100km sponsored dog walk in October - cop out?

[LabOwner95]

I've seen a sponsored challenge I'd like to do for Guide Dogs. You have to walk 100km with your dog in October, which is equivalent to 50 minutes(ish) per day. Our dog gets more than this a day but that's between me and my husband, so this would be for just me and the dog to do. Honestly, is that a cop out? A lazy challenge? Or would you sponsor a friend doing this? He gets a bandana, if that makes a difference 🤣

I don't think people really care how far the dog walks, this is just a way to make money for charity and get dogs wearing bandanas and both of those sound positive.

I was thinking similar the other day.

Surely a sponsored event is supposed to be a challenge instead of just something that is a daily normality. 50 minutes approximately per day is pretty crap really for a healthy, able dog. Mine do more than that every day and they're elderly.

I agree, times are hard, I’m only sponsoring you if it’s actually a challenge or something I care really deeply about. A healthy dog should be walking more than 3k a day anyway.

When I sponsor someone, it’s pretty much never about the challenge and always about whether I like them and support the charity they are raising funds for so I wouldn’t care if it’s a bit of a cheat.

I don’t think it matters how far it is. Most things that people ask for sponsorship for aren’t particularly challenging, people donate to be supportive of the person and the cause.

I wouldn't do anything that gave GDUK money given the way they treat the dams/bitches they breed from

• Bred before they are fully mature (incredibly unethical for large breeds)
• Bred twice in a year (incredibly dangerous for the dam)
• Bred after they are six years old (incredibly dangerous for the dam)
• More than three litters in a lifetime (incredibly unethical)
• Health test their dogs before they are fully mature (thus skewing results in their favour)

All things even the KC frown on. When the Kennel Club frown on breeding practices...you know it's awful. And yet when Guide Dogs UK do it...we should be pleased? No thanks.

If any regular dog breed did this, we'd call them a puppy farmer and we'd be outraged and rightly so. Link below for anyone who doesn't want to believe me (scroll down to 'code of ethics').

Edit: Yes, GDUK is there for humans not animal welfare. But anyone who can give money to a charity that knowingly endangers animals and supports breeding practices that even the Kennel Club frown on...well, the less I say the better.

https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/about-us/guide-dogs-centres/what-the-national-centre-does/

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks don't GDUK remove puppies from their mum 2 weeks earlier than recommended too?

(Also I guess landsharks = malinois)

I don't care if it's a challenge or not, I would sponsor you if I had a bit to spare.

I’ve heard rumours but nothing actually proven…

Golden Retrievers! 😀 I’m too weak for a Mali!

This is a quote from Douglas Adams about his time climbing Kilimanjaro in a rhino suit which seems appropriate here:

'I stop for a moment to pour some water into and over my face, and catch a glimpse of myself in the window of the Land-Rover. I look unimaginably stupid, and I reflect that there is something very odd about this sponsored walking business. It’s always undertaken for good causes: cancer research, famine relief, wildlife conservation, and so on, but the deal seems to be this: “Okay, you are trying to raise funds for this very worthwhile cause, and I can see that it’s an important and crucial matter and that lives or indeed whole species are at stake and something needs to be done as a matter of urgency, but well ... I don’t know ... Tell you what—do something really pointless and stupid and maybe a bit dangerous, then I’ll give you some money.” '

By which I mean, if you think it's a worthwhile cause by all means support it.