Those who live on lots of land.....

[tye_bo]

Do you walk your dogs or do they get enough exercise running free?

Just a pondering!

 

[Chico Mio]

Our friend has 25 hectares of farmland and four dogs ranging through a huge mastiff, a GSD cross, a springer spaniel type and the most annoying little mongrel that looks like a peke cross of some kind. They are loose on the land all day and certainly don't need anymore walking! They also like to come hacking with us when we go out in the forest (except peke thing who gives up cos of his little legs)

 

[mtj]

we've got a total of 7 acres owned/rented with (large) dog proof fencing.

weather depending, they get a morning walk of 30-60 mins. the gsdx has a dodgy leg so this is the max we can allow.

 

[mattilda]

We have 8 acres of grazing land and around an acre of garden and a wooded area. I don 't walk my dogs as I have 2 rotties and a ridgeback and I would struggle to hang onto them if they all took off at the same time!!
They have the run of the place and are all fit and well and in pretty good shape. Also they chase rabbits (unsuccessfully) so have plenty of exercise.

 

[mtj]

should have added, one of mine is an Australian Shepherd.

when we were given him, we were advised to ensure that he has sufficient mental and physical exercise. they have a reputation for being less than saintly if their needs are not met.

 

[CorvusCorax]

We have a scrubby field where they can hoon about off lead and also do their training (but I can rarely see them now above the grassline, because our lawnmower, the goat, died last year) however I also walk them between 1.5-3hrs daily, or 40 minutes in my Mum's case

as if they were not being stimulated they would just lie down and sleep all day.

As working dogs I think it is important to exercise their brains too, take them to new places and expose them to new things, they were not really very well socialised when they came to us at 6 and 8 months and I think instilling lead manners, traffic sureness and people skills very important in GSDs.
We are still working on sheep, cats and other dogs

 

[BBH]

I have 7 acres and my dog can mooch around but I still take him for proper walks to the beach or park for a change of scenery if nothing else.

 

[Booboos]

We have 27 acres, the dogs roam free but they tend not to go out of sight so I will actually take them for walks. We have four so walking them on the lead is more difficult so they tend to go on roads/around village only at the weekend when OH can help.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I have about 1.5 acres and access to a further 7. The 11 year old GSD usually is happy playing round the fields. The 2 younger ones also have a good road work walk every day.

 

[Horseyscot]

We're farmers so have lots of land, our three dogs, Lab, spaniel and collie basically run free all day and we never actually walk them, although going about everyday farming life they are always with us running about. At this time of the year they go with the quad every morning to get the cows in (in this heat the lazy lab and springer opt out of this in the afternoon

).

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

I live on a farm - Sweep tootles around when I am doing the horses and most days he goes for a walk round some of the fields too - usually with one of his buddies who belong to the liveries and I also take him and the sheepdog for walks around the farm in the summer - I love walking in the late evening watching the owls, bunnies, hares, foxes etc all doing their thing.

Equally if there isn't time for a walk its not a problem as there is enough tootling to wear him out!