How often do you really walk your dog?

[RedRobyn2021]

We have a small Labrador, a working lab type, she is 5yo and we live rurally. She's walked twice a day off lead about 35-40 minutes in the morning and then an hour in the afternoon (it would be less but I go with my 3yo daughter and it takes longer with her). Lots of ball, sniffing, chasing the occasional hare/deer/pheasant.

Mornings are a rush from the moment the alarm goes off at 6am as my DP has to be out to work for 7:50am. I do find it takes over our afternoons, I feel like I can't take DD to meet friends on afternoons because the dog has to be walked.

When I talk to friends or other people I know the general impression I get is that their dogs are only walked once a day (if they are lucky). Am I just making things harder for myself? I've taken DD out in all weathers (boiling sun, snow, rain, hail), even as a baby, to walk our dog.

I've got three labs who need walking twice a day for an hour each time. They'd go mad if I didn't walk them! I suppose it depends on the size and age of the dog.

honestly

twice a day. One 30, one an hour

sometimes a third at the weekends and i want to force one of the teens out

how old is the dog?

could you get a dog walker for one of the days?

sorry 5 yo

so you’ve been doing this for 5 years?

One has 2x 1 hour walks per day with an extra couple of 15 mins.

The other has around 3x 30 min walks per day with a couple of 15 mins.

The only time they get out less is when it's boiling outside and they have 1 long walk at stupid o'clock at night instead when it's cooler.

Can the dog be walked in the evening by you or DH. If you live rurally do you have a big garden, I was going to suggest an automatic ball launcher, I'm sure she'd be trained on it no bother given her breed.

I walk my dog once a day in the afternoon generally. She is small ( pug x shitzu ) and I have a cat flap in the back door so she is in and out to the garden freely.

We used to do ours 30 minutes morning, 20 minutes evening, come rain or shine, but if DH is away they only get one. They seem fine on it. They’re greyhounds though so don’t need/want much.

At least two walks a day of a miminum an hour each, sometimes he also has a little 15-20 minute sniffy walk at midday.

Most days, for 45 mins to an hour. 2-3 hours at weekends. Probably works out a walk 5-6 days out of 7.

But she’s a dachshund, so small legs and an aversion to rain and can give or take a walk on most days. We can’t go two days without walking her or then she gets a bit cabin fever-y

Well almost, we have had her from 8 weeks and she's just turned 5

Once a day we do a 3 mile walk and sometimes they’ll get an hour off lead in the field too (depending on the weather). At weekends we do bigger walks or go to the beach for a run around.

5 year old border collie here, he’s walked an hour by DH early am, then we both walk him for an hour lunchtime. He then gets a 30 minute walk late afternoon. We are retired, adult DS and I do the lunchtime walk at weekends.

1 x 45-60 mins a day (golden retriever).

An hour and a half a day. Can you do one walk in the evening?

But often at weekends we go out for lengthier walk/day out with her.

twice a day, or occasionally once

Spaniel - 1hr15 in the morning, 1 hour at lunch and then 20 mins after dinner.

I don't like clearing up dog shit from the garden so this suits both of us.

Always once a day, unless under the weather/obviously needing a rest/ridiculously hot. They probably get a second walk about 70% of the time. On days where we do one walk, we'll normally spend time doing scentwork or similar instead of a second walk. I work on spending 2 hours a day on dedicated dog activities, whether that's walking/training etc.

my dd when younger always were involved in taking ddog out, in all weathers

I have a little white floof who gets one walk a day.

If the weather is awful she gets 20 minutes round the block and if it's lovely and I have the time she will happily run about for a long walk off lead for hours.

However my life with two labradors was very much like yours is now. They have a lot of energy to burn.

We have a field near our house and sometimes take her in there after her walk for an extra run around and DD plays with her outside toys.

By the time DD has gone to bed it would be 7:30-8, we could do that. It would be a bit of a change. I don't think it's something we would do in the winter though, it's pitch black here (no street lights) and very muddy in the autumn/winter. Summer it's pretty nice though

What kind of dog do you have?

Our dog is with a dog walker 3 days per week where he gets loads of walks and park play with other dogs, but on the days he is with me all day - I usually walk him once a day for about 1 hour off lead and/or he comes to the yard where my daughter rides and I walk him on lead there for an hour. He has constant access to the garden though and he's only a small pug.

Have a miniature schnauzer.

One long mostly off lead walk with other dogs to play with-usually an hour and a half but can vary slightly and can be up to two with the occasional much longer one that involves a pub.

Sometimes another evening walk but we are home all day and the back door is open so she sits out in the sun (that one day a year) plays a bit with squeaky toys etc so doesn't need another walk but if it is a nice evening we might take her.