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Original poster

Small Dog...do you HAVE to take it for walks?

29 replies

namechangedforidentityreasons · 02/09/2005 11:34

I know someone whos got a dog and never takes it for walks. Feel sorry for it. Is it just me or is it a bit mean?

OP posts:
flashingnose · 02/09/2005 11:36

I can't believe you've changed your name for this . But fwiw, yes, I think it's mean.

Enid · 02/09/2005 11:41

mean and weird

jayzmummy · 02/09/2005 11:43

We have a small dog. He is very active and is outside most of the day running around in the garden. When we get his lead out ready to take him for a walk he runs and buries himself in his bed!!!
When we walk him over the fields we can not take him off his lead because he runs straight back home!
He gets taken in the car to the beach three times a week and has a good run then but we dont take him out for daily walk because he doesnt like it...so am I mean????

pabla · 02/09/2005 11:44

I think it probably depends on the size of your garden and location. When I was a child I often had small dogs which didn't get walked every day (though did get walked from time to time.) We lived in a house with a big garden backing onto fields and the dog was outside running around all day so got plenty of exercise anyway.

flashingnose · 02/09/2005 11:44

But this dog never gets taken out.

flashingnose · 02/09/2005 11:45

How small is small? Are we talking handbag size or bigger? And how big's their garden?

jayzmummy · 02/09/2005 11:45

Ive got a friend who never walks her dog....I offer but she says the dog doesnt need walking because it gets enough excercise in the garden....does this dog ever go out??

Original poster
namechangedforidentityreasons · 02/09/2005 11:46

Small not grassed Garden, no walks at all. Not even on a Sunday Afternoon once a week.
JM, not cruel at all.

OP posts:
Enid · 02/09/2005 11:48

mean and weird and lazy

harpsichordcarrier · 02/09/2005 11:51

bs. go and spring it, ncfir... If they can't take it out then they should get someone to walk it for them.

jayzmummy · 02/09/2005 11:51

Ummmm then yes I would say its mean unless the dog has some sort of medical reason that is preventing it from walking a distance.
Small dogs are more prone to heart and breathing problems.
My sis has a little jack russell and whilst he can happily run around in the garden she can not take him on a long walk because he has breathing problems.

serah · 02/09/2005 11:58

I phoned the RSPCA once as I knew of a great dane cross who was kept in a small terrace yard - barely had room to turn round. I felt sorry for the animal as it was barking from boredom all day.

In terms of the law you don't have to walk a dog.

Seems strange to me, as one of the pleasures in having a dog is walking it.

lol at Jayzmummys dog though!

Original poster
namechangedforidentityreasons · 02/09/2005 16:19

The novelty wore off after the first few days
However, at least once a day I am suggesting an activity that would mean taking the dog out.
Nahhhh...

OP posts:
serah · 02/09/2005 17:28

eh???

is it your dog namechanged??????

I am confused... [bamboozled emoticon]

jayzmummy · 02/09/2005 17:33

Im Confuzzled too!!!

Is it YOUR dog that is being deprived of his daily walkies?

kama · 02/09/2005 17:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

nonotmine · 02/09/2005 17:52

Sorry for confusion, no not my dog, I am suggesting to the persons whos it is in a helpful Take the Bloody Dog out way

Easy · 02/09/2005 18:08

We have a small dog (Cavalier Spaniel), and we take her out with us if we go somewhere suitable at weekends and stuff, but don't make a point of taking her for a walk every day.

She's perfectly happy and healthy, so I don't think it's particularly mean, provided you have a suitable garden (ours isn't huge). We also spend some time playing her every day

Mind you I wouldn't have a lab or such and treat it the same way.

Easy · 02/09/2005 18:09

Doh, Playing WITH her.

sparklymieow · 02/09/2005 18:21

I have a Jack russell and we don't take him out, because he has the run of the 40 foot garden, he wears himself out running up and down, give him a ball and he nearly kills himself

serah · 02/09/2005 18:32

Aaah, I see Nonotmine...

Can you just suggest they find it a better home if "the novelty wore off"?

Makes me soooooo cross!!!

suedonim · 02/09/2005 21:09

We have a Cavalier, too, and don't often take her out now. She's 11yo and just plods along when we walk her, she prefers the garden. And she refuses point-blank to go out when it rains, lol!!!

nooka · 02/09/2005 22:28

I think that all dogs should be walked regularly, and for me that means a couple of times a day. I do know of dogs that have got used to never going out, but most dogs enjoy meeting other dogs, and smelling and peeing on their pees (think all the dogs I've ever walked have been male!). Agree that some dogs are not very confident going out, and some dogs have conditions that make them less keen on going out - but surely being fit is important, I mean I know I don't really like exercise all the time, and would prefer to veg out in front of the TV, but I also know that exercise does make me feel better. Doesn't the same probably apply to dogs? We don't have a dog because we are not home all day, and we can't make that sort of committment. Having said that it's obviously dependent on the dog's nature, and our family dogs generally could do the mad play sessions, and then still want to go for a long walk in the park (and then mad play at home again!). Hmm this makes me realise I would really like a dog (sorry cats!)

JoolsToo · 02/09/2005 22:33

back to OP's question

Idle is what I'd call it

Easy · 02/09/2005 22:57

Suedonim,

Ours won't go out ehen it rains either. I had a long discussion with her the other day, after she had refused to go out first thing in the morning, then peed on the hall carpet !!!

Definately easier to deal with than a toddler tho'