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 miniature daushund hates the rain. But I take her out every evening for a walk

I've never had a dog but happy to interact. MrCat has doggy friends (no pun intended) and one couple were brilliant owners of five Collies and nice enough to host us for a long weekend. They were also dog trainers / walkers and obviously took their own dogs out for long treks plus activities. One of their dogs took to me and they had to drag the poor dog away from me. I may have been a bit smug at their amazement he didn't want to join in with the Pack fun but secretly knew he'd rather be resting on my feet in front of their real fire instead of out in the freezing cold weather! Lovely dog.

Mine hates the rain. I take him out twice a day regardless of the weather but when it’s bad I spend longer putting all my waterproofs on than we spend walking because he’s a git and drags me back inside! Sometimes in bad weather I go without him, I like a walk!

It might be the case that people are catching the daylight hours and doing one longer walk?

First time dog owner, live alone with a six month old poodle spaniel cross. She has only ever known spring and summer!

I walk her twice a day for about 30-45 mins each time. It's 90% off lead on bridal paths etc. I can see us dropping to one longer one during the darker months - wanting to catch the daylight is tricky. No street lighting where I live...it's rural.

Dog threads are always bonkers though! Whatever you do someone will tell you you're wrong. I make sure at some point daily I leave the puppy alone for a bit so she knows it's normal and doesn't freak. Apparently that's awful and I shouldn't leave her every day. On the other hand I also take puppy with me everywhere she's welcome so that she is well socialized in diverse environments but apparently that's over stimulating her!

Good grief...just go with your gut.

Walks here are non negotiable in all weathers. I hate walking in the rain and our dog hates walking in the rain but we walk twice a day no matter what. Only thunder and lightning will stop us. I'd much rather not walk in winter at all but it was a commitment we made when we got the dog.

Even getting mine out into the garden in the rain requires a lead and physically picking her up. I'd happily take her for a walk in the rain but I had several shots from the doorbell camera of me halfway down the drive attached to a lead with dog lying at the doorway.

We got caught in the rain a few years ago and she climbed into a bush. I was stood there for ages trying to get her out.

I always swore I'd never be a fair weather dog walker but apparently my dog disagrees. We do go out in damp/drizzle/cold/wind though - and I agree I always see less people in that kind of weather. It was worse when we lived in London, we'd never see dogs for days until the sun came out.

My next door neighbours have two dogs, one large and one small. They did have third and fourth large ones, but I think one was sold and the other died.

In four years, I have never seen any of those dogs leave the house. They only ever go in the small garden to bark or shit.

The neighbours are absolute arseholes in this respect (and many others). They have multiple animals and kids, and do fuck all with any of them. What is wrong with people like this?

YANBU and it's why despite DH and DD2 waning a dog we don't have one. I'm a SAHM and I refuse to be responsible for walking a dog at least twice a day (and it would be me despite DH saying he'd do it).
I had a dog growing up and until the last week of his life he got walked twice a day. Obviously the walks got shorter and shorter as he got older but still twice a day every day.

My dog absolutely refuses to budge outside the front door if it's tipping it down so yesterday I watched the weather like a hawk all day and gave him 3 short blasts round the block when I could. If I didn't he'd behave like a bellend all day barking at me wanting to play.

I'm lucky in that I WFH 3 days a week though, when I'm not here DH walks him in all weathers if he can budge him out of the door

Absolutely nailed it!!

Agree. And it's absolutely essential to teach a dog to be on its own.

My second-hand dog came to us with separation anxiety and we've spent years teaching her to spend time on her tod. She still howls sometimes though, and we can't predict it so I'm not sure what the difference is each time!

Even getting my dog a dog didn't help 😂

My mate has a 1yo dog who has never been left alone in the house, not even for a minute while she gets something out her car. She's only just realising what a rod she's made for her own back.... He's already a totally mental spaniel who is built like a brick shit house and jumps up on absolutely everyone all the time... Not for the want of trying though - she's been at puppy training classes twice a week since he was old enough to go (post jabs etc) but he's still very very hard work at the moment and she can't even pop to get a pint of milk without him.

People can be as smug or heroic as they like and walk their dogs in the rain...
I had a Parsons Terrier and he would not walk in the rain or when it's to windy. On the lead you had to be dragged and off the lead he'd turn round and sit shivering by the car until I had finished walking his mate.

😄

I think one walk a day’s fine whatever the weather if you have a garden. Ours are exhausted after an hour running about off lead and would give us a “Really?” look if we attempted to take them out again.

Totally agree OP.

And also those people who just stand in one spot and just let their dog go off and please itself - if you don’t know what your dog is doing at any given moment it’s not under control, and could be endangering itself, never mind others.

The clue is in the name - walk your dog, not let the dog walk.

I don't stand in one spot but exercising my greyhound off lead at least used to kind of mean not being with her at all times as I can't run at 40mph round the park. That said I did it when it was quiet and she wasn't going to be bothering anyone else. Also she is fine to be walked off lead on most rural footpaths, unless of course I see other dogs on a lead or loose livestock. At times she dawdles behind, giving things a good sniff and I have to go back and put her on the lead.

Or the ones on extending leads, where the dog goes around the corner 5 metres ahead of the owner 😡

As long as the dog’s always in sight and has excellent recall it’s fine. I don’t do this but mine would be fine if I did. I was so impressed, I saw a woman on the South Bank in London the other day with two impeccably behaved dogs off lead.

What? 😂

Cats are literally allowed to roam anywhere they want when owners don't have space for them, including other people's property where they do damage!
At least dog owners tend to accompanying their pets when exercising them!

It’s not in sight with the people I’m thinking of because in some cases these people are standing looking the other way

This! It's so annoying listening to dogs bark in the garden all day but it's not their fault they're bored and don't get walked. My mums dog is old and my mums in poor health yet she walks him everyday!

The thin extending leads can be quite dangerous, they cannot be seen easily for one thing.

I walked into the road and into the opposite carriageway to get away from a woman with two rat dogs in extendable leads because my very large mutt is reactive. What did she do? Let them run at me!! So across the pavement, the wide verge and TWO FUCKING LANES OF THE ROAD!!

I know my reactive dog is my problem, but FFS, help a woman out!

Still the only time I've bellowed at a dog walker when their dogs were on leads. Usually I yell at the "he's friendly" twats, as my dog is absolutely not bloody friendly when being snapped at by your badly trained "overly friendly" aka "I don't see it as a snap, he's just saying hello, it's what dogs do" dog...

They are dangerous for both people and animals. My elderly Neighbour ended up in hospital with a broken wrist because a stupid woman with 2 pint sized mutts had them both on fully extended leads on the esplanade. A few years ago when i was on holiday a man on a mobility scooter going at full pelt got a extendable lead caught in one of his back wheels, the poor dog was really badly hurt.