How much exercise does your dog get?

MayBee70

Not even 2x 10 minute walks if it’s raining!

Some years ago my husband took our dog for his usual walk, including off-lead, a day of heavy rain.
He came home alone, quite distraught, he'd lost the dog.

Sensible dog had been home for the past half hour! 🐶

Our Aussie shepherd gets 2 or 3 walks a day, about 7 or 8 km total. Her first walk is her 'sniffy' walk, but we're a bit firmer with her for her later walks.

DH does the same route in the mornings, and I pick a different neighbourhood for the afternoon walks.

She's also a ball lover, and we get in endless tosses in the back yard, or down the hallway in the evenings.

Not even 2x 10 minute walks if it’s raining!

Great dog for short walks is a greyhound. Mine is 9 years old and 2 X 10 minute walks a day she's happy. If I meet someone and stand and chat she just lies down. Most of the day is spent asleep.

My little Lhasa Apso is 10 1/2, she hates walking, is a bit of a diva and a definite couch potato, I take her for a short walk every day ( which she hates) she has a sniff around, she then spends most of her time in the garden usually asleep under a chair 😂

We ration ball-throwing as well (joints)He is a spaniel so bred to retreive across a century or two presumably.
I know cockers can become totally fixated on retrieving tennis balls though, so it's rationed to random times. For energetic dogs bred for a long days work, it does seem to help burn off energy. Obedience/ agility classes would be fun except my dog gets his mental stimulation from working out how to do as he's told while pretending to disobey (have a shake,take an indirect route back, have a wee before obeying) so not an ideal fit for us.

It's so nice to hear anyone that is so considerate to their pet. You are doing your very best and that is what counts. I am sure what you are doing is fine .

My lab would never stop. If he ruled walks they would include endless racing after tennis balls and cruciate ligament surgery 😂🐕

Oh yes AuntieE, he could do it for hours!

My lab just loves to retrieve. I need a ball chucker since fracturing my shoulder last year but do 3 at the start of our walk, then sniffing, off lead heel work then scent work. I can hide 3 scent tins anywhere on the shrubbery area and my lab n spaniel will find them. I’m amazed by how strong the urge to work/play this game is. The lab has now learned to sit when he locates unlike the spaniel who does victory laps

Have you tried sitting on a garden bench and throwing a ball for him to chase and bring back to you?

That way he is the only one running around, although admittedly you will tire of the game before he does.

Hear,hear Iam64.
I don't know why so many people have dogs really & I totally get the mindless ballflinging thing\ on the phone thing.
(Sorry a bit Taylor Swifty!)
I relish every second that I'm out with my old dog & he still woofs just before it's time to go. I think he has Dogwatch somewhere! 😊

My 2 dogs are very lazy, I have a big garden, and they are quite happy sniffing around. One of them is unfortunately diabetic and I have to give him insulin twice daily.

Iam64

LaCrepescule

Thank you everyone, so interesting to hear about your lovely dogs. I think he’s getting enough and he has my company nearly all day. He loves his toys (typical ratter, you should see him shaking them) and has great fun with the garden hose.
So plenty of mental stimulation.

It’s the mental stimulation imo that really helps. Yes they need a good sniff on a walk but Thinking is really tiring

Totally agree!
People think dogs need X amount of exercise - because that's what people think and keeps them happy!
Of course they need enough to stay healthy but it's thinking that really makes them tired!
How often do you see people walking dogs, phone in hand, pulling them if they stop to sniff? That's not a good walk.
Do what you can. Let him mooch about with you while you potter - if you have a garden etc.
He is slowly getting past the crazy puppy / young dog stage.
He will be fine. Relax about it.
Do what you can; make him games up, train him tricks - it really doesn't matter what. He wants your attention most of all.

Is there a 'secure field' near you? They are getting very popular. That can also help - maybe go with a friend and their dog?

Just don't resort to those wretched ball flingers! Yes your dog gets a lot of (mindless) exercise if you use them. But it may well lead to joint or back pain from the unnatural pattern of running and violent stopping. It's not what dogs were built for.

Learn from your dog. Live in the moment as much as possible, stop worrying and chill!

Our 14 year old Yorkie/Pomeranian loves his walks. Each morning I take him to a field (his happy place) where I can extend his lead, and let him sniff around and follow trails. We are out for nearly an hour, and he turns round when he's ready for home.

In the evenings our son takes him out for shorter walks.

My DD rescue Lurcher hates going for a walk, we had her over the weekend as DD and partner were attending a wedding and DH managed to get her out for 1 long walk. The rest of the time she was happy running around our large garden. My DD says she struggles to get her to leave the house most days

Ours are walked before breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime. Parson Russell Terriers are clever, start nudging for walks at nearly the same times daily. They don't prefer to be alone, so they aren't

sounds ok to me have you a garden thats secure that he can go and mooch about it? nicer weather now you might like to sit out too! when indoors perhaps roll a ball along the floor for him to chase after. some people reckon Kong's are good as they will give his mind a good work out too

My lovely older dog can only manage a short walk now but he still gets excited at the jingle of his lead & loves to sniff & potter about.
We take to him to various places in the car to make the totter more interesting for him. There's life in the old dog yet. 😊

Yes, Merlin loves pulling long grass out of borders with his teeth when I'm weeding
He also jumps on bed and hides in bedding when I'm changing the beds, I'm sure he thinks he's "helping" lol

LaCrepescule

Thank you everyone, so interesting to hear about your lovely dogs. I think he’s getting enough and he has my company nearly all day. He loves his toys (typical ratter, you should see him shaking them) and has great fun with the garden hose.
So plenty of mental stimulation.

It’s the mental stimulation imo that really helps. Yes they need a good sniff on a walk but Thinking is really tiring

Two walks a day 45 minutes each. Off lead for part of the time. They love their sniffs. Throwing the ball around in the playing field tires them out but they love it.

Or if we take them for a big walk in the morning - say 4 or 5 miles don't bother with a second walk.

Just playing tug a toy or chasing a fishing line toy is giving them stimulation and exercise.

Another game is hiding treats they love that and very clever at finding them even though well hidden.

Our dog (terrier) gets walked most days but is just as happy wandering around in the garden, he's 2 next week.

Given the number of times my dogs have been attacked I would never allow a child to take her for a walk and certainly wouldn’t allow them to exercise her off lead where there are other dogs.

Sometimes there may be children in your village who are not allowed to keep a dog but would be happy to run your dog, go to a park or teach him new tricks then bring him home. You could bring joy to children AND your dog, by sharing.