Exercising an on leash dog?

2shelties

I use a flexi on all our walks now, not really sure why it's such an unpopular thing. It's easy enough to reign them in if we have to walk closely by other people/dogs that we can't say hi to.

Flexi's are unpopular for several reasons - they break (my husky snapped our flexi lead after leaving the water), they stretch (giving the owner less control), they cause rope burns (when people aren't paying attention) 

Off our property our dogs are never off lead.  The parks have signs posted requiring dogs to be leashed at all times and some parks don't even allow you to bring a dog in them.  Thankfully we have a fenced in yard and the dogs do run/play/wrestle with each other in it.  We do walk them and they are allowed to sniff and wonder.  None of them are overweight or acting hyper or distructive from lack of exercise. 

Despite the fact that I live in an apartment complex, Honor is strictly an on-leash dog mainly because of the AKK attitude of "Run, run, run!".  Having said that, Honor is hardly fulfilled by a normal 30-minute leash walk.  But there's lots of ways to exercise on-lead.  A couple are:

1.) LOVING the long-lead, and playing fetch outside.  Honor plays fetch forever if you let her, and the physical and mental stimulation rocks her world.

2.) Practicing dog sports.  When the weather is temperate, we'll often practice obedience outside, which enhances mental stimulation because of all the distractions.  When it's bitterly cold (like recently), we'll practice in the hallways for the same reasons.

3.) Going to the outdoor mall that's a .25 of a mile away.  Just a "normal" walk becomes so much more when everybody wants to pet the "cute husky puppy", lol.   

4.) Traveling a few miles away to different parks, and giving her free reign of her long flexi (providing that we're the only ones around).  I get the benefits of a normal walk, and Honor goes nuts investigating the new terrain.

So in answer to the original question, no, a normal walk doesn't satisfy Honor.  But Honor's got bundles of drive and energy.  There have been several dogs in my extended family who were quite satisfied after a 30-minute walk.  I think it really comes down to whether or not you are fulfilling your dog's energy requirements.  There's many ways that leashed time can be highly stimulating. 

Interesting post!  I like getting ideas of new things to do with Honor. 

There is also the difference of having a small dog that isn't off leash outside compared to a large dog.  Rory is never off leash outside (unless at a friends or relatives with a fenced yard) but she is small enough that she can run around and do zoomies inside the house.  A large dog would not be able to do that.  But I'm sure she also doesn't have the energy level larger dogs have , if we walk to the park, hang out at the park (neighborhood park, not dog park) and walk back (back is all uphill), it's almost too much for her and shes out for the day..LOL.

I think it depends on the dog. Some dogs are not allowed off leash for medical and behavior reasons. My neighbor down the street has a greyhound who is walked 4-5 times a day, never off leash, and he is happy as a clam.

Casey, on the other hand, is mostly off leash, except for a morning or evening walk. He goes to the dog park, runs around in the back yard, the dog beach, or to work with me to play with the other dogs.

Zoe is never, ever allowed off leash outside.  Firstly we have a leash rule in our townhouse complex, and even so there are too many cars going by around here to let her run loose.  She is too small and low to the ground and an oncoming car would never see her.  Additionally, she isn't a candidate for a dog park as it is not worth have her back injured by an boisterous larger dog.  Even when I bring her to my in-laws, who have acres of property, she is still on leash because they do not have a fenced yard due to aesthetic reasons.  I could not let her run loose as the area is teaming with coyotes and bears, not to mention neighbor's loose dogs.  When I take her on a nice, brisk 20 minute walk, she is tired and ready for a nap.  So on-leash walks are good enough for her.  But to answer the other question, her behavior does not change much according to how much exercise she gets.  She tries to get away with misbehaving, exercise or not. 

Edie

Do you think the reason there are SO many dogs with behavioral problems around is because there are so many with loads of pent up energy?

I think lack of proper exercise is certainly one reason for dogs to develop behavioral problems. Yes. I think it's one of the main reasons.

Edie

How can a dog be satisfied mentally and physically if the only real exercise they get is on the end of a leash?

I think that depends on the dog. One of my dogs would be just fine with a leashed walk or two everyday. Another one needs more, but could make do with a few play sessions in the yard. The other two need a great amount of exercise, running, playing, etc. And I think some smaller dogs would do fine with leashed walks because of their short legs.

Edie

nor do i really consider running around in an enclosure as proper off lead exercise.

My experience is quite different with my Swissy.  All my dogs are always off lead and run free on our property - 3+acres.  I have heard people say many times that having freedom doesn't = exercise.  Not my experience at all.  I have three dogs, all go out together most of the time and each one of them are satisfied exercise wise each day.  They run, chase, play, wrestle each other all the time.  Just today for instance we watched out the window while River would play bow in the snow, stick his head way down and Brooke would sprint up and start chasing him.  They would run around in circles while my pug chased them unable to keep up.  This kind of play goes on all the time, especially since my Catahoula is all about playing so she elicits play 24X7. 

