Why should I walk my dog?

Well, today I answered the question, "why not take three at a time?"
 
Even though they all have great recall and come when I ask, I still put drag lines on them for safety sake since our road, while not real close, is busy and people drive like the are on a speedway.  TWO drag lines will occassionally get tangled.  THREE are absolutely guarenteed to wrap themselves up in one another and then tie knots!!
 
So three just isn't gonna happen again!  Not unless I'm in a place where I'm totally comfy without drag lines.

That may just happen, one day. First, I have to settle on some material, a lightewight metal that can put up with my weight. A co-worker is also a pretty hand welder. So, if I work up a design and gather all the parts, it could happen one day. Of course, I have a vision of him going around one side of a mail box and me going around the other side.

Lori, Boss is the same way. He could care less if we are just going up the street to the gas station as long as he gets to ride in the car. Gracie of course wants to be wherever we are at. When the weather is okay to do so, Boss waits in the car while I run in the store.

See Ron that is where it would be nice to be able to let go!  Couldn't you get a quick release snap for it?  You have to have one for skijoring in most races.  They're mandatory so I would think you could probably get one for a cart.  Of course you could always just avoid mailboxes like the plague! 

I dont think there is any alternative to lots of exercise when it comes to giving your dog a long and healthy life.  I thought this thread would be dead by now but since it hasnt been that long, I'll tell you what I saw today.  I went to get my dogs food at a little petstore a couple blocks away.  Its the only place that sells Innova.  Anyway there was a woman in there with a black lab.  She was walking out with a big bag of California Natural as I was walking in with Crusher.  We let the dogs sniff each other out.  The lab was happy to see Crusher but was really in no shape to play with him.   She was about 20 pounds or so overweight, and very stiff.  So to make conversation I asked how old she was.  Almost 3.  Well I must have looked shocked cause the woman jumped in right away and said they were trying to get her weight down and that she didn't know why she was fat cause she goes for an hour long walk everyday and she ate the best food, the vet said she was otherwise healthy.  yadda yadda yadda.  I told her about going to the park and letting Crusher run around with other dogs for exercise.  She said she had never thought of that.  After she left the woman that worked there told me that she never moves faster than she had been moving in the store.  So her dog doesn't get very fastpaced walks.  Poor thing.  I hope she tries the park thing.

When I walk Shadow, some might think he's walking me but that is not the case. I walk fast, which equals his relaxed trot. After a mile, even if it's freezing, I'm unbuttoning jacket and sweater. We're both getting aerobic and he gets to do what he does best, pull for a distance. I still control the walk but we have different routes so that he doesn't get bored.
 
If I build a cart, it will have steering and I will steer around obstacles. Of course, I'd rather have a clear course to go to. We'll see what developes in the future.