Dog walking - exercise, mental stimulation, or both?

[FestiveSpirit]

I was just pondering whilst walking my dogs today

We came back down the lane, and I was wondering whether road exercise was really "enough" for a dog (Flick had already had a race around up and down the bridleway, with Islay sulking on her lead

)

I take my dogs pretty much everywhere I go (with the exception of work) so they really get as much mental stimulation as I do

So am I walking them just for exercise?

Pointless rambling alert here

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

I was wondering if you meant for you or the dogs!!

As the proud owner of a spangle and a lab mine clearly have no need for mental stimulation.............

 

[FestiveSpirit]

LMAO SU

Must admit you are probably right about your spangle/lab though

I was also pondering about getting a bike when I have any money (so, next year!) so I can cycle along and make my dogs do all the work

But that is just exercise...

 

[Spudlet]

Henry amuses himself running about, but he enjoys it much more if I provide things for him to chase and hunt out - so both!

 

[flowerlady]

Both

 

[kirstyhen]

Otto goes to lots of places, but his walks are the only time he gets to run off the lead like a loon, hunt cover, retrieve dead things (occasionally slightly alive things!), swim and we always do a bit of training - so definately both with him.

 

[Cop-Pop]

When Yellow Dog was on 'box rest' a couple of years ago he was really depressed

He could go out for short walks (about 5 mins) on the lead twice a day maximum so he could do his business etc - his first real walk he went hyper and was racing around then charging back giving us kisses before racing off again

 

[GinaB]

Bit of both for my lot! They are getting their exercise, but also getting to run and play

 

[CorvusCorax]

Both. At the moment I am alternating between 2 sets of 40 minutes both of them together - they chase each other up and down for the length of the walk (will post vids at some stage!) and every other day they each get 2-3 hours yomp with lots of hilly bits and sections of running for B.

Bella is not being trained for anything so I let our German intern walk her, while B comes with me and we do sections of heelwork, retrieving, stays, downs, sits, finding his ball after I've hidden it etc.

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Blimey CC I take it you dont also have a horse to exercise? 2-3 hours per day

If mine had that long it would mean that I would come home from work, get changed, and not be back until 8.30pm

 

[CorvusCorax]

Nah, I don't have the time or money for a hoss! Also I am a freelancer so any time I am not working I am at home with the dogs - I revert to the 40minsx2 when working and obviously that will be reduced and replaced with training or lots of fetch in the evenings as they draw in.

TBH I need to knacker B, he has boundless amounts of energy and he gets destructive and worries at his itchy bits when he is bored/isn't mentally or physically tired.

It is also good for me as I am handling over the next couple of weekends, and without opening that *particular* can of worms I need to be fit to run around the ring like a lunatic for a good while

 

[FestiveSpirit]

[ QUOTE ]
It is also good for me as I am handling over the next couple of weekends, and without opening that *particular* can of worms I need to be fit to run around the ring like a lunatic for a good while

[/ QUOTE ]

Mad GSD handler alert

Ah I suppose that makes it slightly easier that you arent a 9-5 person, can my dogs come on holiday to you though? Their little legs would be 2" shorter by the time they came home

 

[CorvusCorax]

HONK HONK! WHISTLE WHISTLE!

Yes please, I would love some of those handy armrests!

 

[Puppy]

Definitely both.

Popple will quite happily do figures of eight/circuits around our gardens, covering lots of kms, and exercising/amusing herself, playing with/throwing balls and toys for herself, without necessarily the presence, or encouragement, of me or our neighbour.

However, she LOVES hooning around with other dogs, every morning (without fail!

- she'd never let it be otherwise

), at the local park.

But the stimulation she gets from a *proper* countryside walk every evening is vital (IMO) for her mental stimulation.

I'd certainly recommend getting a bike to exercise them.

Pops is sometimes rather distracted when just walking, as I am not fast enough for her, but her desire to follow the whistle when I am biking is fab.

I often walk her till we get to the towpath by the river, and then set her loose and just blow the whistle sporadically. She is awesome at keeping up, and now renowned to the rowers as the little black dog always hooning around on the towpath after some crazy mare on a bike!

 

[camilla4]

Definitely both - mine gets two hours walking a day plus any other games of ball etc. that I can fit in with her. Really annoys me when people say that they don't walk their dog because it gets plenty of exercise playing games in the garden. I really believe dogs need time out, off the lead, for optimum mental, phsical and emotional health. It's also good for us too!

 

[MurphysMinder]

Definitely both, and in some ways probably more mental stimulation. At the moment with hay fields cut and horses not on them mine can run round the fields nearly all day when I am at home, however, as soon as I get their leads out to go for a walk, which is often boring road work, they go mada and start leaping arond and screaming in true Shepherd style .


CC don't forget for your handling you have to perfect the angry glare and gesticulations at the poor owner if they aren't always in the right place

 

[Spudlet]

I might try Henry on my bike next weekend when I take him to the parents to be dog-sat for the week! Not sure what he'll make of it

 

[CorvusCorax]

[ QUOTE ]
CC don't forget for your handling you have to perfect the angry glare and gesticulations at the poor owner if they aren't always in the right place

[/ QUOTE ]

God, don't joke, I was training last night and guess what, I am handling the over-protective bitch I posted about a few months ago (don't ask, their entry fee) and I am either waving my arm in the air like a loony on corners yelling 'I TOLD YOU TO CALL HER! or yelling 'DISAPPEAR!' when I am trying to stand her because she goes to pieces if she sees them and can't get at them

As predicted, when they are out of the way she doesn't even bother with other dogs......she is getting withdrawn, by me, if she starts any cr@p.

And on the exercise theme - if she lived with me, she'd get a tonne more than she is already and I bet she wouldn't be half as arsey!!!

 

[prosefullstop]

Beside her trips to the park/dog park, Stella gets a daily 45-minute walk, a la Cesar Milan, on-leash and following my directions. This is just as important to her mental wellbeing, I feel, as her crazy moments running around after the ball. Without fail, people comment that she is very calm for a Boston.