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??

It’s not mean at all! My dog loves a sofa day, he gets super cuddly and is so happy to just be dozing next to me all day. Of course he loves his walks and going to the park, but it doesn’t do him any harm to have a lazy day now and again.

Our rescue collie prefers to rest up most of the day. She is fit, but she has been damaged in her past, she is very, very nervous of going out. The anxiety is so bad that we were advised to not walk her for a while, until she got used to her new life. She bounces out to the garden to do her business and then positively flies back into the house. She's happy with that, so we are too.

I have re-started the attempts at walking this week, with reasonable success. But it's going to be a long road to being a collie's collie - she won't even look at a tennis ball either. My dear departed collies would be bemused by her!

She is just gorgeous, and so good natured. Luffs her.

Re. the last paragraph. My dog would take issue with that. I have to drag her out the front door quite often in the winter. As soon as she has wee'd and poo'd she turns round and heads home very rapidly.

Different matter in spring, autumn and not too hot summer days. Then we can be out for an hour.

She knows what she wants.

Weeks??

Mine doesn’t enjoy walks. He’s a terrier and doesn’t really see the point. No chance of getting him out in the rain or cold.

he entertains himself more than adequately at home, mousing, or hiding and relocating his treat stash, alerting us to knocks at the door, and keeping track of who’s leaving and who’s returning. That’s his job and what he likes to do.

Most dogs should go out most days but no dog died purely due to not being walked. It’s age dependent in addition to the weather. In the worst summer heat some dogs are best just not going out unless v early or v late.

I've got an 11 year old lurcher who would go stir crazy if she wasn't out twice a day every day. It depends on the dog obviously, but I can't imagine not doing daily walks, I feel it's essential. That's me though, doesn't mean I'm right. I've just been out on my crutches (broken ankle) with DH to walk the dog -keeps me sane too!

My greyhound wont walk in heavy rain (although she likes light rain.. it makes her zoomie lol), and extreme heat (and neither will I on both counts).

In this cold weather, she is still asking for walks so out she goes. She does have some warm coats though so is nice and snug.

@Chickpea17 I say weeks I think the last time was September.

@tadpolelove Youre obviously taking the piss

Guessing you're a bit bored tonight!!

Why would I be taking the piss or bored 😐 you asked if you was mean for not taking your dog out for one day and I said mine haven't been since September.

Mine are creatures of habit and the weather doesn’t phase them really. They need at least half an hour in the morning, one to two hours in the afternoon and half an hour at night although our 12 year old has slowed down recently and chooses to snooze by the fire or under her blanket in the afternoon. We’ve had a LOT of snowfall over the last few days, it’s been freezing outside and they’re sitting at the door raring to go.

My friend has 2 rescued greyhounds and she battles to get them out in the cold or rain with coats on 😂. My SIL has two Westies and they’ve been disgusted the last few days at being expected to walk in the snow.

Or attention seeking.

@LessonsLearnedInLife not sure what's attention seeking about answering a question honestly on a forum but hey ho.

He's traumatised, clearly.

Won't set foot outside if it's raining, I have known him to go 16 hours without a wee. Also shivers if he's in the garden for more than 2 minutes and it's cold.

Goes to bed at night wrapped up in a duvet. If he doesn't get tucked in he won't go to sleep.

No, he isn't normal and no I haven't encouraged or started these habits 🤣

I think it is more that you are saying you have not walked your dogs since September, but are not saying why. Why not just say?

@YeOldeGreyhound I have said? They are outside dogs.

This is exactly what ours does 😂 he hates the cold and refuses to go out in the rain - preferring to snuggle up on the sofa with the electric blanket.

I was a year or so ago on a canine training course and whilst one day a week off walking is now recommended by some trainers (especially for dogs who have high energy/low stress thresholds), rescues etc.. it is also said that a dog who only ever has their own garden to exercise in, is like reading a child the same story book over and over again as the scents they have access to, don't change.

Is he a greyhound?!!

This is the modern thought process on cortisol levels. It makes perfect sense to me!

This is super interesting. My dog loves his walks but gets so stressed that he gets the shits.

@BuffaloDance2000 lol no. Opposite end of the width spectrum. He's an American Akita. Fat and floofy.

Ours had a long working day yesterday, hasn't moved far from the fire today. He's 9. The puppy 9 months old on the other hand has cabin fever if he only gets one long walk a day.

Your dog will be okay