Why should I walk my dog?

My guys get all their 'exercise' in our 2 acre fenced field.

I take them on walks more for the social aspect - mine as well as theirs.  I like people to meet well-bred and trained German Shepherds and see that they are not monsters.  I like people to meet a Cocker Spaniel that is not a psycho-dog.

As for the hunting ability - I WISH my guys would lose some of theirs!  I'm getting tired of picking fleas off them!!  But there is the bonus that they find their own food.

Yeah thats the thing Jennie, when we take them to hunt we want the to HUNT.  If we let them out 24/7, they wouldn't, then we wouldn't have dinner.  Yeah I think doxies have more drive than beagles.  I have one beagle that is a wonderful hunter, but he will only run 1 rabbit.  Then he is done.  Kinda like, ok I have mine, now go get yours....hehe
 
 

Wow. That's funny. My Jack Russel or my Doxie would run rabbits til they dropped. All day, every day, if I let them. Of course, they'd also be really fat. I also believe that if you kill it you eat it, so they eat what they kill. If it's too big for one meal, I Ziploc it and throw it in the freezer til they're ready to eat again.

Of course, all that drive is enough to make you go insane on a rainy day.

Thanks, Jennie. I have a hand drawn diagram for building a dog cart and I got it from the lady when I got from her the pattern to make the x-back harness. A dog cart that I would want to build must have independent suspension considering the varying terrain that we cover. Anything from pavement to the drainage ditch of a corn field. If I had a cart, then I would probably seek some land to borrow, away from traffic, though working in traffic has it's advantages, i.e., enforcing tighter training.

I went to their website and it is, indeed, a great idea. They didn't mention the load limit of the scooter. I weigh, on average, 235 pounds. So, I would have to make sure the cart or scooter can put up with my weight. Shadow doesn't have a problem pulling my weight.
 
At least I've got him accustomed to mushing commands.
 

Pfft. Walking a 2 year old aussie is not exercise. It's torture. He whined and complains and even running doesn't do anything for him. Biking, bikibg is more like it. 

I, the evil only walk my dogs once a week on lead to keep the skills up and keep them used to being around people and other dogs, take mine out off lead on the four acres we live on....they get MUCH more exercise that way and have a whole lot more fun that when this old broad can provide at the other end of a leash!

I, too, wanted to add earlier, that taking the dogs to a park or whatever where they can run at full speed for a little is definitely good exercise. Letting them out to do anything is good.
 

I want to be able to run into Home Depot with one of them

Since when can you take a dog into a store... anywhere unless it's a service dog ?
I can see taking them into Petco, PetSmart, etc. But most stores just don't allow dogs, so what's the sense in bringing them out if they're not going anywhere where they can get out of the car ? I know people sneak little foofoo dogs in their purse/carriers but in general the majority of businesses do not allow animals inside.

I used to walk my dog about 3 or 4 nights a week. I live in a rural subdivision and it's gorgeous walking at night.  But... I have chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia and it's gotten so bad the last year I just can't walk him. And now I have 4 dogs so it's impossible for me to take 4 dogs for a walk and I can't take them individually because the others go crazy if one is out of the house. My joints are so painful I have trouble holding the leash, especially if they're pulling on it at all and not only do my ankles and hips hurt so bad while I'm walking , when I get done doing the neighborhood circuit i'm totally exhausted. Luckily I have a 1/2 acre lot w/somewhere between 1/4 and 1/3 of that fenced in . These dogs go out 20 times a day if it's not too cold or if it's wet out. They all get plenty of exercise except Andy ( GSP ). He's gained alot of weight and become a total couch potato. When he's out chasing buzzards or squirrels he can run like the wind...but try to get him to fetch... you'd think you were throwing to 'grandpa' and he's only 4.5 yrs old !!  I try to get him to run around , I throw things for him to fetch but he doesn't seem interested.  He'd rather grab a toy or a bone, plop himself down in the middle of the yard and is just content to gnaw on it while the other dogs are running around playing and chasing each other. I've tried cutting down on his food to slim him down but this dog's appetite is just ravenous. If he can he'll clean his bowl and go right over to one of the other dog's bowls and eat theirs if they've left it for just a second. He's constantly in the kitchen sniffing around looking up on the counters to see if any food has been left out.   I wish I could just take him out to walk him. I know how much he enjoys it.  I can't afford to hire someone to do it and wouldn't trust any of the kids in this neighborhood. Andy is a strong dog and can be very willful.

   My MinPin is terrified of a collar and leash. I don't even think putting her in a harness would work. It's the LEASH she's most afraid of for some reason . She's a rescue so maybe she was hit with one or dragged around on one. I don't know. All I do know is that she is terrified and immediately hugs the ground and literally shakes with fear if you try to come near her w/the leash.

