How often do you walk your dog(s) & for how long?

yourenotmine

Just curious - I know so many people who don't walk theirs at all. I shoot for at least twice a day, and the time varies. Unfortunately, I don't make my mark often enough.

Oh, also, if you have more than one, do you walk them together? Mine are trouble makers when they're together, so when I think I can't take it, I have to walk them separately.

coliema

I have one dog, and I try to walk him every night for at least 30 minutes, normally it's more but I never head beack any earlier than 30 minutes. I wish I could walk mine twice a day, I just don't have the time with work and school and the home life. To make up for it, I take him in the car with me, he loves car rides It's getting colder out here now, so we are walking less days a week.

SuffolkSally

I do one walk a day. I try to vary the time so she doesn't get set in her ways, but in practice it's usually afternoon. We always walk a minimum 20 mins (that's only in rainy or very hot weather) usually it's around an hour, depending on which route we take.

I've no time for people who don't exercise their dogs adequately and then complain about their behavioural problems, particularly if they've got themselves a big energetic working breed. There was some stupid woman on here once saying that her mastiff, which she couldn't walk because of working such long hours (meaning that the dog was left alone 12 hours a day) had started chewing badly, including through the metal bars of the crate he was confined in. That's just straightforward abuse, although she most offended when I suggested she rehome the poor beast to someone actually prepared to look after it.

chenabear

I have 2 big dogs we walk them every morning for 1 to 1 1/2 hours then at night we try to take them for a bike run, they love it

dawn2313

I have one dog, yellow lab, and like most doggies he needs to be out running around quite a bit! I walk him at least once every day. It can vary between 30 and 60 minutes. In the summer it can be longer because we go to this place where he can swim, so he loves that and we're usually out for quite a while!

guacamole17

We have three. When I'm home on the weekends they get an hour jog/walk. During the week, about 30 minutes. They also get play time outside with a ball or frisbee. If we skip a day or two, its extremely obvious and good reminder of why they need the exercise!

melaniecheeks

I have 2 and they are very difficult to walk togather, as they both pull on the lead. I'll try to go jogging with the big dog a few times a week, and give them both a looooong walk at weekends. Though it's hard to find somewhere that it's safe to let them run off leash. Max has escaped into a field of sheep on more than one ocassion, which is not acceptable, and Mini gets her fur very matted with teasles if she's in a forest. And I'm trying to encourage my busband to take them for walks too, since he's at home all day and I work full time!

Cassie8877

I have one dog, yellow lab, and like most doggies he needs to be out running around quite a bit! I walk him at least once every day. It can vary between 30 and 60 minutes. In the summer it can be longer because we go to this place where he can swim, so he loves that and we're usually out for quite a while!

Ditto... other wise the dog park.works

guacamole17

I have 2 big dogs we walk them every morning for 1 to 1 1/2 hours then at night we try to take them for a bike run, they love it

I wish we had the time and energy to do this for our pups (and ourselves!). I'm impressed!

Nix143

I have 2 pugs - they get walked in the morning before I go to work for about 15 minutes then everyday the dog walker comes and walks them for half an hour. Then if the weather is ok when I get home they get walked again. So generally 2/3 times a day - on the weekends they get much longer walks from me because we all enjoy it.

dawn2313

I have one dog, yellow lab, and like most doggies he needs to be out running around quite a bit! I walk him at least once every day. It can vary between 30 and 60 minutes. In the summer it can be longer because we go to this place where he can swim, so he loves that and we're usually out for quite a while!

Ditto... other wise the dog park.works

Yesss, the dog parks are fun!!

yourenotmine

I have one dog, yellow lab, and like most doggies he needs to be out running around quite a bit! I walk him at least once every day. It can vary between 30 and 60 minutes. In the summer it can be longer because we go to this place where he can swim, so he loves that and we're usually out for quite a while!

Ditto... other wise the dog park.works

Yesss, the dog parks are fun!!

Ugh, I wish I liked the dog park. I turn into a huge neurotic mess, seeing my dog surrounded by a sea of animals whose owners look to me like they are all talking to each other or drinking a coffee and reading the newspaper. It totally freaks me out. I do like taking the one who enjoys it to day care though... That way she gets lots of play time and I don't have to watch. lol

Geez - I didn't mean that to sound like I think you guys don't pay attention at the dog park - that was just my experience. I'm sure you are all lovely people.

