Walking a dog.

greatnan I would take her if she is wanting to go but just dry her down when you get home, we have heavy rain here today so I am enjoying a quiet cup of tea after the usual manic Monday morning the quiet is joy to my ears enjoy your house sitting.

Dogs live for walking! So don't deny her regardless of the weather. Take your decision from the dog - our last dog walked until the day before he died, even though he was doing nothing more than being lifted from the car and sniffing around a group of 4 trees beside the car. Saying that of course he was small enough to be lifted - difficult if you have a big dog.

20 minutes! We are lucky to get our 12 year old Westie to stay out for 5 minutes in rainy weather! It hardly seems worth putting on the jacket and boots, but cant believe he would settle down for his usual 3 hour nap until lunchtime, without stretching his legs.

I can't lift her, she is quite a big dog. I have dried her and she has settled down happily for a nap. She is a lovely, affectionate animal and I am happy to indulge her for as long as she wants to walk.
The cat sleeps on my bed during the day, but stalks off with her nose in the air when I go to bed!
I think not being able to have a pet is the only downside of my peripatetic life!

Sounds like you've got the balance right Greatnan. She's getting enough with 20 minutes at her age, and she can tell you when she's ready to go home. My dog was 3 yesterday. She stands at the back door looking at the rain then turns back to go inside - such a wuss! She'll stay out for ages in fine weather and snow, will splash through puddles, but doesn't like rain falling on her head

I used to take Gatsby to the lake and she loved a swim, but her 'mum' says she couldn't manage it any more. She is just like any other old lady - gradually cutting down on what she can do.

I looked after my brother-in-laws dog for him when he was away on holiday (I haven't had a dog since I was 7). He is a little Westie (the dog not my brother in law!). I had no idea how strong willed these little dogs can be! I live surrounded by fields and thought it would be easy to take him across the fields twice a day, but he was having none of it. He is a city dog and just refused to walk across the fields so I had to lift him into the car, drive to the nearest town and walk him in the park (which he absolutely loved!). Having to do that twice a day certainly cut into my routine.

Well honestly! there was me wittering on about how dogs loved to walk and this morning for the first time in his 3 year life Duncan refused to budge outside the door. It is beginning to brighten up now so perhaps he will indicate that a walk is now in order.

My Maximum Dog used to look out the back door and, if it were raining, stare reproachfully at me as if I had turned it on. He would proceed out the door and pussyfoot, in spite of being a dog, around the back garden. However, if you put his lead on and went out the front door, he bounced off happily in snow, sleet, hail, rain and gale force winds.

My dogs don't like wearing their jackets and boots either lancashirelass

Our Miniature Schnauzer (aged 13.5) won't go for walks at all now. He will hardly go out of the back door but when we do get him outside, he lets us know he is ready to come back in by putting his head through the cat flap and looking very sorry for himself!

We thought he was going to have to take his final trip to the vet's on Friday and told all the children so they could come and say goodbye. Those within striking distance came on Thursday (bit like holding a premature viewing of the deceased). Friday morning came and he was bouncing round like a spring chicken.

Whippets do not go out in the rain. She's wrapped in several duvets in her crate at the moment and the only time I'll see her is if something tasty is taken out of the fridge.

Nanadogsbody - Freudian slip, I've often wondered if I could make boots for him, perhaps from a Marigold glove's fingers.

Sun has just come out in this bit of Switzerland, so we are off on however long a walk Gatsby can manage!

kitty I know three miniature Schnauzers, brothers and sister, and they have everyone in stitches. They have a dog flap and often get stuck when two try to get through at the same time. They sleep in one large basket, intertwined.

when they are brilliant dogs for a family as are bassets!