    Phoebe would probably be good on walks , I know she likes them but I think she has more fun running around in the yard w/the other 3 dogs. She gets PLENTY of exercise, being a JRT she is really active.
    My parents walk their dog 2x a day, every day. In the morning, around the neighborhood and usually in the evening they walk about 2 miles, down to the beach and back. Thing is .. their dog is OVERWEIGHT... even w/all the walking he does.  He is the only dog and they don't 'play' with him,  he's about 10 yrs old and has arthritis ( probably from the crappy food they've always fed him....Purina One or ProPlan ).
   Ok...that was my [sm=2cents.gif] worth.

Since when can you take a dog into a store... anywhere unless it's a service dog ?
I can see taking them into Petco, PetSmart, etc. But most stores just don't allow dogs, so what's the sense in bringing them out if they're not going anywhere where they can get out of the car ? I know people sneak little foofoo dogs in their purse/carriers but in general the majority of businesses do not allow animals inside.

Not everyone lives in the same town with the same circumstances. I don't even own a car and I live in a city where we do nothing but walk. I take my dog EVERYWHERE - just a few examples: the drug store, liquor store, Blockbuster, dry cleaner, Home Depot (yes) and even clothing stores. When weather permits, we eat at outdoor cafe's with him and go to farmer's markets, etc. Leash manners are crucial for some people depending on their individual lifestyle..

A dog on a leash can't go any faster than the person holding the other end.

LOL...wanna make a bet ?? I've had my dog DRAG me while he's running  ahead ! He is soooo strong he has literally taken off running w/me running behind trying to catch up to him w/o falling flat on my face. That's another reason why I don't like walking him anymore, besides the fact that I can't hold on to the leash because of the pain in my joints.

But most stores just don't allow dogs, so what's the sense in bringing them out if they're not going anywhere where they can get out of the car ?

I haven't read this entire thread so maybe I'm taking this out of context.  But, Willow LOVES to ride in the car.  The sense I see is that she gets to be with me, have a change of scenery, fresh air, maybe a treat from the D & D window.  She has no problem waiting for me (a reasonable amount of time, of course) to come out of any store.  She's a little too reactive for Petco so she waits outside there too, but she knows that's her store.  If she hasn't been for a ride in awhile, she can't get her butt down to the car fast enough to get in. 
 
Edited to add---Home Depot here has begun to allow leashed dogs.  I can see it there, it's so big and the way the floors are really, what damage could they do. 

Hey, Sharon...

Home Depot here lets them in. So does every pet shop, and most of the stores at the peir, if you can carry them. All of the resturants with outdoor seating will allow you to sit outside with a small dog, as well. I've eaten in Savannah with my little girls, too. Lots of places will let them in, as long as you're polite about it and your dogs behave decently. I've always socialized puppies by carrying them through stores where a lot of dogs don't go.

Here in TN the Lowes and Home Depot will allow dogs.  Shane loves to go with us.  He will sit in the cart looking like the prince he is.  I don't trust to walk him because the last time I tried it he was trying to mark everything.  Boys will be boys I guess.  But I just love taking Shane with us where ever we go.  Matter of fact after our last escapade of leaving town with out him (Shane ran away and was missing for 3 days)  We won't go anywhere overnight that he can't go.
 
Mollie and Shane

Glenda, I think that I am with you.  Now unless you consider going from my house, up the street and across the other street to the field a leash walk, I don't take my dogs for daily leash walks either, but they do get to go to the field for some ball and frisbee throwing everyday.  They run down the hill to catch it and then bring it back up the hill to me to repeat.  There is this GREAT field across from us and one day I went up to the house that sits in the middle of it and rang the doorbell.  When the lady answered the door, I felt like a HUGE dork, but introduced myself and asked her if the property behind her house was hers and if it was may I have permission to run my dogs there off leash for some exercise?  I truly think she thought I was crazy, but she said yes and now we have the best field around to play in, there are field mice to sniff at, a down tree to climb and plenty of room to throw that frisbee as hard as I can still not see the street!
 
So, I think that my dogs get excercise (when they are almost tripping over their tongues by the time we get home, I figure they have had enough for a while) and I don't feel like I am abusing them because they get plenty of outdoor time and indoor time.  Besides, they love it and I have fun too.
 
As for going places, they get that too, always have, but less now that we have Sydney.  (Going for a car ride is a really traumatic thing for her.)  But Nigel goes with me all the time, used to and still do take him with me into stores.  You will be AMAZED at how many stores allow pets if you ask first!  He was a great dress shopping partner for me one time and the store clerk loved having him in there.