Does having a dog make/keep you more active?
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Depending on the breed, it will absolutely make your family more active. As most people on here have said already, the dog needs to be walked daily so that certainly helps with the activity level. On top of that, for me at least, my dog was very curious when he was a baby. He would wander around the house sniffing and trying to get in to anything he could, so he kept me on my feet just following him around to ensure he wasn't getting into trouble or chasing him to remove a sock from his mouth. And better yet, if you do not take the dog out regularly (depending on the breed), it will show you by terrorizing your house. When I would skip a walk day, I would come home the next day to a chewed up piece of furniture! That only had to happen a few times before I realized how critical exercise was to his behavior around the house.
Meet Hercules!
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Well, sadly my dog I easily out walk him and often carry him to finish any walks we go on... lol
But he sure is cute
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singingflutelady wrote: »
They sure are! I saw your baby earlier in the thread and tried to reply but MFP was acting up. Yours is so cute!0 -
My dog definitely made me more active. Before I got him, I would get MAYBE 5000 steps on my Fitbit, add in the daily walks and hitting over 10,000 is not a problem.
Big dumb Pitbull weimaraner mix.
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My boy has definitely made me more active! He has so much energy. He needs long walks daily and to be let off in a field to run. He's just turned 1 and is GSD x husky x whippet. He loves to play football in the garden!
I just fell madly in love with your dog and his crazy-long legs and goofy ears. 0 -
This is seriously one of the happiest threads on MFP. Loving all the cutie dogs! Here is another of my pup, Bella (aka Princess Puppernut).
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It can make you more active... My two are pretty happy to lay on the couch and watch Netflix so it is a choice. I have a 6 year old Lab, and a 7 year old puggle and while they love walks they don't demand them or care if they don't get one.0
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I_Will_End_You wrote: »My dog definitely made me more active. Before I got him, I would get MAYBE 5000 steps on my Fitbit, add in the daily walks and hitting over 10,000 is not a problem.
Big dumb Pitbull weimaraner mix.
Awwww! Love him! He looks like my pit boxer mix.0 -
Wow you guys and gals are lucky! My dog hasn't made me active at al. All he's done is get me a bunch of girls, ughhh, so annoying!
How YOU doin'?
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I_Will_End_You wrote: »My dog definitely made me more active. Before I got him, I would get MAYBE 5000 steps on my Fitbit, add in the daily walks and hitting over 10,000 is not a problem.
Big dumb Pitbull weimaraner mix.
Awwww! Love him! He looks like my pit boxer mix.
We thought he was a pit boxer mix when we got him....DNA test showed otherwise!0 -
I_Will_End_You wrote: »I_Will_End_You wrote: »My dog definitely made me more active. Before I got him, I would get MAYBE 5000 steps on my Fitbit, add in the daily walks and hitting over 10,000 is not a problem.
Big dumb Pitbull weimaraner mix.
Awwww! Love him! He looks like my pit boxer mix.
We thought he was a pit boxer mix when we got him....DNA test showed otherwise!
Ha, you've totally got me wondering because our girl has the same white chest star.0 -
http://dakd0cjsv8wfa.cloudfront.net/images/photos/user/bbd7/dc49/b549/633d/62b4/3ec7/34ba/817b3dd97fb5cb188cc1d022fc1b8ab9ccb2.jpg
I hope this image copy works.
Marley (Shih Tzu) 6 yrs and Mila (Samoyed) 3yrs0 -
http://dakd0cjsv8wfa.cloudfront.net/images/photos/user/bbd7/dc49/b549/633d/62b4/3ec7/34ba/817b3dd97fb5cb188cc1d022fc1b8ab9ccb2.jpg
I hope this image copy works.
