days, he's equally happy to skip a day if the weather is bad or we're not feeling up to it. He's also quite an anxious dog so if we've had a busy/stressful day, I'll purposefully not take him the following day to give his cortisol a chance to come down.

This. I can count on one hand the number of days my dog has missed walks in 7 years, they're the best part of his day

You are not mean! I have a high energy breed, but she's also reactive, so I do occasionally enforce a day of not going out depending on how she's been, so she can decompress, otherwise she's on high alert and stressed out, no matter what the weather is doing. She has a massive garden to explore, and I lay things down for her to sniff out. If it's really bad weather, she needs crowbarring up away from the log burner, and I have to go out with her into the wet too, to make sure she does a wee, or she just waits for the door to open again

Mine doesn’t do rain, no chance, he pokes his head out, shakes it and walks back in without a backwards glance.

i am not taking him out tomorrow and he didn’t go out today, it’s just too cold for him. He’s tiny and even with a coat on it’s too much for him

Some people shouldn't have dogs.

A dog won't die if they don't have a walk for a day. But two or more days is cruel in IMO.

Weeks is disgusting.

Growing up, we had a dog who would feign a limp when you took him out in the rain.

@Devilshands don't worry ya little head they are fine and have a much better life than most 👍🏼

I doubt it.

I don’t think it hurts occasionally, particularly with an older dog. Our working cocker needs good walks twice daily as she has so much energy and will drive us bonkers all night if she hasn’t exercised. In the summer she misses a few when it’s too hot for walking though.

Growing up, we had a dog who would feign a limp when you took him out in the rain.

🤣 Love this. Genius dog!

Growing up with dogs that were always walked and fed at very specific times which meant the whole of family life were completely revolved around the routine and they were tiny toy dogs too we knew this wasn’t going to be something for us as it did and still does drive me mad.

When we got our first own dog (working breed) we were adamant there wouldn’t be a fixed routine. Sometimes my dh is up crazy early for work and feeds the dog, sometimes I do it before the school run at 7:15 if it’s the holidays it can be any time until 9 am, dinner is anywhere between 5:30 and 8. Walks are at completely random times of day some times early some times late, sometimes short, sometimes long sometimes a slow little amble sometimes out for a run it is all varied. We miss occasional days and he is very happy snuggling up in the house but if he wants to run he has access to a 12 acre orchard with bunnies and pheasants to chase. However he isn’t expectant and is very happy with whatever type of day it is and we are not having to live ours Iives by a strict timetable.

I have a 13 yr old springer spaniel. She goes out with a dog walker 3 days a week, but when I take her out (live opposite a park) she's asks to go home after about 10/15 minutes.

We’re similar @Florin. we don’t have a strict routine and ddog is happy to go with the flow. We put food down at some point in the morning but he very rarely goes anywhere near it till the afternoon anyway. His walks can happen at any time of day really.