Dogs not being “walked” - feeling guilty

[CMcC]

I have always walked my dogs, as in taken them out of the front gate and walked down the lane in the woods or got in the car and driven somewhere for a walk. Over a week would average an hour per day. Currently of the 3 Sighthounds I have only 1 is semi-trustworthy off the lead; 1 the Saluki cannot go off the lead in public under any circumstances (a) very high prey drive, (b) can be reactive to other dogs and (c) absolutely no brain, so if he did wander off would not find his way back.
Since moving to this house I have had the land (6.5 acres) securely fenced - deer fencing so Sighthound proof. Since the fencing was done, I rarely take them out for a walk. While I am on the yard or poo picking they roam and run round the place. it is lovely to see Saluki having the chance to run, which he hasn’t before outside smallish garden. Ironically they often end up hanging round the yard, stealing food from the feed bins or just going back into the house for a nap. They are probably out for a couple of hours minimum a day.
But I feel guilty for not taking them for a walk! Should I feel guilty or are they just as happy doing their own thing?

 

[JGC]

When DH and I used to spend our entire evenings at the stables (as in four or five hours), we didn't used to walk the dog on that day, as it would have been too much.

Your set up sound pretty ideal for sighthounds to me, as all the ones I've known have seemed happier and more tired out with dog field rental so they can tear up the place than walks on lead, but people with greater knowledge than me will hopefully turn up soon.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I have no knowledge of sight hounds but your set up sounds great to me. When we had the Rottweilers they had to be walked on lead or in a secure field. They much preferred the secure field.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Ivy is our first dog (greyhound) so I'm not experienced in sighthounds/dogs but to me that sounds idyllic for them!

 

[splashgirl45]

Sounds great to me, if you feel guilty why not just go for a walk with them round your land so they get to explore all of it and not just gallop about in the bit closest to the yard…. As they can free run as much as they like it’s pretty idyllic for a sight hound , there won’t be many with that amount of freedom, they are very lucky

 

[misst]

My terriers would love that set up. In the summer when the house doors are open they just mooch about the garden chasing the odd squirrel and stalking birds. They have a funny five minutes now and then where they race around then sleep in a sunny spot or sit in the summer house to spy on everything. I do walk them but always feel they aren't really bothered. In the winter they need walking as I don't give them freedom to come and go and they don't want to be shut out. They pester for walks in the winter. I would think your dogs are very happy.

 

[millitiger]

We have 2 whippets and a similar set up.
They are very happy

One is out and about all the time, mooching about, chasing rabbits and pigeons, stealing food and 'helping' with all my horsey jobs.
The other mainly sleeps on the sofa and comes out 2 or 3 times a day!

I take them for an off property walk about once a month on average.
They enjoy it but I don't feel they are missing out the rest of the time or that they're unhappy

 

[Cortez]

My setup is very like yours; 7 and a half acres to run about in, but they mostly don't bother, especially the whippet, who prefers sleeping under the duvet. I do take them for a proper walk several times a week, but that's mostly for me, although they do love it. I also regularly throw a ball for some high speed exercise.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Sounds fine!

 

[millikins]

I think it depends on the dog, if yours seem perfectly happy they probably are. My daughter's beagle enjoys a walk but is equally happy mooching about up the yard. My GSD X however is hyper and annoying if she doesn't have a daily walk despite spending at least 2 hours at the yard where she's usually running around after squirrels, rabbits etc.

 

[Equi]

Not all walking needs to be on a lead/set route. They are probably getting just as much if not more than walks by mooching about.

 

[Zoeypxo]

I have 2 dog reactive 40kg malamutes , they are not safe to walk in public due to being attacked by other peoples off lead dogs. So we only use private 6ft fenced fields , they love it and no added stress of loose dogs or owners!
They are both fit and well and not fat so it must do them good. One 9 one 7. Weve had this routine for around 4 years now. 6x a week private rentable fields. 1x a week rest/play at home

 

[honetpot]

They have done studies on the effects of different exercise on dogs, and I think freedom and being allowed to sniff came out tops for relaxation, judged on heart rate.
https://thebark.com/content/dog-walks-sniffing-shaking-and-pulse-rate
In the summer my dogs are outside all day, they only go for a set 15min walk for variety, and to sniff something new, off the lead, but only because there is a footpath on the boundary of our land. I think the main thing is are the dogs happy and settled, what not to like about freedom and perhaps poo snacks.

 

[SO1]

My parents rarely walked their dogs which have been various types of lurchers. However they worked from home and had land or very big garden so the dogs just mooched about. I don't remember them being very active dogs.

My grand parents had golden retrivers and walked them every day. They never went in the garden.

My sister has a staffie she walks her most evenings she also goes in the garden. She sometimes takes her to work she works at a plant nursery which is just round the back of her house so she comes home for lunch.

Out of all the family dogs I have known it is the staffie that gets excited by walks she likes to sniff things.