Marley (Shih Tzu) 6 yrs and Mila (Samoyed) 3yrs
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I have not read all of the pages of replies -- But in scrolling through most everyone loves to be active with their dogs! Wonderful! Now, from a dog trainers point of view --- Please keep said puppy on lead and train to be on your left side and pace you - not pull you. Also, not sure what kind of puppy you are getting, but if it is a large breed - please be careful, for at least the first 18 months, of the surface your puppy runs on. Large breeds (80# and up) Can develop joint and long bone issues if run consistently on hard surfaces or for long lengths of time without benefit of working up to it. Of course, not All large breeds go through that, but it can happen. I was very careful with my rescued Bullmastiff (he tips the scales at 150#). Around 15 months he did develop long bone issues in the front from chasing our rescue Boston Terrier around the yard trying to keep up with the little guy. I run/walk both my guys at least 2-3 miles each, if not too terribly hot, separately, so that gives me at least 5 miles a day. Speaking of heat, if you have a brachycephalic (squishy faced) dog, be careful of the heat. They cannot move air as easily as a long snout and can over heat much easier. Now, get out there and Enjoy!! I (& my dogs) absolutely Love our time spent walking/smelling/running/smelling/scratching/smelling... Takes me longer to do those miles and it is so very worth it to me (& them!)0
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I_Will_End_You wrote: »I_Will_End_You wrote: »My dog definitely made me more active. Before I got him, I would get MAYBE 5000 steps on my Fitbit, add in the daily walks and hitting over 10,000 is not a problem.
Big dumb Pitbull weimaraner mix.
Awwww! Love him! He looks like my pit boxer mix.
We thought he was a pit boxer mix when we got him....DNA test showed otherwise!
Ha, you've totally got me wondering because our girl has the same white chest star.
Well, my dog's coloring comes from the Amstaff side, and the same markings are common in boxers, too. Backyard breeders breed pits with weimaraners trying to get "blue" puppies they can pass off as purebred. The DNA test was fun, if we pick up another shelter mutt, we'll definitely do it again.
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Keeping my pups/dogs on lead is one bit of advice I've never followed. I've walked all my dogs off lead from day 1 when tiny puppies, and that's just what they got used to doing.
I've never had a dog that as soon as you let them off lead they get over excited and sprint off, because they love the freedom of being off lead, because mine are never on lead, so it's no big deal to them.
Obviously If I'm on a busy road or street I clip the lead on, but that is very, very rare.0 -
Christine_72 wrote: »Keeping my pups/dogs on lead is one bit of advice I've never followed. I've walked all my dogs off lead from day 1 when tiny puppies, and that's just what they got used to doing.
I've never had a dog that as soon as you let them off lead they get over excited and sprint off, because they love the freedom of being off lead, because mine are never on lead, so it's no big deal to them.
Obviously If I'm on a busy road or street I clip the lead on, but that is very, very rare.
But you see this is why it makes people who do have dog aggressive dogs nervous. When I am walking and I see a dog of leash I always get worried. if your dog is friendly and approaches my dog will bite them. And I am not saying your dog would come over you may have perfect control of them. But I don't know this, so I don't want to take my dog out hoping everyone has their dog on leash, and hoping no friendly dogs run over to say hi
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starwhisperer6 wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »Keeping my pups/dogs on lead is one bit of advice I've never followed. I've walked all my dogs off lead from day 1 when tiny puppies, and that's just what they got used to doing.
I've never had a dog that as soon as you let them off lead they get over excited and sprint off, because they love the freedom of being off lead, because mine are never on lead, so it's no big deal to them.
Obviously If I'm on a busy road or street I clip the lead on, but that is very, very rare.
But you see this is why it makes people who do have dog aggressive dogs nervous. When I am walking and I see a dog of leash I always get worried. if your dog is friendly and approaches my dog will bite them. And I am not saying your dog would come over you may have perfect control of them. But I don't know this, so I don't want to take my dog out hoping everyone has their dog on leash, and hoping no friendly dogs run over to say hi
Definitely understand. I get nervous when I see a dog on lead approaching, and put mine on leash until we've passed. I also hate rambunctious uncontrollable dogs running up to mine, always followed by a call of "Don't worry he's friendly" by the owner. If they are going to have them off leash then they need perfect control/recall over them.0 -
starwhisperer6 wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »Keeping my pups/dogs on lead is one bit of advice I've never followed. I've walked all my dogs off lead from day 1 when tiny puppies, and that's just what they got used to doing.
