What do you think of this (lack of walking)

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I just wondered what you thought of this with regards to the walking post below.

OH's parents have an American cocker (they had another but they gave her to a family member because she ate horse poo!)
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Anyway, they have a big house with a bit of land that she can run around but I don't think they EVER take her for a walk!

She is healthy but I think she always looks a bit depressed. Do you think it's fair or not?
 
Depends how big a bit of land is
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My cousins dogs (2 westies, 2 labs, a terrier and a beagle
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) are never walked but they have 40 odd acres to roam.

My grandparents dogs (and ours when at home) do get walked, but only because I like walking... and they have about 4 acres to roam.. (all terriers)
 
It's prob OK in terms of exercise but I would prefer to see her with a companion.

My 3 don't get walked daily. They have over an acre and there are 3 dogs, they play continually and seem happy. They sometimes get a quick blast round the padocks and get a longer walk on sunny evenings and weekedns.
 
We've spent the last three weeks on vacation at a house with 3.5 acres of land. Although Stella and her companion dog have enjoyed free roaming the huge garden, Crow gets anxious without her daily walk (tears paper etc.) and Stella seems a little bored after a few hours outdoors, even with the plentiful supply of bunny rabbits that pass through, and the frequent games of chase between the two dogs. A 45-minute walk in the morning seems to take the edge off, if anything.
 
It's certainly not ideal Starbucks. I think most people think that walks are really only about physical exercise but in fact they are as important for the dog's mental and emotional well being. I think there would have to be a great deal going on to keep a dog mentally occupied for it not to suffer emotionally by not going out. Even with a large space to roam, I would be concerned about their wellbeing. Mine only has a garden to roam in but even if I had several acres, she'd still get her two walks a day.
 
I think that dogs should receive other stimulus, no matter how much land they have to roam around in at home.
I feel sorry for dogs who have never encountered the beach (within reason, geographically
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) the woods etc.
Motivating a dog's brain is just as important as exercising its' body.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think that dogs should receive other stimulus, no matter how much land they have to roam around in at home.
I feel sorry for dogs who have never encountered the beach (within reason, geographically
tongue.gif
) the woods etc.
Motivating a dog's brain is just as important as exercising its' body.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with you. There are definitely worse situations, but I still felt sad for the multitude of dogs I saw last year during a stay in Connecticut, roaming their one-acre gardens behind electric fencing. I literally saw three or four dogs out on proper walks the entire month I was there. Stella might live in an apartment, but I make a huge effort to ensure she experiences different vistas, and as such she's a regular at city dog parks, the beach, the mountains, horse shows, and Bloomingdale's
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I disagree,we almost never walk Chloe (well, we have in the last week but thats only cos of her op) but she comes outside with us when we muck out the horses, she gets a good 45min run around like a mad thing, and then in the evening if shes not settling we play fetch. So long as shes keeping fit and healthy, i dont see a problem. Shes also the skinniest labrador in the area so it cant be doing her much good!

Obviouslynot saying my way is right, but its what we do and i think its good for her xxx
 
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I agree with you. There are definitely worse situations, but I still felt sad for the multitude of dogs I saw last year during a stay in Connecticut, roaming their one-acre gardens behind electric fencing. I literally saw three or four dogs out on proper walks the entire month I was there.

Wow - that's really sad isn't? I feel so strongly about this -proper walking - both for exercise and mental stimulus is so undervalued. I know several dogs in our village whose sole away from home "exercise" is a ten minute trot around the village on the lead. I just think it's so unkind!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I disagree,we almost never walk Chloe (well, we have in the last week but thats only cos of her op) but she comes outside with us when we muck out the horses, she gets a good 45min run around like a mad thing, and then in the evening if shes not settling we play fetch. So long as shes keeping fit and healthy, i dont see a problem. Shes also the skinniest labrador in the area so it cant be doing her much good!

Obviouslynot saying my way is right, but its what we do and i think its good for her xxx

[/ QUOTE ]

Fetch is stimulus! I call it my lazy time because I stand in the middle of a field and he does all the running
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As a side note, I also think walking in public is also important, because as a GSD owner I feel I have a duty to the breed - and the reputation of the breed - to ensure my dogs are traffic and bike sure.
If you don't expose dogs to these sorts of things then they can freak out on a first encounter, or worse, chase!
We are still working on sheep and hares
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