Why should I walk my dog?

I guess I walk mine just for me! I live in the country so having room to run and getting exercise doesn't seem to be a problem for them. But my job kills me I need to get out & move and it's boring to go by yourself. []

I'd call Bernie a medium-level energy dog. He likes to trot next to me on the leash for hours. 6 mile hikes through the woods are MY favorite- but he seems just as happy on the sidewalk. Since I live in an apartment- I have no fenced in yard. I do sneak him onto the tennis courts afterdark for a little off leash time- and he loves it. I have a 3 acre dog park real close by, but during the busy hours it gets too scary. Too many dogs, and no one pays attention. If I have time during the middle of the day, I will take him then.

I use leash time to train. He is not a puller- but does have some on leash aggression issues (he is fine off leash, though). Also- he'd pee on every piece of vegetation if I allowed him. Since he was a mature- intact male street dog before I adopted him (now neutered)- I am happy to let him mark outside, since he shows no desire to do it inside.

If I had a back yard, I probably would only take him for a walk for my benefit, as I like walks.

I can't really consider taking Max for a walk as exercise for either one of us - he has to stop and read his *pee mail* and investigate every tree and post, and greet every person he sees. I take him because he loves it.  Every time he sees his leash come out of the drawer where I  keep it he starts the *Happy Dog Dance*.[sm=dance.gif]

But, see, I do walk my dogs, just not on the other end of  a leash more than once a week.  And not every single day, cuz I just don't ALWAYS have that many hours each day to devote to being outside.  If it's crappy out, they go out long enough to potty and run right back in and just flat won't walk with me through the fields when the weather stinks.  I honestly have tried.  And, I truely intend to get some GREAT exercise myself keeping that danged field mowed so we can continue walking in the summer!  When we get several days of bad weather in a row, they let me know that they NEED to get out and run off lead and I'll take them.  But, they are the ones that cut it short if the weather is too bad.
 
Dogs that don't have the advantages mine do of living in the boonies absolutely need those regular walks.

Glenda, Why do you only take out two dogs at a time?  Are they a problem if they are all together?  Just curious.

I'm a coward!  I started out doing ONE at a time....now I do two.  I'm hesitant to add a third because in my experience two are fine, but three take on a pack mentality.  BUT, that was in town on leads with Thor, Sheba and Shadow, so out here with the right combo, maybe it would work ok.  Perhaps this weekend when DH is home as backup I'll try 3 at a time.  I'm not certain I'm comfortable trying to keep an eye on 3 of them alone.

although most of Molly's true exercise comes from running on trails or running on trails with her buddy Beau - I enjoy walking her. I find it to be quite bonding for us.
And I NEED the exercise. I won't get out and walk unless I have a dog with me. My work schedule doesn't allow for us to get Molly out on trails everyday but we can slip a quick walk in the evening in. She gets to visit people who walk past us, see other dogs, etc.
I think it's great socialization for a dog and great bonding for dog/person companion. For me there's nothing like talking to Molly while walking "hey Maul...did you see that squirrel" "hey Maul...that idio is driving way too fast on this road"
Also people who do walk their dogs frequently have less weight issues....nothing like a dog to get one off the sofa.
But for exercise I think it's much more beneficial to go off-leash on a trail, park or whatever. I enjoy the bonding - and I love it when people drive by and admire Molly or chuckle at her walking holding onto a toy

Well I guess that makes sense.  When I lived in Kingcome I loved walking around with all my dogs.  But then i was really not in control of any of them and they were free to leave whenever they wanted.  I didn't really own them and they were a pack already.  They just chose to follow me everywhere. 

With my dogs now the walk to the park is the hardest part.  They are all on lead and they can get tangled pretty easy even if they are not pulling.  Waiting at the busy intersection can get pretty scary.  For this reason I often opt for just Crusher or just the girls.  But if I lived in the boondocks I would definately take all 3. 

I think it all depends on the type of dog and the lifestyle they get used too. 