River my Greater Swiss was breed for intense working and needs much more mental stimulation as a working dog, while Brooke requires more physical exercise.  Physically River doesn't need that much exercise to be satisfied, but to be really exhausted type satisfaction always comes after a long walk or after one of his training classes (besides the fact that I enjoy them, I only do them because of the obvious mental simulation he gets from them), he needs that metal aspect and structure.  We don't walk on leash daily our schedules just don't give us give us that pleasure.  But we love our walks when we can and today we took a nice walk, on leash while it snowed probably around 3 miles and River hasn't moved since 4:00 PM he is pooped!  While my DH took the quad and Brooke up around the field and property giving her the running and bouncing she loves so much - she too hasn't moved much since our return.

Dogs need something in the lines of exercise and everyone should give them that opportunity as often and in anyway they can - even catch in the house is something.  If a dog is in the house all day, taken out for 5 minutes to pee it just can't be enough for most dogs - accept pugs, my pug finds that sleeping all day is enough physical and mental exercise for her and prefers it.

Each dog is different and each home is different.  My girlfriends litlle dog is never off lead but is walked at least 4 times a day for nice long walks each time and he does fine.

I have to add that if I had my choice and it was safe, my dogs would get their exercise off leash as I believe that is in the best interest of the dogs physical and mental well-being.  My mom's 7 dogs live very much like Swissy's dogs.  They have 12 acres (a horse property) to run, play, chase each other to their hearts content.  They are not excercised at all outside of what exercise they do themselves.  My parents are always outside doing something and the dogs all race out with them to investigate.  These are by far the most well-adjusted dogs I have ever seen.  And all of them were basket cases when she got them - rescues with serious problems that meant they couldn't be placed.  Now they are positively thriving.

Unfortunately in this day and age and given most of our current living situations, off leash play in big fields with other well adjusted dogs isn't always possible.  So the rest of us do the best we can.

My boys don't get off leash exercise everyday. When it's raining, or i work a 12 hour shift we don't exercise off leash. Kaiser is very laid back in the house, but when he gets outside, it's go time. I usually take a 2-4 mile jog with him, and it wears him out pretty good. Wyatt gets worn out on his walk because he jumps and hops the whole time. When i take them both at the same time, it's not as good of a workout because i make them both walk in a heel. A lot of their exercise comes from hardcore wrestling and chasing!

Kaiser really doesn't need a leash...however, people don't really like to see a 90 lb dog without a leash on. I have a huge field by my house that i take Kaiser to to play chuck-it. Also, when the weather's nice i go to Red River Gorge. I go on deserted trails and neither dog wears a leash. We usually go about 8 miles, and they have an awesome time romping in the woods and playing in the river.

I will simply answer that it IS easier than you might think. It depends on how you percieve the situation.

I don't have the off leash option. Simple put. I live in a backwards county in Vermont where dogs are the least of anybody's worries. I'd have to drive 1-1.5 hours to get to the nearest dog parks. I have a malamute with a very strong prey drive. I have no doubt that she would chase a deer until she got close to it and a. either injured it, b. it injured her or c. a and b: both occur. And then you have to factor in that it's ILLEGAL to allow your dog to chase a deer and people can SHOOT your dog in winter if they see it happening. And THEN, there's the idiot that will think my dog is a coyote and there's an open season on coyotes.

So, if all you do with your dog is a 15 minute walk once a day around the block, I would agree with you whole heartedly. I do at least a 30min every day. I know it's not enough. BUT, it's what I can do. I work part time and go to school full time. When I got her, I was 18 and naive. I had time then. I didn't think about college or work.

Many days it's a one to 1.5 hour hike in the woods. I don't go the same place every day, I mix it up to give her stimulation. A lot of times I will have her on a long line.

While off leash would be excellent, I don't think it's responsible for my situation.

It's POSSIBLE to exercise a large dog on leash- just most people don't do it properly. You have to get the dog moving fast enough to get his heart rate up for at least 30 minutes every day. And just because the dog doesn't destroy your house doesn't mean that on-leash slow human walk was enough exercise to keep the dog healthy. You have to move faster than a slow human walk. Jog, bike, or get the dog to pull you on a scooter- which has to be one of the funniest activities around for both dog and owner.

mudpuppy

or get the dog to pull you on a scooter- which has to be one of the funniest activities around for both dog and owner.

I would LOVE to do this. I'm too scared to ride a bike with a dog next to me, because it's not easy to just jump off and have total control over the dog. Rollerblading is the same way. But a scooter..that'd be great. I just can't find a suitable scooter. Got any recommendations for a really poor person? I don't think one of those cheapy Razor type scooters would be a great idea...

The Razors are dangerous- the little wheels are REALLY unstable at speed. Check out the Belize Toucan or the basic Torker (Dogscooter.com)- both are around $150- not CHEAP, but reasonably affordable.

we have a diggler dirt dog scooter. Heavy-duty brakes, off-road tires, the thing has been dragged on its side down the road on more than one occasion and it's a little scuffed up but going strong.