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?

Oh here we fucking go.
Are we pretending that he doesn’t get walked when it’s sunny, breezy, cloudy or anything else because that would be silly?
Are we being silly?

I can’t be bothered when it’s Baltic and pissing it down, but I go because it makes MY dog happy.

He loves his walks in any weather and queues when it’s walk time. So we go and his tail is up he’s sniffing about and is bright eyed and bushy tailed. I know he enjoys his walks so I take him whether I can “be arsed or not”
Most dogs like to walk, it stimulates them, socialises them and exercises them.
He has good food, hangs about with me all day because I wfh and sleeps with me at night.
if I asked him, it would be my hope and my expectation that he is a happy dog. He certainly seems like it.

I think dogs without exercise and stimulation have a lower quality of life than those with it, in the same way that I think humans who sit inside four walls all day every day have a lower quality of life than those who don’t.

can’t component that, not my problem.

I'm not going to worry about whether to call it a crate or a cage. It's a handy way to keep dog, cats and forbidden chewable items separate at times. And ours chooses to sleep in there (well, would probably prefer my bed, but let's call it second choice).

Crate/cage = same thing. A great tool to have in your training arsenal in case it’s ever needed.

Mine is crate trained and has been since he was a pup. He takes himself off to sleep in there in the summer because he gets too hot in bed with us, and at other times of year will occasionally get out of our bed and go to his crate in the night if he wants more space. The door is open at all times, the only time we have ever shut it is when he broke his foot and needed to be on strict rest but because he knows it’s safe, he was fine with it and enjoyed the extra lazy time! He’s got a mountain of pillows and comfy blankets, and the cats can often be found snoozing in there when it’s unoccupied.

Re extending leads and longlines, both can be used and both can be bloody dangerous. I've had minor injuries from both. I've known a dog be injured by another dog's long line.

You can keep dog, cats and forbidden chewable items separate without a cage though.

My dog doesn’t love the rain but he will happily enjoy a walk in it. What he really hates is wind….he’s actually very scared. If it’s very windy, I am not going to put him through the stress. I have worked out some areas that are more protected so less windy but sometimes it’s just too windy out. I am not going to terrify the poor sod just because pious people on the internet think dogs must be walked every single day without fail. 🙄 He has toys and puzzles rotated (I do them with him so he gets the interaction) and I do training sessions with him once a day. He goes to twice weekly agility and training classes. He’s got a good dog life and he’s very settled when left home alone. I don’t think he’s missing out on much by not going to the hairdresser with me or out for brunch! He’s part of our lives and a commitment but the whole world doesn’t revolve around his wellbeing. Everyone matters in our home.

Yes, but it's one way to do it.

Sometimes I've had kittens in a (different) crate to eat in peace while watching the world and the dog go by.

Sometimes I've been tempted to keep the family's footwear in the crate for safety.

@Verv what on earth are you ranting about?

I just asked why you think it's automatically giving a dog a good life to walk it in bad weather as your comment seemed to imply that owners who don't do so are somehow doing a bad job.

There are other ways to exercise and stimulate a dog that don't involve doing out in a arctic storm 🤷‍♀️

YANBU - I often notice there’s hardly anybody around on my dog walks in the pouring rain. A bit of sun however and the countryside around my house becomes Grand Central Station 🤣 Considering the amount of rain vs sun where I am in Wales, I often think of the poor dogs stuck at home.

However to put another perspective across, I have 2 dogs of similar age- 1 who loves a walk and 1 who hates it, particularly in bad weather (small dog who would rather spend all day on a lap having cuddles). You would not believe the amount of other dog walkers who stare or even comment on me often carrying the one who hates to walk (apparently I’m “babying her” - no I’m trying to stop her paws from getting bloodied by me dragging her on the lead, she is that stubborn!). To be honest, it would be easier to leave her at home - so I can appreciate there might be others who have awkward dogs.

No ranting. Just explaining an anodyne post regarding the walking of my dog in response to a twee response feigning ignorance.

I walk my dog even when i cant be arsed because its cold. Big whoop, lets all have a discussion about it becuase it doesnt suit you, for whatever reason.

Again, because you appear to be somewhat less than, just because i cant be arsed doing something because its cold and wet, doesnt mean that its an "arctic storm" that my dog isnt going to enjoy.
I'll let him be the judge and not you, yeah?

My dogs hate the rain so shush 🤫 as do many other dogs! Or shall we all force them out the door to keep you specifically pleased?

your post is patronising and generalising

Your claims just aren’t relevant to all dogs!

@Verv you're the one who was going on about taking dogs out when it's baltic and tipping it down.

Anyway, I've clearly touched some kind of nerve here so I won't bother trying to explain my point further 🙈

@coffeesaveslives People who deliberately misconstrue something i've said in order to suit themselves get on my nerves, so no, you havent touched one, youve got on one.

Let me highlight the salient points of my OP which appears to have concerned you.
I'll bold them to make them clear.

"I really cant be arsed to walk mine when its baltic and tipping down but you put your coat on and do it because he loves it, and his life deserves to be a happy and fulfilled one.

Hardly contentious yet here we all are.

Well, it wasn't done deliberately, but ok.

My dog (dogs when my lovely old girl was still here) always gets walked in all weathers. I actually love this super shitty weather as it means we can walk freely. I often find there are many fair weather dog owners often who have dogs with poor recall.

Never see another dog walker when I'm out in the rain. What do people think rain will do to them?

Mind you, out of 6 dogs in the street, only one ever gets walked. Next door's dog has never left the house (it howls alllll day).

There are many of my dog walk routes that you literally had the queue on during lockdown, that are now deserted. Where. Are. You. All.

I had a rescue dog, a rescue staff to be more precise who absolutely hated the rain. He'd refuse to move passed the hall way.
At first I thought it was due to trauma of being a stray but many staffy owners told me the same.
He did love the snow & high winds though. Just hated being wet.

Today has been a mix of wet, windy and both..mine loves the wind but it makes her more nuts than usual, rain she doesn't like..total Diva, lots of dramatic shaking..🤣 plus side was fewer other dogs out to wind her up further. The cold last week...loved it...in her element..mix of breeds made for cold environments.

hit submit too soon....

I do know 3 dogs that get walked every few weeks and their owner wonders why they are difficult to walk..

Ours love a cafe (after a long walk though), because they know a cafe means a sausage each!

YANBU. One of the many reasons I don't have dog is because with a very buggered ankle (I am a total fall risk), a propensity for weather induced pressure headaches and a full on office job, I know I'm unsuitable. It wouldn't be fair on the dog. The pressure headaches can be quite nasty and long lasting.

I was in a cafe today where there was a lovely elderly husky. Owner said she was 12. Bless her, when she walked about the place (the dog, not the owner!), she was so stiff, but was happy to say hello to people.
Seeing a friendly dog in a cafe cheers me up so much.
The cafe is in the middle of a park, and since they allowed dogs, have seen trade shoot up.

Went with a friend today to a lovely village cafe, it was dog friendly and my friend has visited so many times with her dog. We arrived today to be told dogs are no longer welcome because of a few incidents but the main one being a man last week that allowed his dog to walk on the tables ! and was rude and abusive to the staff when they asked him to get the dog off the table. Too many dog owners should never be allowed to own a dog.