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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Feeling guilty about not walking the dog, just need someone to say he's fine please

35 replies

Tufty383 · 27/01/2022 12:31

3 year old terrier spaniel Cross, loves his walks but equally happy chilling at home. I'm not very well at the moment and struggling to take him on his lunch time walk. DH takes him before work at 8 am and then again at 7pm. It just feels like a long day at home for him when we usually have an hour mid day. He's no trouble, happy snoozing with me and having a Potter in the garden but he is bursting with excitement by 7pm. The guilt is horrible though! It's such a lovely day today but I just can't do it. Hopefully this won't be for much longer. He's ok isn't he? Lots of dogs don't get 3 walks a day surely?

OP posts:
Stroppypants · 27/01/2022 12:39

He will be fine.
I do one decent walk a day plus time in the garden and playing inside, sent games etc. I do have a small breed dog but he seems quite content with our routine. Sometimes I split the walk up and do half in the morning and half early evening. Still fine.

NowEvenBetter · 27/01/2022 12:47

He gets two walks a day. What do you feel guilty about?
Spaniel mixes are bursting with energy by default, for life! 😁

Mydogsbetterthanyours · 27/01/2022 13:13

My Cocker gets one walk a day - sometimes that walk is 1 hour, sometimes 2, but more often, 1 hour and never less than 30 mins as absolute minimum. He is absolutely fine! We have periods where he will be super active and on the go for hours (usually during school holidays!) then days where he doesn't do much. He doesn't care as long as he's with us, that's all his little heart wants!!

SunnySideDownBriefly · 27/01/2022 13:20

Of course he's fine! Dogs are very good at making you feel extremely guilty so don't fall for it! He's a very lucky boy to get a minimum of two walks and at least he has your company.

I'm currently struggling with a large breed that has just had an op and isn't allowed any walks for 4 weeks! She is laying it on thick but it's for her own good and it's her own fault which I won't go into now.

trumpisagit · 27/01/2022 13:33

You are keeping him company. That's all he needs if he having morning and evening walks.

SomewhereOnlyIKnow · 27/01/2022 13:35

Could you not even just take him out for a little sniff rather than an actual walk ?
Using their brains tires them out too.

TerrierOrTerror · 27/01/2022 13:38

Don't tell my 17 month old terrier, she'll be asking where the rest of her walks are. We only do one walk a day then training/games although sometimes we don't even do that. Don't beat yourself up about it, focus on getting better.

EricScrantona · 27/01/2022 13:40

Dogs need excitement and attention. They need walks but some people get obsessive with it. My mum takes hers three times a day. This led to a problem when she had her hip replaced and the expectation hadn't yet adjusted. I don't walk my dog every day and he's perfectly fine with it. We keep his brain going in other ways. For example, we are isolating at the minute so he's not been out since Sunday. He is fine! He will be very excited when he is allowed out but he won't die in the mean time, nor is he pushing us to walk him.

LimitIsUp · 27/01/2022 13:50

There will always be justifiable circumstances when they miss the odd walk - like you being ill for instance. One of mine has developed a limp over the last two days and he is unable to go for walks atm - the guilt is killing me, but then it would be crazy to take him

The occasional slip in their routine is fine

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 27/01/2022 13:51

Dp just got out of hospital and I'm getting over covid and resulting bad chest
Ddog usually has 2 walks a day and a garden zoom.
She seems fine with one evening walk and 2 garden zooms just now.
She is quite routine-bound generally. Maybe she knows we aren't up to our usual efforts.

JustMaggie · 27/01/2022 14:07

We have a beagle. She gets about an hour walk every day and a couple of 20 minute plays in the garden. She seems ok with it.

Original poster
Tufty383 · 27/01/2022 16:18

Thankyou everyone. You've made me feel much better, he's just had a play in the garden and a kong. He's being such a good dog, he's not left my side.

Feeling guilty about not walking the dog, just need someone to say he's fine please
OP posts:
Original poster
Tufty383 · 27/01/2022 16:19

He looks depressed in that photo but he's actually nodding off!

OP posts:
pilates · 27/01/2022 16:25

He will be fine. It won’t do him any harm for a couple of days. Some dogs don’t even get what he’s having now.

pilates · 27/01/2022 16:26

Oh and he’s lovely btw ❤️

Abra1d1 · 27/01/2022 16:29

My small terrier only has a walk a day. We play with her in the house or garden as well.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 27/01/2022 16:40

Two walks are day is plenty, please don't feel bad!

My beagle gets one walk a day for the most part - he's fine too Smile

Chuechebache · 27/01/2022 18:27

My 2 young collies get 3 walks a day.I am retired,love walking.keeps me fit.No problems with chewings things to bits at home,separation anxiety,hyper or barking.Dogs know when you are poorly(maybe we smell different when poorly)and adjust.every dog(breed) is different and the length and time of walk a dog needs,varies.Lovely pic of your dog.

Dillydollydingdong · 27/01/2022 18:31

My dog rarely gets a walk because she doesn't like going out. If she sees me pick the collar and lead up, she runs off and hides! If I do manage to persuade her to go out, she always chooses the shortest route home.

fitflopqueen · 27/01/2022 18:39

My spaniel loves her walks and would spend all day out walking/running/jumping up and down hills. We are now in second week of her having a limp and trying to rule out more serious elbow injury, the limp is much improved and she has adapted very well to lounging around - just another week to go avoiding any impact moves ie no going up and down stairs - heffa lump has to be carried. Goes out for a wee several times/day and 5 min walk down the drive every day so sure your dog will be fine.

GrandRapids · 27/01/2022 18:40

God don't worry! I thought you were going to say he doesn't get walked period!

I understand the guilt if its what he's used to though. Mine get two walks most days. When they only get one I feel really bad.

lljkk · 27/01/2022 19:35

i walk dogs for cinnamon trust... one of the dogs I walk (lively cross breed, JRT x Spaniel seems like) only gets 3 walks a week. Not 3 a day... 3 a week -- I take her for 2 miles. You're doing great, OP.

RandomMess · 27/01/2022 19:38

If he were unhappy and bored you'd know about it!!

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 27/01/2022 19:42

Our cocker (now sadly passed) used to get a big morning walk, then just a shorter teatime walk most weekdays. He was in and out of the garden, lots of playing even when he was an old boy, and maybe the occasional 10pm stroll to the petrol station or something. He was absolutely fine. Weekends were bigger country/hill type walks, which he also loved, but mainly he wanted a good snuff and to see if he could find any dropped crisps. Your dog will be grand and is a cutie!