Willow could never handle the exercise Scout needs or the huskies.  She'd be unable to move the next day.  So, for her walking is perfect, keeps her fit and isn't too much.  I do believe they need to get themselves moving enough to be panting everyday so we try to get her zooming around when she'll let us.   But, she'll only do that for a few minutes and then she needs a drink and you'd think she's been running for miles. 
 
She does love her walks though, she'd go anytime. 

I don't walk Boss all that often, I would love to but with work and school we rely on the back yard and a ball for a lot of his exercise.
 
The neighborhood I am in is not that great either and although Boss can look pretty menacing.. as my mom keeps yelling at me when she finds out I walk him when it's dark.. "I don't care if you DO take Boss.. they can shoot him too ya know!"
 
He does run his butt off in my yard though.. he has his own little track.. he starts on the deck and runs down across the yard, then all the way behind and around the garage, comes back (he can get all the way around the garage) runs back to the deck,  across it and then down the other steps and starts all over.
 
I take him for walks when I can, but they don't last that long.. he doesn't seem to like to walk for long periods of a time.. he's a home body like his momma! Actually I think a lot of it has to do with that bad leg and walking on concrete and uneven surfaces.

Glenda are you trying to bait me out or something??[sm=uhoh.gif]

I have only just spotted this thread,otherwise i would have replied sooner []

Dog owners NOT walking their dogs would have to be one of my biggest peeves.IMO this should be thought of before getting a dog! "Will i have the time/energy to walk him everyday"  "will i devote the time in training them to walk off lead". If the answers to these questions is NO,then perhaps more thought should be put into the type of animal one brings into their home Rabbits,cats, guinea pigs etc dont need walks[]

My girls get 3 off lead walks a day,every single day.My mum lives on a 22 acre block,her dog gets 2 walks a day,most days. It wouldnt matter how big my yard was,my dogs and most dogs i would imagine would soon lose interst in the same sights and smells every single day.

I not only walk my dogs for the excercise,it's more for the stimulation and socialisation,it's gets them out of the house,they get to smell new things,see new sights,pee on every single bush all over again(2 spayed females). I would feel desperately sorry for them and guilty if they had to spend their days cooped up in the house or the backyard,they would get so bored and i wouldnt blame them one single bit! My girls zoom around the house,chase balls in the yard and do all the other doggy things,however NOTHING compares to going out to new places for a walk,like i said  the excercise part is the least reason i take them out,they need the mental stimulation just as much,every dog does,not just mine.

The only time Bonnie and Emma have a harness and lead on is when we go to the pet shop,vet or groomers.They are leash free when out on walks.I've walked all of my dogs, past and present off lead,even if that meant i had to drive for miles to find a place where this could happen,when they are young the majority of my time is spent off leash training,their frst off lead walk is done at around 8 weeks old,i have never ever  needed a leash for any of my dogs(rotties,blue heelers,staffs and now tzu's).This has always ensured they dont run off as soon as they get out of the car,as they are so used to being off lead and having the freedom to run around that it's no big deal,they always come back to me because they know i'm not going to clip a lead on them!

We have around 12 different walking trails we go to,this ensures we dont have to repeat the same walk in the same week,except for their night time walk,i have to drive to all but one of them! I live opposite a school with 2 huge ovals,we go there for the before bed walk,anywhere between 11pm and 2am.This ensures they are zonked out and have a nice deep sleep everynight.

TBH if i didnt have the time or energy to walk my dogs i wouldnt have them,i would get cat instead,this is how strongly i feel about this issue! When i work i get up a couple of hours earlier and walk them then,i couldnt concentrate at work if i didnt do it,i'de be worried and feel guilty all day,my dogs arent crated either,i've never used one,they have always had full run of the house whether i'm there or not,i have never had any destruction or behavioural problems,i attribute this mostly to the excercise,outside stimulation and socialisation all my dogs have always got.Crates are a huge thing in the US,hardly anyone has heard of them here and most are mortified when they find out dogs are kept in them when their owners are at work all day,this  would be even more reason for people to walk their dogs before work,imagine sleeping all night and then get tossed in a cage all day,these are the dogs that desperately need excercise,and alot of it!