 

[Moobli]

I’m not experienced with sighthounds but it sounds like a good life for them from what you say. Sighthounds were bred to hunt by sight and speed so I imagine chasing around acres of safe/fenced land satisfies their inbuilt genetic instinct. You could try harnessing their natural abilities with appropriate toys to chase/play with such as rabbit skin tugs and balls which mimic prey and hiding treats/food in areas around the land and encouraging them to search for it.

 

[Nudibranch]

I used to have a saluki and she got the majority of her exercise out with me in the fields doing horse/yard stuff. It was ideal as she could have a blast when she wanted and please herself.

At this house my collie does the same. Our fields are goat proof (and by default dog proof!) so like yours she gets to free range a lot of the time. I do walk her away from home a few times a week as she enjoys new sights and smells and she enjoys chasing a ball for some cardiovascular, but I don't feel guilty on the days I can't as I know she has so much time outdoors. We are actually viewing a puppy this evening for this exact reason - I feel she would benefit from a doggy friend to free range with. But you already have that so I'd say perfect.

I did see a study somewhere which showed the distance covered by off lead versus lead walked dogs. The off leaders did a lot more miles!

 

[dogatemysalad]

Depends how active you are outdoors really. My dogs follow me around, but left to their own devices, they'd just mooch about or find a comfortable spot to lie down.
Going for a good walk, along with the mental stimulation, is a fittening exercise. Similarly, an unridden horse in a field, despite moving constantly to graze, won't be as fit as a horse that is hacked out or even put on a horsewalker.
However, your dogs are very lucky to live in such a lovely place with so much freedom. Instead of feeling obliged to do a daily walk, why not do a great walk when time allows, that you'll all enjoy ?

 

[Clodagh]

I think if they are lean and well muscled it’s fine. If they are flabby sofa surfers perhaps not?
As DAMS says, walking is fittening as much as anything. Also fully accepting that not everyone wants a super fit hound.
It sounds like a lovely set up though.

 

[Moobli]

Walks shouldn’t be underestimated in terms of mental stimulation as well as exercise. My dogs enjoy a different walk in a new area or terrain as much as I do, which can be evidenced in the sniffing, exploring and general demeanour. That’s not to say your dogs aren’t happy and content OP but maybe walks, even just every so often, might add a different dimension to their lives.

 

[meleeka]

My OH takes the JRT, but my reactive GS rarely gets a proper walk off my land unless we are on holiday. My land is her safe place and she’s pretty happy with her lot, so no, I don’t feel guilty that she has 3+ hours running around pleasing herself every day. We do have to drive there so she does get to see the world too.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Mine go to the field twice a day and have free run, we do go for a short off lead walk along the footpath from our field. They seem happy with that. If I can't get to my field I will road walk them or go to our dog club's training field for a bit of agility practice. Happy fit dogs.

 

[Annette4]

I'll be honest, your set up sounds like heaven for my hounds and terrier x. We only do 1 or 2 walks a week as my boy needs 48 hours to decompress after any incidents (which seem to happen every walk even when we stick to roads at the moment ?). They train outside of the home at least once a week and we do lots of fitness and other work in out large garden but walks are a nightmare. If I had the set up he would never go for a walk again.

 

[babymare]

Our springer would think that’s doggie heaven lol

 

[AmyMay]

It sounds like a perfect set up for your dogs. Wouldn’t suit me, but then I don’t have a reactive dog. At the end of the day you have to do what works for you and your hounds.

 

[Moobli]

It sounds like a perfect set up for your dogs. Wouldn’t suit me, but then I don’t have a reactive dog. At the end of the day you have to do what works for you and your hounds.

This is exactly it. Do what makes you and your dogs happy.

 

[Carlosmum]

We have a secure paddock behind the house. 2 of ours go out there 3 or 4 times a day. OH sometimes takes his with him when he is out and about on the farm, son has his spaniel with him all the time. My lurcher is the one who gets the worst deal. She is not much fun on the lead, and not totally trust worthy off. To be totally honest I don't like 'walking', I always feel there is something else I should be doing, so taking the dog when she could be in the paddock seems a waste of my time. BUT, when we are away from home on our canal boat, she spends most of her time out with me on the towpath pottering around the locks or trotting between, she is the perfect BOAT dog.

 

[JoannaC]

When we moved here (6 acres) I stopped walking the dogs as they were out with me most of the day. The lurcher mooched about and chased the passing cyclists along the fence line and they played together racing round the field so had plenty of exercise. Since we got the pup he doesn't respect the boundaries so started walking him out and about and then I felt mean not taking Honey so have to take her now as well! We lost our lurcher in the Summer but she loved her life tootling around the place as she pleased, so I wouldn't feel guilty at all I bet they love their life.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It sounds like a lovely life for them I think unless you have high energy dogs the odd walk is not going to do any harm, I have a JRT she is 10 now and we keep the horses at home she comes out with me to do them and has a mooch round she can go in the fields if she wants to bit often just stays on the yard, she likes to come in the field to poo pick but won't go in the field to often when it gets wet and cries to go back in then.

I don't walk her everyday she doesn't seem bothered about it so I really wouldn't worry.