I've never had a dog that as soon as you let them off lead they get over excited and sprint off, because they love the freedom of being off lead, because mine are never on lead, so it's no big deal to them.
Obviously If I'm on a busy road or street I clip the lead on, but that is very, very rare.
But you see this is why it makes people who do have dog aggressive dogs nervous. When I am walking and I see a dog of leash I always get worried. if your dog is friendly and approaches my dog will bite them. And I am not saying your dog would come over you may have perfect control of them. But I don't know this, so I don't want to take my dog out hoping everyone has their dog on leash, and hoping no friendly dogs run over to say hi
In that case it's your dog that needs training.
I have two rescues and neither were particularly well socialised by the trollops who owned them first, so they needed to be taught how to interact appropriately with other dogs, including other dogs that approach off lead. That was my responsibility as a dog owner.
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Although I do appreciate that US "leash laws" and "dog parks" and all that business is a very different culture from how most dog owners in the UK manage their dogs.
Here there is an expectation that dogs are "under control" but that is not equated with "on a lead". My collie stops and stays the SECOND she is told to do so. I don't need a lead for that.0 -
Christine_72 wrote: »starwhisperer6 wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »Keeping my pups/dogs on lead is one bit of advice I've never followed. I've walked all my dogs off lead from day 1 when tiny puppies, and that's just what they got used to doing.
I've never had a dog that as soon as you let them off lead they get over excited and sprint off, because they love the freedom of being off lead, because mine are never on lead, so it's no big deal to them.
Obviously If I'm on a busy road or street I clip the lead on, but that is very, very rare.
But you see this is why it makes people who do have dog aggressive dogs nervous. When I am walking and I see a dog of leash I always get worried. if your dog is friendly and approaches my dog will bite them. And I am not saying your dog would come over you may have perfect control of them. But I don't know this, so I don't want to take my dog out hoping everyone has their dog on leash, and hoping no friendly dogs run over to say hi
Definitely understand. I get nervous when I see a dog on lead approaching, and put mine on leash until we've passed. I also hate rambunctious uncontrollable dogs running up to mine, always followed by a call of "Don't worry he's friendly" by the owner. If they are going to have them off leash then they need perfect control/recall over them.
Same here. Dog on lead here usually means one of two things, either no recall or unsocialised.
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Although I do appreciate that US "leash laws" and "dog parks" and all that business is a very different culture from how most dog owners in the UK manage their dogs.
Here there is an expectation that dogs are "under control" but that is not equated with "on a lead". My collie stops and stays the SECOND she is told to do so. I don't need a lead for that.
Yeah, the US leash laws are full on!! Maybe that;s why there's so many uncontrollable dogs there, because they very rarely taste the freedom of being off the lead?? We have the same laws/understanding in Oz as the UK0 -
Christine_72 wrote: »starwhisperer6 wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »Keeping my pups/dogs on lead is one bit of advice I've never followed. I've walked all my dogs off lead from day 1 when tiny puppies, and that's just what they got used to doing.
I've never had a dog that as soon as you let them off lead they get over excited and sprint off, because they love the freedom of being off lead, because mine are never on lead, so it's no big deal to them.
Obviously If I'm on a busy road or street I clip the lead on, but that is very, very rare.
But you see this is why it makes people who do have dog aggressive dogs nervous. When I am walking and I see a dog of leash I always get worried. if your dog is friendly and approaches my dog will bite them. And I am not saying your dog would come over you may have perfect control of them. But I don't know this, so I don't want to take my dog out hoping everyone has their dog on leash, and hoping no friendly dogs run over to say hi
Definitely understand. I get nervous when I see a dog on lead approaching, and put mine on leash until we've passed. I also hate rambunctious uncontrollable dogs running up to mine, always followed by a call of "Don't worry he's friendly" by the owner. If they are going to have them off leash then they need perfect control/recall over them.