I agree walking dogs on a leash isnt much fun for them and the owner would have to walk for miles and miles and miles for the dogs to get the same amount of excercise in half the time if they were off lead.If i was ever in this situation i would have to walk the miles or find a way to to let them run off lead,for me there would be no other option.

As you can probably tell this is a huge issue with me and i have yet to hear a reasonable excuse for an owner to NOT walk their dogs,even if it's not everyday,but IMO every second day should be the absolute minimum.My girls wont go out in the rain either,or if it's too hot.There are always breaks in the rain and when it's hot i go early morning and late evening and we always go down to the river where they can swim and cool off if they get too hot.

There are alot of responsibilities to owning a dog other than good food,nice soft bed,love,play etc etc Giving them the chance to explore outside of their  territory,seeing and smelling  new things are big things to dogs and ones every dog deserves and should have!

Another thing which i think is a side effect of walking them so much is that i can leave the front door wide open and they will not walk through it,they have been accidentally locked out the front a couple of times,within seconds the crying and barking will start for me to let them in,why would they want to run away?? They know they'll be going out soon so why bother,well thats my theory anyway [8D]

I thought I would be the minority here, but it looks like I am with the majority.  I don't leash walk my guys on a regular basis.  They play fetch in our yard a couple of times a day.  There is no way Dasher would be tired out after just walking....unless we walked from one coast to the other!![]  I have much more fun with my guys playing fetch and practicing agility than with a daily walk.  We also go to a weekly agility class where he gets to socialize and I take him on errands with me so he gets practice on his manners in public.  Actually this weekend we took them to the beach and after their initial "freak out" of seeing all the other dogs, kids, and horses, both dogs were pretty well behaved.  [] 

I'm like some of the rest of you.  We live out in the country so walking isn't needed unless for training.  The hounds are let out for yard time and they are so busy hunting that they are really good and tired when they are done.  Shane is always playing with the kids, either chasing them or one of them plays ball with him, or we play ball with him, that he doesn't need a walk to burn off energy.  But on bad weather days when he just plain refuses to go out or the dogs to hunt you can tell.  They start to get into trouble...lol  Thats just how it works for us.
 
 

I think most of us are strictly referring to walks on leash[] I know weims and they would need to walk miles and miles if made to walk on leash.  This he does not find fun or stimulating. I think that each breed and dog is different in what stimulates them. As long as you find the right combination of mental and physical that works for you then that's great.  And if a dog does not want to go out in the rain there are plenty of things you can do indoors to suffice. And I also think dogs like a lazy day every now and then. I know that even my active weim does. 
I do understand where you're coming from in that many pet owners aren't willing to give them the proper stimulation.  And they wonder why thier dog is poorly behaved. Well DUH!  But ultimately I think each person needs to evaluate thier dog on an individual basis and see what works best for both of you. If I can find a better more efficient way for my dog to enjoyingly be exercised (ie. throwing the ball in the backyard as a opposed to a 10 mile walk) I will do it.  

Christine
Have you read this thread or did you just see the title line and reply?  If you read it you would know that the origanal poster (me) asked if dogs needed to be walked on lead for exercise.  Everyone on here walks their dogs.  The posters on this thread do what you do.  We take them off leash so that they may run at their own pace as we humans can rarely keep up. 

Glenda has been wonderful to her animals.  She takes great care of them and they get lots of walks.  Just not on leash.  You have said that you dont walk yours on leash so what is the big deal?  I think you were really rude to her and maybe you should apologize.  She has said that she dedicates hours a day to walking her dogs.  Did you miss that part? 

My dogs go for several walks a day.  They dont run away either.  My question was is there really a point to taking a large dog for a walk on leash for exercise.  The general concensus was that most of us use leashes for training and let the dogs run at their own pace for exercise.  You dont seem to disagree with this.  Unless your dogs heal by your side the whole time you are walking them.  Do they?  Doubt it.

Now I am going to take my dogs for a walk to cool off!