Walking Your Dog: Do you or don't you (poop, husky, stomach)
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Weather permitting, my dogs get walked 1.5 miles 2x a day (total=3miles) They are an 8 year old boston terrier and a 10 year old boxer. In hot weather, the walks are shorter. I am home with an injury. So right now my DH walks them on weekends and I have a paid dog walker on M-W-F, so they are getting gypped and they let me know it!
How many of you all walk your dog? If so for how long? If not why? I just got back from his 3rd walk today. Normally, I only walk him once, but I am trying to be more routine about it. I do have a fenced yard, but he seems more calm after he's walked.
Here in MD, when it's cold, due to one pup's asthma, unless we have an unusual warm snap, the pups don't go out at all for many months on end (about 6 -- a HUGE reason we're relocating to CA later this year).
When it's 68*+ and not raining, we're at the local park every day (even if that means missing a trip to the grocery store, or doing the laundry late), and we'll walk laps on the paved trail around all the kids playing sports for a min. 30 mins. (if I get out of work late), but more usually an hour or two, sometimes three or four on the weekend. We also stop and socialize with the other dogs and children there. It's our happiest place on earth.
On days like today (we have an usual warm snap today!) when we only have a very brief window to get the pups outdoors before the evening temps. drop again (so no time to drive to the park), we let the kids at least get outside by running in the large fenced yard.
In the warmer months, in addition to our walks at the park, the kids also run in the fenced yard for a bit.
As they're getting older, they aren't as high energy as they used to be and tucker out pretty quickly in the yard (say, 15 mins. lol). At that point they're sniffing or napping in the grass.
We try to walk our dog daily, rotating between me and my husband. Thing is, my dog hates the winter time and will protest going out when it is so cold. He whines because the pads of his feet get real ice cold on the cement. So, instead, we will play in the backyard for a while - tossing his tennis ball back and forth for about a half hour, then I'll play hide n' seek with him. I will pretend to run back in the house, he follows me, and then I hide behind a tree and he has to find me. He always wins in the end, and a couple hours later he is pooped. I just did this last night with him - also I got out the red laser that our cats play with and took it outside, and he was having a blast, trying to catch it (of course I pointed it only at the grass). We have a nice big backyard so he is able to run and run and run.
Last edited by beatlecrazy; 02-23-2012 at 08:07 AM..
Reason: sentence structure made no sense
We try to walk our dog daily, rotating between me and my husband. Thing is, my dog hates the winter time and will protest going out when it is so cold. He whines because the pads of his feet get real ice cold on the cement. So, instead, we will play in the backyard for a while - tossing his tennis ball back and forth for about a half hour, then I'll play hide n' seek with him. I will pretend to run back in the house, he follows me, and then I hide behind a tree and he has to find me. He always wins in the end, and a couple hours later he is pooped. I just did this last night with him - also I got out the red laser that our cats play with and took it outside, and he was having a blast, trying to catch it (of course I pointed it only at the grass). We have a nice big backyard so he is able to run and run and run.
Try putting some fleece booties on him. That may solve the problem. My pup's a cold-weather breed, but his feet freeze at -20F or colder. A $12 set of booties fixed him right up though, and he was out playing and rolling around in the snow down to -40F! They really help with traction when it's icy out, too.
I don't. I don't trust the dog owners in my walking path. I am paranoid that an at large dog will attack. My 9lb dachshund/toy poodle mix is blind. When I walk her, I have to really control her on the leash so she doesn't poke her eyes in overgrown shrubbery on either side of the sidewalk. She has a doggie door and a fully fenced, safe yard to run around in whenever she wants--and she does. She loves being outside running around. I prune all low lying branches/shrubs so she doesn't poke her eyes.
When my dad was alive, during his visits, he and my dog would stay oustide for HOURS. He'd be on the deck and my dog would be running around the yard. It was hard to get her to come inside even for a drink of water.
I just got back from another potty break. I live rural and do have a fenced area that is not contiguous to the house for off leash zoomies and frizbee, but I have 10 acres to walk so Odie gets plenty of exercise. Plus we have indoor fetch that he initiates - will bring me a toy to throw.
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-- a HUGE reason we're relocating to CA later this year).