Quarrysider

The two old ladies get 30 mins once a day, sometimes together. The young loon has to go on her own, twice a day for 30 mins in the morning and 45-90mins pm, depending which of us is doing it. We (UK) don't really have dog parks, but I think we have fewer 'general restrictions' on where dogs can and cannot go, on or off lead. At least for now anyway! My next door neighbour has a lab, I've never seen her out for a walk - must be quite boring for the dog?

coliema

I have 2 big dogs we walk them every morning for 1 to 1 1/2 hours then at night we try to take them for a bike run, they love it

I have tried taking my dog on a bike run, it did not work out great at all! He didn't get the concept that he had to run while I biked, he kept stopping and just starring at me and then the leash got caught up in the bike tire, hahaha, ohhh it was a long walk home trying to walk the bike and him.

djc315

I walk my dog daily, about 2 miles in a very hilly area. We are working up to doing more

She is burnt after the 2 miles for like 10 minutes, then is back to her crazy self. So I know she would love to go more often.

Wuggums

Maxine gets 2 to 3 walks/jogs per day, usually anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes each. Lately, we've been also been walking wooded trails in the area - which she loves. Plus, she goes to doggie daycare three days a week so she can be around other dogs. I don't like the off leash dog parks in our area - too many stupid owners...

dawn2313

I have one dog, yellow lab, and like most doggies he needs to be out running around quite a bit! I walk him at least once every day. It can vary between 30 and 60 minutes. In the summer it can be longer because we go to this place where he can swim, so he loves that and we're usually out for quite a while!

Ditto... other wise the dog park.works

Yesss, the dog parks are fun!!

Ugh, I wish I liked the dog park. I turn into a huge neurotic mess, seeing my dog surrounded by a sea of animals whose owners look to me like they are all talking to each other or drinking a coffee and reading the newspaper. It totally freaks me out. I do like taking the one who enjoys it to day care though... That way she gets lots of play time and I don't have to watch. lol

Geez - I didn't mean that to sound like I think you guys don't pay attention at the dog park - that was just my experience. I'm sure you are all lovely people.

Haha no worries girl I'm sure some people may do that, but screw that I play with all the dogs there!! Hahaha I pretty much turn into an animal also and just run around with them- that way I can still play with my doggie too.

shoshi68

I aim for one walk a day. When I am off-call, we go to the dog park, and get in 30-60 minutes of walking about. It is a huge, beautiful dog park, and usually has a bunch of dogs and their humans there, weather depending. When off-call, unfortunately, I have to stay close to home, so she gets the ball thrown at the little athletic field across the street until she is tired.

Cinnamonie

German Shepherd - We take her for a 15 - 20 min walk in the morning and I'm usually out for about 2 hours at night with her walking around in the park. She LIVES for the park. It makes me so happy just seeing how happy she is there, that I don't even mind it!

blushingmama

I have two. If my husband is home we'll walk them together, if not I walk them separately. They get 3 walks a day, no matter the weather, and we generally go for 10-15 minutes each time. Some of that time is spent doing a good deal of sniffing - the senior dog doesnt' move as fast these days

ahviendha

I try once a day, usually is every 2-3 days. My bf will walk him independently of me though, he also tries 1x a day but ends up being every 2-3 days as well (our dog is 9 years old, 50 lbs).

I used to walk/run him daily, but since I've been 40+ plus hours at work the past few weeks it's been harder.

We make up for it on the weekends, take our pooch on 4-6 hour hikes through the mountains.

seehe

I have 2 dogs and I try to either walk them each day for 25-30 minutes, take them to the dog park, or use a bike attachment and take one at a time on a bike ride. There is only one out of four dog parks I will use where it is usually the same nice group of dogs and owners as I have seen and heard about awful experiences at the other dog parks.

nis75p06

The joys of country life... My dog (rat terrier) is outside, with the run of 15 acres, when I am not at home. He spends most of his time either asleep under the porch, chasing cats, or barking at any delivery guy.

