Why have a dog if you cant be arsed to walk it?

[FreyaFromTheFens]

I have 2 large breed dogs that need a lot of exercise, running off lead for a couple of hours a day minimum. We go twice a day every day no excuse.

I very rarely meet other dog walkers in bad weather and on facebook in the dog groups i'm in so many people were asking for advise on keeping dogs sane as they wouldn't be getting walks due to the bad weather!

Dogs thrive on being outside and need to run, sniff and interact with other dogs. I understand there are exceptions to this, elderly/sick or nervous dogs but generally they need to get out in all weathers.

Just put a fucking coat on and walk them, it's only rain and then the dog will settle. Hiding dry dog food in a toy is no substitute! 🙄

I know i'm not being unreasonable but want to know why you are if you don't walk in the rain?

To be fair I absolutely agree with you - however my elderly staffy absolutely will not go out if it's raining, he plants himself and literally won't go. Trying to drag 24kg of dog down the road just doesn't work 🤦‍♀️🤣

My other staffy however loves the rain and would go out in a hurricane.

Both dogs have coats, I have a coat and wellies - so off we go (sometimes just me and the big boy, if old boy throws in the towel!)

That is one of the reasons I don't ever want to have a dog. Walking them in the rain would not be fun.

I don't mind the rain but my dog hates it and hides if he deems it too heavy for his liking.

You're definitely not being unreasonable.
I’m out with my dog every day regardless of weather, but when it’s very cold, rainy or otherwise unpleasant there are far fewer other dog walkers around.
Poor dogs.

Ours (and us) are out in all weathers.
I've been moderately ill and feverish and still tottered out to walk them when DH was at work and didn't have the time.

Yanbu. We were out in the shite, wet weather yesterday. I have a new greyhound and no way would I deprive him of the exercise he needs.

I love dogs, and would love to have one, but I know that I would struggle getting out of bed on some dark rainy mornings so I would never be so selfish as to get one.

Walking our dog in the rain is the best!
We don't have to deal with badly behaved dogs or their walkers.

We can walk the fields in glorious silence.

They're the walking I love the most

Also before we got our dog we noticed there are so many online adverts full of people wanting to rehome their dog because they suddenly realise they can't meet the exercise requirements. A particularly common theme seemed to be young, lively cocker spaniels getting under an hour a day or whatever - very sad. Do your research before you get the dog!

Love a walk in the rain - dog gets a bit miffed if out for too long (over an hour or so). A breed renowned for loving water, but she hates it, daft animal!

Short of carrying her out under my arm, the Saluki will not go out in the rain!

She skips wet weather walks (yes coated up to the eyeballs, ridiculous snood, we've even tried bootees!) - we don't as the low wheelbased hound and the wobbly ancient one couldn't give a shite (I say we, I mean himself, I can't go out in the tipping rain as electric wheelchairs + rain = disaster!), they want to go for a stamp around whatever is happening.

The walk is for the benefit of the dog - some dogs do not benefit from walks as a result of behavioural issues or physical issues, so whilst in principle 'yes, dogs should be walked every day' in reality, some shouldn't be and I've seen as many issues caused by not walking dogs who should be, as I've seen caused by walking dogs who shouldn't!

Let's start by saying I am NOT a dog-lover.
But I TOTALLY agree with you - the main reason I am not a dog-lover is simply BECAUSE they need to be walked every day!
And anyone with a dog who doesn't walk her every day is being horrible to the dog, and is proving that THEY aren't dog-lovers either!

I prefer walking my dog in bad weather, it's quieter and not so many numpties about, fellow dog walkers I do tend to see are usually the more responsible kind, pick up after their dogs and don't let them run out of control with no recall that jumps all over me or my pup

I think people don't realise how much of a commitment it is to walk a dog every day in all weather. Before they get the dog I'm sure they imagine walks very differently to the reality, which is often walking in the wet, wind and mud.

Can't get worked up about it to be honest. My dog hates the rain and i'd physically have to drag him along while he whimpered and tried to go back in. He will happily curl up in the warm and just pop out for a wee in the garden when it's raining. I'm not forcing him out!

My dog HATES the rain!!! He literally walks out, head down whimpering like we’re beating him!!! I said it on Fb recently and loads agreed with me (and loads said their dogs didn’t mind).

YANBU. I’m constantly shocked by how many people don’t walk their dogs in bad weather or just cos they CBA - and it’s something lots of mumsnetters wear as a badge of honour. It’s a fundamental part of dog ownership - up there with don’t feed it shit and vaccinate it.

I agree with you if it's a case of the owners don't want to walk the dog in the bad weather. That ridiculous.
But there are dogs who won't go out in the rain. In those circumstances surely it's more cruel to drag them out against their will just because we think we know better.

I don't have a dog at present. My old dog is deceased, and I am waiting until my children are bigger to get another. However, my old boy wouldn't cross the threshold in the rain. I even worried about him holding in pee as he hated going out in anything more than drizzle.

I love walking the rain, but had to leave him at home because he would just sit and refuse to move and was too heavy to carry. Tried all the kit. Even wee adorable booties. He was having none of it.

Totally agree. She says coming in soaking wet while the muddy labrador heads straight for the sofa 🤣

It doesn't bother me if its raining, dog on the other hand goes out does his business and as soon as its picked up he turns around and starts pulling towards home! So today he has only had around an hour out but looks rather comfy on the sofa.

Mine stands shaking if I try and take her out in the rain

Neighbour has a dog, they did have two at one point, have seen one of their kids walk the younger one maybe 3 times in however many years they've had it, older dog I never saw them walk it, (it's gone now), they do have two relatives come and walk the dog regularly, but you just have to think, why did you get a 2nd dog when you couldn't even be arsed to walk the first dog you had.

People just drag them round shopping centres or out to lunch these days, instead of proper walks, rain or shine. I'm saying this as a dog lover, but not understanding why people do this. The dog often looks uncomfortable, the smaller ones get underfoot, I always feel sorry for them in cafes, stuffed under the table for ages having to smell the food but not getting any. My friend brings hers when we have coffee or lunch, he goes from the car to under the table, where he sits salivating, then back to the car. He's been out for the day then and apparently doesn't need a walk.

I agree with you but my dog won't go out in rain. She'll even wee under a garden chair.

I can't drag her for a walk.