Walks - how long and how often?

[walkingthewalk]

How long and how often should a large sized dog have?

We are thinking about getting a huskie, lab or german shepherd but I'm not sure we will be able to offer the walks they would need.

What would happen if they didn't get walked a couple of times per week? Would that be a no no?

As in, none of his parents, grandparents etc. were worked, they were all domestic pets.

There's honestly a huge difference between him and my friends' ex-hunting beagle in terms of their physical needs - in terms of build, energy levels and ability to recall.

I'm also a big believer in not over-walking your dogs. If you walk your dog for several hours everyday, all you're going to end up with is a dog who needs several hours of exercise everyday. It just makes them fitter, it won't tire them out.

I wouldn't equate 2x hour long walks as "being walked for hours", though. Two decent walks a day is just basic dog ownership to me.

Actually, where most people trip up with working breeds is assuming just walking is going to provide the stimulation they need. Trying to tire a working dog through walks alone just results in a very fit dog as @safetylastday says

I fail at basic dog ownership if two decent walks a day is the judge of that. But I have a happy, healthy, contented dog who competes in working tests and I'm happy with what we do.

Slightly off topic for the OP, as it sounds like she doesn't have the time to devote to either walking or enrichment activities but think it's important for people to know that often dogs have greater needs than just being walked.

To add - yes, a beagle is a working dog - but so are loads of other needs. The vast, vast majority of them are not worked and neither were their parents or grandparents- they're pets now.

So while I do need to fulfill his need to sniff, he really doesn't need hours and hours of exercise to be happy. His behaviour, sleep etc. is no different whether he's been out for one hour or five, which shows me really doesn't need the five!

I know, I added that in my next posts

Not off topic at all as it add to the wider context that dog ownership is much much more than feeding and walking your dog.

To be honest I'm actually put off ownership completely now. I think I wasn't 100% sold on it anyway but this thread has helped to solidify that.

I’d echo what all other posters have said.

We have a husky mix and fully expected to be walking him for hours a day. However, he absolutely hates going for a walk and will often point blank refuse. It’s a challenge, and often results in a quick walk around the block until he refuses to go any further and instead pulls us /loudly protests to go home.

We spend most of our time in the forest and even then, he will want to go home after a short period of time. We’ve spent hours with trainers / classes / calming drops but have accepted it’s who he is. He’s a right character and loves nothing more than a car ride taking in the views 🤣. We meet up with other husky owners and he is definitely on his own with despising walks.

When we got our male black lab I couldn't believe how much physical and mental activity he needed. I assumed 2 x 45 min walks would be ok based on the (old, female) lab I'd had as a child, but our male pup was in a different league.

He had 1 x 1 hour at 7am, dog walker came at 10am and took him out for 3 hours with other dogs (combination of walking and playing together in a field she hired for the purpose) and then we'd do 45mins when we got in from work at 5pm. In between walks we would leave him frozen kongs to keep him busy and stop him chewing the carpet. At the weekends we'd do 3 hour walks, with lots of fetching and finding games. He was desperate to work all the time.

Before you get a dog think about what it was bred to do and decide whether you have time to devote hours every day to giving the dog the opportunity to do that thing because otherwise the dog will be miserable and by extension so will you be.

I think I wasn't 100% sold on it anyway

In that case it’s the right decision not to proceed. Even our couch potato, who I love dearly as I’m her favourite 😉 and who can be left alone for a decent stretch of time, is an unbelievably big commitment.

If you have time to spare to dedicate to a dog without the commitment of ownership, many kennel based rescues are in need of walkers due to the huge number of dogs in their care.

@walkingthewalk I'd recommend that you take a look at borrowmydoggy if you fancy occasional dog walks and care.

Rookiedog has a variety of people who take him out occasionally ( we have a dog walker for daily walks so it's optional extras) and it's great for us - dog owning can be very groundhog dayish - and good for them as they get they health benefits of walking and companionship without the costs or commitment.

Young Lab owner. At least once a day for 40 mins with a good 20 mins off lead running. Often another shorter lead walk at some some point, but he's fine without.

I have a husky, she doesn't get walked every day per se but we have a huge garden and someone is home all the time. She wants attention more than anything so aslong as she gets cuddles she's happy. She usually gets 30mins to 1 hour once a day and that keeps her happy. But for example the last week she hasn't been walked at all as the temp has been so hot here even in the evenings and she's been quite content. It does however completely depends on the dogs temperament, I think she is quite odd for a husky as in she's very relaxed and chilled out and a complete lazy home dog. I know other huskies that are high maintenance and need stimulation all the time.

I had a German Shepard before my husky and she was harder work, needed to be walked and socialised, she became quite possessive of me when I got pregnant and barked a lot whereas my husky is the least possessive thing, doesn't bark and is scared of most things to be honest (as I said she is an oddball)

I think missing the odd walk is okay but if it was constant it would effect the dog socially, mentally and physically do if you can't offer 30-1hr a day I would rethink having a dog. I would also look into breeds as like I said depends on the temperament not just of the breed but the individual dog, age etc also a factor.

Oh also husky's do not generally go off lead, they can have perfect recall but get distracted so easily. So people saying they need massive off lead runs aren't right there. Obv there are some exceptions but it's recommended they aren't.

Golden here, has at least 2 hours a day split between 2-3 walks. It’s a huge commitment OP, training a puppy is a full time job almost for a number of months and they can’t be left alone for a minute or they’ll be pooing/chewing/eating something they shouldn’t.

@walkingthewalk - my greyhound needs 2 x 30 min walks a day (on lead) and I choose to take her longer walks at the weekend but these aren't necessary. She sleeps around 20 hours a day on her various beds about the house. She's like a giant house cat and quite un dog like.