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 gets walked at least twice a day or has his gun dog classes. As someone said upthread, I like walking him in the grotty weather as the fair weather dog walkers don’t go out.

I prefer taking mine out in the rain, they'll go out whatever, though the older one now gets fed up quicker if it's awful and the younger one with her ridiculous ears gets fed up of them slapping her in the face in high winds.

I have found that the fair weather dog walkers are usually also the ones with poor control, poor understanding of their own dogs body language and their dogs are generally poorly socialised so they don't take my dog's leave me alone cues, which leads to problems. Horrible weather and there tends to be less of these about so it works for me, makes for a more enjoyable walk for all of us not having to mitigate against other people's lack of control.

I don't think dogs should be forced out if they don't want to though. An old dog of mine had dementia, her world became smaller and smaller as is progressed because she was scared, so I walked her less and less until it was apparent she was only comfortable at home and in the garden. Forcing her to walk because she was still physically able would have distressed her and that wasn't necessary.

A lot of the dogs near me are walked religiously, no matter the weather, at times it's too hot which I think is more of a danger than missing a walk.

Some I see are over stimulated, my friends dog is manic, it gets 4-5 hours a day, had zero training and is an intelligent breed, she's upped and upped the exercise and so she's now got a very fit, manic dog. It's brain work that dog needs, not endless exercise, as well as interaction, training and teaching to settle. It is on the go constantly, it never gets to rest, because it doesn't know how to. Dogs need around 15-18 hours rest a day, it's as important as regular exercise, I think people forget that and make the situation worse with high energy dogs. The quality of exercise, the interaction and working the brain as well as the body and regular rest all help keep a dog happy.

My dog hates being left at home and loves going out to meet people. Literally loves it. He finds it stressful to be left at home alone.

If you notice his walks are quite short to break up his day and yes i could do the same boring walks each day but I can assure you he is so much more excited and engaged, sniffing furiously when we go to places he hasn't been for a while.

You're right. These things are not all 'essential' but I aim to give the wee chap a good and interesting life

Very interesting how I am being shot down for looking after my dog too well. (is there such thing?)

I have a friend who has never walked her dogs - latest is a cavapoo that she bought from a dodgy person in east London flat for £2000. She takes the dog to be groomed for the FB pics but the dog never ever gets taken out.
Doesn't stop barking and looks out of the window all day - v sad.

Yes, I have a well looked after dog. She gets walks, good quality dog food, games when she wants to play etc she is currently snuggled up against me and snoozing happily.

Walks during the week are in the same park. Between our visits there are other dogs so.plenty of new smells, let alone foxes leaving their marks and squirrels to chase. Then there are other dogs at the same time, to.play with or glare at, depending on the dog and her mood. At weekends we usually go somewhere more rural for a longer walk, which she enjoys, but it depends on the weather and other family commitments.

She has excellent health on a standard dog food, so no need to cook her a special diet.

She doesn't need a groomers, I brush her regularly (and to her annoyance wash her when she rolls in something smelly).

She has an annual check up/ vaccinations at the vet, with other visits if there is something of concern.

She fits comfortably into.our lives, of course some things (an hour or so walking before work as long as it isn't tipping down) have changed to accommodate her needs.

But she certainly doesn't need my entire life to be turned upside down, and is quite happy and healthy. Just part of the family.

You're not being shot down for what you do - you're being shot down for acting as though anyone who doesn't do those things is an awful dog owner.

Personally, I find it interesting that while you criticise people for not doing all these things with their dogs, many people would also criticise you for not working on your dogs' distress and anxiety when left alone.

My elderly dog would happily snooze all day when it's dark and raining but I need my walk so he comes with me. He seems to enjoy it once he's outside.

Yes, DDog much prefers to come with us if we are out and about. But can be left at home if it isn't a dog friendly situation without distress.

She is fairly happy in most situations, unless there is thunder or fireworks.

Relaxed on public transport or in the car.

ADORES camping with all the new sounds and smells, then sleeps for 24 hours when we get home 😂

Son’s Whippet would hide in DS’s bed if it was rainy.
My Lurcher would be waiting, coat and collar on, and I’d call , and a resounding silence from
Whippet.
I’d slowly pull back blankets and uncover a tightly balled up Whippet.
I’d sometimes leave him behind if weather was really atrocious.

Blizzard coats are very good , but their undercarriage still gets wet .

