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?

My dog refuses to go out in the rain

Some mornings or evenings are pretty grim especially like this morning when my coat was still wet from yesterday but i'd rather be out getting wet with my dogs than not with them.
At least you're honest 🙂

Do you know they're not out? I walk my dog elsewhere in heavy rain as it's more suitable

I love it too when no one else is around but really feel for all the poor dogs shut in when their owners are working and have not even had a walk to let off steam.

We have work, tv, books etc... to amuse and occupy us, dogs are so reliant on us for any type of freedom that to deny them it seems so unreasonable 😞

I was thinking the same, the PP who constantly thinks about not seeing her neighbours on a dog walk... Maybe they have a dog walker, maybe the dog goes to doggy daycare, maybe the owners drive the dogs to a different field..?

I do agree with you in general.

The only weather I absolutely didn't walk my old labrador in was ice and snow, when the footpaths were packed down into skating rinks. I just couldn't as I couldn't hang onto him and walk upright without landing hard on my arse. That sort of weather didn't happen very often though. Fortunately.

Rain didn't and doesn't bother me too much, and mostly it didn't bother Mr. Labrador either. If it got particularly heavy and prolonged though he would start to look miserable. If it sent the rivers, fields and roads into flood then he didn't like that and was always suspicious of them. For a breed bred for working on water, he was such a wuss around it.

I know of lots of dogs who simply refuse to walk in bad weather. Sadly mine is not one of them. The more horrific the weather the happier she is. It's quite telling that on the truly awful days the only other dogs I meet in the woods for the most part tend to be gundogs.

What about the people who don't walk their dogs ever?
I live in a cul de sac and out approximately 35 houses I would say that 75% of houses have dogs that never get walked. If I bump into a neighbour on my way to a dog walk they seem surprised that I walk my dog every day!

You seem to be deliberately ignoring all the posters who say their dogs hate the rain, or that they do other things with them when it's really torrential.

Not all dogs need loads of exercise, and not all dogs need to go outside every single day in order to be happy, content and well looked after.

Yes I lived next to someone for 5 years and never once did she walk her two dogs. The owner was a slovenly, sloth-like thing.

I'm surprised your grey will go out in bad weather, our lurcher refuses!

I find that really hard to believe. Even if it was true that the majority never walk their dog, why would they be surprised someone else does?

Holier than thou dog owners are so cringey, "my dog needs atleast two hours off lead a day!!", it seems to be bored women of a certain age who put their entire being into owning a dog and like to make sure everyone knows if you don't put your all into an animal every day regardless of weather that you're doing something wrong. If it's raining and you don't feel like going out then don't do it, if you're just tired and don't feel like it then don't. It's an animal at the end of the day, it requires give and take and sometimes a dog needs to settle down and get over it. Dogs get enjoyment from watching family life and stealing crumbs and having their ears fondled and stupid games like blowing in their face but so many people now are YOU MUST WALK IT FOR 15 MILES A DAY OR IT'S CRUELTY.

Our mutt doesn't do rain, cold, wind or snow or too early in the day or too late at night. Other than that loves being out on the beach.

My dog hates the rain and has to be coaxed to the garden for a wee on rainy days. He's furious at me if I try to take him for a walk in it!

Our puppy trainer has just advised something very similar. For adolescent dogs in particular, she recommends working on reducing overstimulation and teaching them to settle, not just raising yourself a superfit little athlete who comes in from an hour's walk and does zoomies.

I agree it's easier to go out with a spaniel! Mine just lurves a bit of water, from above or below.

Your trainer is bang on.

It's so important for dogs to learn to settle without exercise and it's something a large majority of people don't seem to bother to teach. It's one of the main reasons we never had a routine for our dog - because I've seen dogs who cry because it's 8.04 and they're used to having their walk at 8, or dogs who bark and pace and whine because their evening walk has been delayed for some reason.

It partly depends on your dog breed, their energy levels, coat type and whether they like walking in the rain. Some dogs hate having soggy paws while others don't mind being wet and muddy up to their armpits. One of our males would not set foot outside the house in heavy rain...sometimes it's the dog that can't be arsed 😆Not all of them need or want two hours of free running every day.

We don't really stick to any rigid rules because all our dogs have had their own preferences. We do varied walks, different routes and just go with the flow. The puppy didn't get walked yesterday, she just mooched around the garden a few times but still ended up saturated and the double coats take forever to dry even after towelling. She generally has two short walks and one longer and yesterday was the first day she's missed so we're really not worried about it.

I'm with you - I don't get it. Surely when you got a dog you knew you would have to walk it?

But I walk my DD to school in all weathers anyway, 15 minutes there and 15 back and then repeat in the afternoon and the dog comes with me on the school run. Even if I couldn't be arsed, I still have to take her to school so doggo never gets a day off!

My dogs practically put their paws against the doorframe when it’s pissing it down. IF we get them out, they refuse to walk 🤷🏼‍♀️

I know, working breeds are designed to do just that for hours a day covering miles and using their hunting skills. 20 minutes on a lead to the local park and back isn't any where near to meeting their needs.
Owners then wonder why their sofa has been chewed or the dog goes beserk when finally let out of a crate!

My dog won't leave the house in bad weather so.. 🤷‍♀️

Dogs shouldn't need walked in public areas at all
If you don't have space on your own property then you don't get one.
It seems to be the only animal we seem to do this with, all other animals we ensure we have space first (room for a pony and all that)

I love walking my dog in the rain. All the "it's ok, he's friendly" folks are at home 🙈

Me and my Whippet have just been out in torrential rain across the Peaks, for so long even my knickers were wet 😂. Being a typical princess dog, she cries for the first half hour, then realises it's happening and we both benefit.

It's not just weather though, there's two families in my street who have never walked their dogs in their lives (obviously I may have missed an odd one but clearly evidenced by the constant barking and howling). Why even get a dog.

I love taking my dog out in the rain but only because it makes me laugh when he tries to shake all the water off himself whilst we're still on a walk. Dude, what's the point? You're going to keep getting wet.
His face when I ask him this just makes me so happy. And then I grumble because it's still bloody raining haha!