Exercise Requirements vs Choices
By EvrWonder
@EvrWonder (3571)
Canada
May 12, 2009 1:49pm CST
I walk my dog as often as possible.
In my opinion, regardless of size, a dog should be walked, with it’s handler at least three times a day. Size would determine the duration.
What I don’t understand is how some people can choose to have a dog and simply let it out into the back yard to go potty a few times a day, without taking it for a walk.
Sure, there are times I am so tired, I don’t want to go and would rather just stretch out on the couch but I have to go.
It is the commitment I made when I took on ownership.
If I don’t go, my dog paws at me and looks at me with her beautiful eyes and such a pretty face that I have to. No matter what!
How do you exercise your dog?
Do you take your dogs for regular walks? If so, how often and for how long?
Our walks depend on the time of day and my schedule.
Our first walk of the day is early and last for about 45 minutes.
I try to get her out for lunch and that walk will be maybe 20 minutes but then I will be sure to take her to a park so she can run and play for an hour.
All depends on my schedule and weather.
At least three times a week I am sure to have an outing for my dog and I that will include a nice nature walk, in the woods or near the water. My dog likes to sniff flowers and climb rocks.
Walks and discipline always comes before she is fed and she gets fed three times a day so is why it is important that she walks everyday three times a day minimum.
I switch up our walks.
The last walk of the day is most relaxed. Weather pending, we can go for a quick fifteen minutes or for a couple hours.
How can people own a dog and not take it for walks? Engage themselves with the dog one on one in outings that keep the dog stimulated? Or have someone do it for them?
Even if you have a small toy dog, that is say an apartment dog, it is said that even they need to go for a walk, at least once daily.
All dogs need to do this to keep them content.
What are your views and opinions?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
15 May 09
You certainly commit a lot of time to your dog, that's for sure. I wholeheartedly believe in exercising my dog but I think most people would not be able to do it 3 times a day. It is recommended that a grown dog is only fed once a day so I guess if you are going to over feed your dog he will need the exercise...I must admit, my dog has breakfast and dinner 
, even my goats who graze all day get a wheat biscuit in the morning and special flaked barley at night.
I don't always walk Lucy, but we have a huge yard and I play ball with her running and fetching, I sometimes take her swimming too, she loves it so.
Like you I don't understand these people who don't exercise their dogs except to put them outside to go potty. Worse than that, I abhor this most recent new practice of crating dogs so they are confined in a cage for most of their lives. Why have a dog?
, even my goats who graze all day get a wheat biscuit in the morning and special flaked barley at night.
I don't always walk Lucy, but we have a huge yard and I play ball with her running and fetching, I sometimes take her swimming too, she loves it so.
Like you I don't understand these people who don't exercise their dogs except to put them outside to go potty. Worse than that, I abhor this most recent new practice of crating dogs so they are confined in a cage for most of their lives. Why have a dog?
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
17 May 09
Hi Ms. Tickle ~ I so agree, why crate a dog? I do not agree with it, even for training purposes. That is like our parents putting us in a crate to try & teach us something.
I was feeding my dog, the chicken, rice a carrots, plus varied vegies, three times a day, plus her kibble, but all in small portions because up until two, she was prone to hypoglycemia. These small dogs are. Especially when exercising.
I can't say that I was or am over feeding my dog. Her portions are small and her weight gets monitored.
The vet has informed me not to let her get over weight as these small dogs and their hips & knees can have problems. Besides, who wants an over weight dog.
Since my dog is going on into her third year, (her second birthday was May 02 :D) frequent feedings isn't as important as it was, up until age two.
I have cut Roxy's food back now. As far as the cooked food goes. Once a day but sometimes two. Otherwise she can eat her kibble.
Yes, I do spend a lot of time with my dog.
I figure, if I have the opportunity, why not? She likes it and so do I.
Roxy is also a thinker. If she is confined and not stimulated, she thinks too much.
I haven't taken my dog swimming yet but I hope to this summer. I think it would be fun for her also.
It really aches when I learn of dogs who are not getting much attention, are tied up all day with no friends to play with etc.
Even the dogs at the S.P.C.A get more attention & exercise than that!