DDog hates coats. She stands with all four legs planted apart, head hanging, refusing to move.

She also hates rain when it gets to the point it reaches her skin (having a bath is her idea of cruel and in-dog-ish torture).

Release from coats or infliction of water results in zoomies and ecstatic wriggling on her back.on the carpet (or on a bed if we forget to close the bedroom doors...)

One of mine is a street dog and totally does not understand the concept of going out for a walk. She'll plod along behind you looking a bit bemused but doesn't go off for a sniff or run around. She doesn't chase balls etc. It was really hard when we were recall training cos she was never more than 3 cm from my foot 😂.

Her outlets are lounging in comfort, being warm, being close to me and watching the world go by out the windows.

She will hold her wee for 12 hours if it is raining. She'll check front, side and back doors but will not be persuaded out if it is raining outside all of them. She won't walk through puddles or mud.

She is not high energy. She is not a working dog who needs a job. She's clever and very very tuned into humans but walking aimlessly is not for her. She will solve a puzzle toy in seconds flat but then won't muster up the impetus to bother doing it again. At training classes she'd do the exercise or trick perfectly first time then lie down and snooze and have to be persuaded up to do the next one.

Not all dogs are equal. Mine is more person than dog and thinks most dog stuff is a bit silly and pointless.

100% agree with you about over-stimulation @HospitalitySux.

I see so many people dragging stressed, miserable dogs to the shop or to pub gardens and I just think it's actually lazy dog ownership. It's easier to take them with you than it is to train them to settle and be content by themselves.

Very often true.

Though DDog loves a pub garden. To say she is 'food motivated' is a huge understatement. And pub gardens are the ultimate scavenging opportunity, if only I let her...

She would abandon me in a heart beat for half a chip 😂

Mine loves it too, definitely up there on his list of "best days ever"

But I see a lot of dogs in pubs cowering under tables, or who are barking, or who are clearly really stressed and I can't help but judge the owners who are forcing them into that situation.

As with the initial question, it depends on the dog! For DDog it's a 'no' to getting wet, a 'yes' to any food opportunities!

100%, ours is the same! Loves a pub - in fact, if we walk past one and don't go in, he gets very offended

I love a walk in the rain. My dachsund however doesn't. If I put his coat on he won't leave the sofa.
If I get him out the door he lays flat on the floor.
If we're caught out when it rains he looks thoroughly miserable and makes the most of it to dh when we get back.
Dry days he does two lovely walks covering about 5 miles on his little legs.

Some dogs, like people, hate rain.

If you could just impart this knowledge to one of my girls I would be grateful. One dog goes out in any weather, other girl will not walk if it’s raining and it is no fun dragging a reluctant dog round the woods, she now stays at home.

Each dog is their own unique personality so judge away if you must.

Honestly I don’t get it either. I know so many people who don’t walk their dogs and I think if I let DH away with it, he might not bother half the time, it’s cruel not to walk them for at least an hour a day.

I would gladly walk ours, but she's a bit of a princess and doesn't like teeming down rain (she's okay with a bit of a drizzle). She plants her back legs down and refuses to move.

Even letting her out for a wee in heavy rain, she'll give me a look like "are you having a f'ing laugh" (and then run out for the quickest of quick squats).

I've got a toy breed dog as big as a shoe and if you take her outside in bad weather she acts like you're trying to abduct her from her home.

She also asks to go outside and if the weather is bad then looks at you as if it's your fault that it's raining and you're doing it entirely to inconvenience her.

I wouldn’t get a dog because i know I’m not up for the walking.
Our main dog growing up used to go out 4 times a day, 3 short and 1 long walk. Plus playing in the garden. Everyone took their turn doing this and he was a happy settled dog, he loved the rain and the snow (unfortunately).
I do know people with dogs who won’t go out in the rain.

I love the rain and really like walking in the rain. My dog absolutely hates it so I tend to try to take her out in between downpours.

Tbh the OP reads a bit like an enthusiastic marathon runner saying everyone should run marathons.

Yes, we all benefit from a degree of physical exercise, but that doesn't mean everyone who doesn't run marathons is an unhealthy failure

I had a rottie who would run back to the car as soon as she was off the lead. You had to walk her to the far end of the walk you were doing, (playing fields so good line of sight) let her off, and partner let her in to the car when she got back there. It was quite comical and at least she got a bit of a run in. Edited to say, she was kept on the lead if any other dogs were around.