We go on "official" walks a once or twice a week, for a mile or two.

hollyNhollywood

I work from home, so except for my planned exercise for the day, walking the dog is the only time I'm moving during the day.
I am fortunate to live across the street from a string of waterfront parks. So in the morning, we usually do a quick walk around the tennis courts which comes out to be a 1/3 mile. Sometimes we walk more... thru an arboretum and along the water. Which can be 1/2 mile to a 1 mile. But 1/3 is typical.
At dinner time, we usually walk down to the dog park (where he can play for about 10-20 minutes) and then walk back along the water. That is just under a mile.
At bedtime, I stumble down the stairs to let him pee out on the grass next to the sidewalk.. :yawn:

mcpjan

1 have 2 small dogs. I walk them first think in the morning usually around 5 am for about 20 minutes. On days I am home at noon I walk them over my lunch for about 40 minutes and then we walk again around 6 PM for 30 minutes. I do most of these walks for me as I have a fenced in back yard.

januadiaboli

I aim for twice a day, but that doesn't always happen. We've got a pair of English Springer Spaniels, who will only behave together on-leash with head collars; otherwise, they're just evil incarnate!

We usually go for half an hour or so, and I let them off leash at about the 5-minute mark (once we're out of town) so they can run in the fields to their hearts' content. At the moment, we've only been taking our male out as our female's yard-bound (she's in heat and I don't want to breed her until next year).

One more week, then we'll be back to normal until the snow flies. We taper off to one walk a day once it gets below -20C, then switch them to running on our treadmill once it hits about -35C or so ... that's the point at which neither they nor I want to be outside at all!

maryd523

I am curious about something. I have a 3-year-old Boxer who has a lot of energy. I've never felt that simply walking him on the leash meets his exercise needs at all. It's better than nothing, but a walk just doesn't seem to do it for him. I usually walk him over to a school where he runs and fetches the ball, or I take him to the dog park, or the lake to swim, or take him running with me with some off-leash time at the end.

He also loves to wrestle and play with other dogs, so if he gets to do that inside, we don't have to go outside.

Cooper has to be able to run at full-speed to really get worn-out.

Does anyone else feel this way?

sugarlips1980

I've got 2 staffies, one rescue who especially bounces off the walls, nipping our ankles if we skip a day of walkies! At the mo walk them for an hour a day, often a bit longer on a Saturday. But I'm out of work at the mo, while in work it tends to be 20-30 mins each evening.

Amo_Angelus

I aim for 3.5 miles every day. Which takes us about an hour, sometimes more, sometimes less, depends on how much we run and how many doggy friends we meet. I used to take him out in the evening too for another mile, but he's very protective of me after dark and he will bark and lunge at anyone who he thinks is too near me. This is entirely my fault, I'm very nervous after dark because I was almost killed in a viscious and unprovoked attack from a gang of youths after dark once. So we both stopped. My hubby sometimes does the night walk, and Paws is much nicer with him at night, but I didn't like it and pushing through it only seemed to be making Paws as nervous as me, so evenings are either out in the garden or out with my husband.

Sometimes we go further than the 3.5 miles, but we usually go the same route around our local park, which is where the random mileage comes from. Sometimes I just take him onto the field behind the house (although that field put me in hospital over the summer, so we haven't been since) and I let him off lead, then we don't stay out for any distance or time, we run and play until he gets bored/wants his dinner. He gets fed when we get in unless we plan on being out for any substantial length of time.

dalana84

I walk my guys (2 pitties) twice a day, sometimes 3 since my toddlers are walk obsessed lol. Also work them in agility and rally. They are both very active and I cannot even imagine what things would be like if they didn't get out and about. Ive had so many clients call about "problem" and "destructive" dogs and most of the time when I ask about their activities during the day I get "well I work all day so Fido is home alone/in his crate. Sometimes we walk on the weekends. :noway: Every dog should get out and have a chance to get a great "burn" just like we do!

Car0lynnM

We don't walk the dog any more. We have a fenced in yard, and he goes to doggie day care once a week for socialization and exercise. He does okay walking on the leash, but as soon as he sees a car or another person out, he's off and I can't hold him back. Hopefully we'll be able to work on it again in the future.