I realize that my dog doesn't need as much exercise as I give her but she loves adventure and I am so up to exploring with her. At the very least my dog would go out twice a day, say if there is a blizzard or something. Otherwise we get out as much as we possibly can! I wish more people would do this with their dogs. makes for a happier one, that's for sure.
Thank you for your response. Great to hear from you!
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
17 May 09
Hi Evr. I've really enjoyed discussing Roxy with you. It reminds me of my own little dog Pixie who crossed the rainbow bridge many years ago now. She was a Maltese Silky cross and full of fun and mischief. We would go for lots of walks but if we stayed out too long she would get tired and need to be carried....lol. I miss her a lot
@AmbiePam (120630)
• United States
12 May 09
When I was a child, my family had a big back yard. So my sister and I would go outside in the backyard and throw frisbees and balls, and my dog would run, and then he'd try to snag a toy out of our hands... We never walked him, although he was let out of the yard to go with us around the front yard, and the house. But it wasn't safe for us to go past our street, so walking our dog wasn't a real option, but I don't think he missed out on anything. He was a small dog, and a very happy one.
I live in an apartment, and I have a small dog. He is 7.3 pounds. I walk him about three times a day, but we also go to my parent's house several times a week, and he runs around there free as a bird. A thing about Sherlock is that he mainly eats at night. He doesn't like to eat during the day. So I make sure I take him out ten minutes after he finishes his meal. And I try to walk him right before I go to bed. But if I go to bed past midnight, I don't take him out. It isn't safe. So he gets three walks minimum, and we always enjoy going around. Inevitably we meet some other dog owners, and he gets to socialize. Strangely enough, he acts hesitant around small dogs like himself, but loves big dogs!
A dog should be walked at least once a day. If one can't, maybe it is possible to get a friend or neighbor to do it. You know, if a person is too ill to get out, but needs an animal companion. If they can't be walked often, I would suggest a small dog, defintely not a large dog. At one point I could only walk Sherlock once a day. It was a few years ago. He just got to be walked that once. He learned to go on puppy pads. But now it is a whole different story.
Strangely enough, he acts hesitant around small dogs like himself, but loves big dogs!
A dog should be walked at least once a day. If one can't, maybe it is possible to get a friend or neighbor to do it. You know, if a person is too ill to get out, but needs an animal companion. If they can't be walked often, I would suggest a small dog, defintely not a large dog. At one point I could only walk Sherlock once a day. It was a few years ago. He just got to be walked that once. He learned to go on puppy pads. But now it is a whole different story.@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
13 May 09
I often take my dog to my brothers place where Roxy runs and play in the front and back yard with their dog. Sometimes, if I am over there for dinner, I make sure she has her potty before we leave and that is the last time out for that day, say if we leave by 7:30-8:00 pm as Roxy crashed at 8:30 pm.
Good for you for walking your small dog three times a day. I am so happy that I am not the only one.
Yes, my Mom commented the other day that I should have some pepper spray for when Roxy & I are out at night.
Oh I love it when Roxy meets other dogs when we are out walking. I prefer the smaller ones as they are more her size. She likes them too but she goes for the big ones also. They frighten me if they are big and young. Too boisterous and Roxy could get hurt if they are jumping around and accidentally land on her..
Helping those who are ill with walking their dog is a nice gesture and the dog appreciates it.
Small dogs do not to need to be walked as far as a bigger dog.
Puppy pads are helpful. Sometimes in the winter, the weather can be quite extreme. My dog really didn't want to go out sometimes when the wind was blowing 90k.m. and the snow was coming down but she had to.
I had wished I could teach my house trained dog to go on pee pads. I have some for her. She just wont go inside. I will try. I have been told to take a pee pad and catch a bit of her pee when she is going potty outside and then bring it in so that she knows she can go there. That is a problem with my dog, she got in serious (probably physical) trouble for going potty inside when she was young. Before I got her. I have a feeling it is not going to be easy to get Roxy to learn to become paper trained but I wish I could get her to know it is Okay to because if our winter this year is anything like the last, she will need to go inside. It was way too cold for my six pounder to go out in that weather.
On rainy days she doesn't like to go outside as much either. On those days, i try to make a longer play time inside for her. I take her to visit people so she can still get the stimulation.
I like walking my dog. I enjoy being out there. Even if I have to push myself to go in the first place. I just look at my dog and it changes everything.
Thanks again for your response. Cheers.
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