Do you walk your dog?

And why, or why not?

I had an encounter with my neighbor today and I'm curious to see what you have to say.

Re: Do you walk your dog?

You KNOW i'm gonna say it.... no, but I walk my cat! You're SO elitist with all your DOG polls

I take him about once a week. As for the why: it's a treat for him - he gets SO excited when I take his harness out. He thinks it's the greatest thing. I guess it's a change of scenery, he has his pen but loves to go out on his leash. It also tires him out because he'll pounce on imaginary things in the grass or chase a stick. My neighbors always come pet him if they're out.
Its good for him to meet lots of people too, I think even more so for dogs, so they are social and not overly excited when they meet a new person because they always get to meet new people. JMO though

Re: Do you walk your dog?

I'm not sure how to answer! We live in a complex so we have to walk her several times a day to do her business but we take her to the same spot that's about 100 feet down the road. I don't really consider that a walk though.
We walk her around the neighborhood almost every day when it's nice out, not so much in the cold weather. We think it's good for her to get out of the house, get some exercise and socialize with neighbors and other dogs.

Re: Do you walk your dog?

I am totally crashing this post because our poochy isnt here yet. I can say that being preggers and needing to walk 3-4x a week for atleast 30 minutes.. Miss Winnie will be doing that with me

Re: Do you walk your dog?

only in decent weather b.c I have to bring DD. I try to walk them everyday for at least 45 min. They havent been walked in a few days though, its way too cold

Re: Do you walk your dog?

We take Daisy for a AM and PM walk, although it can be difficult to do in the winter with the sun falling so soon.

We haven't taken her for a walk in a few weeks due to the cold. She doesn't like it, even with her coat on. Once it warms up a bit to the 40s, we'll start to take her out more. In the mean time, we have her run around the house playing fetch.

Re: Do you walk your dog?

I walk our dog before work in the morning, and after work in the evening (which is usually a longer walk). Then, my DH walks her before he goes to bed (usually 11pm).

She is a creature of habit and when we divert from the routine (for example, most weekends!) she is more hyper as a result - but we usually compensate with even longer walks or other exercise midday.

All the walks are good for her AND us!

Re: Do you walk your dog?

i take hershey for a 30 minute walk every morning before work... if DH or i are home at a decent hour (and not too pooped) one of us takes him for another walk in the afternoon

in the spring/summer, i would walk him twice a day since it stayed lighter out later AND its easier getting motivated to get out when its nice and wam outside

Re: Do you walk your dog?

Maggie and on take our first walk at 6:45 am... Then she gets walked by the dog walker at noon and we do about 3 walks after I get home from work until bedtime. Let's face it, I need the exercise as much as she does!

I'm curious, what was the encounter about?

Re: Do you walk your dog?

2-3 times a day

My dogs need the exercise, need to walk around and see people/dogs, etc, won't go poo or alot of pee in the yard b/c they are used to their walks.

Re: Do you walk your dog?

It varies for us. Lately I've only been walking them a few times a week, but when it's nice out, the puppy gets 1 - hour long walk, and few shorter walks throughout the day. Our older dog only goes on a long walk about every other day or 2 days, he only has 3 legs and he gets exhausted if he walks too much. He gets a short walk pretty much everyday when the weather is good.

Re: Do you walk your dog?

Posted by KittyTheStray

You KNOW i'm gonna say it.... no, but I walk my cat! You're SO elitist with all your DOG polls

I take him about once a week. As for the why: it's a treat for him - he gets SO excited when I take his harness out. He thinks it's the greatest thing. I guess it's a change of scenery, he has his pen but loves to go out on his leash. It also tires him out because he'll pounce on imaginary things in the grass or chase a stick. My neighbors always come pet him if they're out.
Its good for him to meet lots of people too, I think even more so for dogs, so they are social and not overly excited when they meet a new person because they always get to meet new people. JMO though

Message edited 12/22/2009 11:10:47 AM.

Re: Do you walk your dog?

Re: Do you walk your dog?

I have the wee wee pad thing going. When I got my Dog, she was only 3lbs and I got her New Years Eve and it was freezing outside. I tried taking her out, but she wanted to have nothing to do with it, so we trained her on the wee wee pad and honestly I think it's best for our situation. She is 100% trained on them, she goes I clean it and that is it. If we are running a little late getting home, she does not need to hold it in.

She is still only 9lbs

I do let her run in the back yard though almost every day, she just never goes out there

Re: Do you walk your dog?

1x a day but not in this weather :( I have to bring Viviana and its too cold and dangerous because i use the harness to carry her and I am afraid to fall on the ice and crush her

Re: Do you walk your dog?

It's good to see so many of you still do walks. Dogs AND cats

Message edited 12/22/2009 2:37:15 PM.

Re: Do you walk your dog?

We walk (actually run) Dallas when the weather is not awful, in the AM. It's a reward for making pee & poo outside. He always goes to the bathroom in the same place outside, a small 4x4 patch of grass. He is so full (too full) of energy and a good run mellows him out for the rest of the day.

Dallas will prob never be allowed to run loose in a yard because he puts everything in his mouth and recently picked up a disgusting cigarette butt from one of our gross neighbors. I had to hold him upside down and remove it from his mouth like a nervous mommy!!

Re: Do you walk your dog?

Yes, once a day, about 2 miles, every single day.

It's not just for bathroom purposes, because they have access to the yard via doggie door while we're at work. It's for:

1. exercise (theirs and ours)
2. discipline (practice obeying commands, heeling, etc.)
3. an energy release (they behave better and sleep better when they're exercised)
4. exposure to other places, people, and pets (so they don't freak when we take them somewhere new or introduce them to someone new)

On the rare occasion they don't get their walk, you can SO tell the difference. They get all wound up like little kids.

Re: Do you walk your dog?

Re: Do you walk your dog?

we live in apt so we walk him 4x's a day, three walks are 20-30 min and one is 40-60 min. then at night we try to get him a play session with his buddy in the hall, or with a ball/toy

when we visit my parents on li we go on 2 walks and play a lot in the yard - kick ball, jump for sticks, chase

Re: Do you walk your dog?

My DH takes them to the park in the AM to run around like nuts...then they get an afternoon walk...around 1pm...they also go out in the backyard throughout the day (it's not fenced in so i supervise), but i always heard walking them was important because they get to sniff & explore.

Re: Do you walk your dog?

we used to take them for walks but between ds and being preg again i just couldnt do it... i did try walking one of my dogs when ds was young and he couldnt figure out the whole strolle rthing so everytime i went to turn he got hit with the stroller

Re: Do you walk your dog?

i didn't answer your poll bc it's a little of each.
if i am off from work and the weather is decent, they get 2 30min walks.
if i work that day and the weather is decent they get 1 30min walk.
if the weather is crappy, they get no walks that is what our back yard is for they also run around in the yard a couple of times a day even if they get their walks.
they are both small, so the yard is plenty of exercise for them - but they do love their walks and i enjoy it too.
we keep a wee wee pad down for "emergencies" - our maltese prefers to poop on the pad and pee outside for whatever reason

Re: Do you walk your dog?

No, not everyday and especially not in hot or cold weather. Our english bulldog can not take long walks in either frigid weather (even with his super cute coat) or super hot (at all). Its part of their temperment.

We do play with him inside. If he goes outside to do his business, he gallops inside as quickly as possible. So from my experience, not all dogs need or want 2-3 walks a day.

Re: Do you walk your dog?

yes, 4 times a day. we are in a condo