Same here. Dog on lead here usually means one of two things, either no recall or unsocialised.
Yep, yep0 -
Christine_72 wrote: »starwhisperer6 wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »Keeping my pups/dogs on lead is one bit of advice I've never followed. I've walked all my dogs off lead from day 1 when tiny puppies, and that's just what they got used to doing.
I've never had a dog that as soon as you let them off lead they get over excited and sprint off, because they love the freedom of being off lead, because mine are never on lead, so it's no big deal to them.
Obviously If I'm on a busy road or street I clip the lead on, but that is very, very rare.
But you see this is why it makes people who do have dog aggressive dogs nervous. When I am walking and I see a dog of leash I always get worried. if your dog is friendly and approaches my dog will bite them. And I am not saying your dog would come over you may have perfect control of them. But I don't know this, so I don't want to take my dog out hoping everyone has their dog on leash, and hoping no friendly dogs run over to say hi
Definitely understand. I get nervous when I see a dog on lead approaching, and put mine on leash until we've passed. I also hate rambunctious uncontrollable dogs running up to mine, always followed by a call of "Don't worry he's friendly" by the owner. If they are going to have them off leash then they need perfect control/recall over them.
Same here. Dog on lead here usually means one of two things, either no recall or unsocialised.
Around here everyone walks their dog on a leash. I rarely see a dog just walking off lead with their owner in my neighborhood. It has nothing to do with how they are trained or socialized.0 -
Christine_72 wrote: »Although I do appreciate that US "leash laws" and "dog parks" and all that business is a very different culture from how most dog owners in the UK manage their dogs.
Here there is an expectation that dogs are "under control" but that is not equated with "on a lead". My collie stops and stays the SECOND she is told to do so. I don't need a lead for that.
Yeah, the US leash laws are full on!! Maybe that;s why there's so many uncontrollable dogs there, because they very rarely taste the freedom of being off the lead?? We have the same laws/understanding in Oz as the UK
The only "leash law" for a better phrase that we have where we live is with respect to livestock, so anywhere where I walk across a field with sheep or cattle the dogs go on the lead. Part of the Countryside Code I believe.0 -
starwhisperer6 wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »Keeping my pups/dogs on lead is one bit of advice I've never followed. I've walked all my dogs off lead from day 1 when tiny puppies, and that's just what they got used to doing.
I've never had a dog that as soon as you let them off lead they get over excited and sprint off, because they love the freedom of being off lead, because mine are never on lead, so it's no big deal to them.
Obviously If I'm on a busy road or street I clip the lead on, but that is very, very rare.
But you see this is why it makes people who do have dog aggressive dogs nervous. When I am walking and I see a dog of leash I always get worried. if your dog is friendly and approaches my dog will bite them. And I am not saying your dog would come over you may have perfect control of them. But I don't know this, so I don't want to take my dog out hoping everyone has their dog on leash, and hoping no friendly dogs run over to say hi
In that case it's your dog that needs training.
I have two rescues and neither were particularly well socialised by the trollops who owned them first, so they needed to be taught how to interact appropriately with other dogs, including other dogs that approach off lead. That was my responsibility as a dog owner.
It would be lovely if we were all dog trainers I have worked with him, I have worked with him with a trainer, he now allows people into my home without freaking out and hiding under the bed for an hour (he is not aggressive per say, he is fear aggressive) if approached in a slow manner he allows dogs to interact with him. If someone else's out of control dog, not on a lead rushes us? He will bite them, and honestly I find it a tad bit offensive that you would assume this is my dog's problem, what with my dog being on a leash and in my control. But like you said, where you live there are not leash laws so I guess it is a good thing my dog lives here 0 -
Without a doubt having a dog will make you more active. My dog is now a senior citizen so we don't do the long walks we used to do, and boy, do I miss those! A dog is also great at motivating you to get out there, even when you don't feel like it. Enjoy your pup and you'll definitely feel much fitter.0
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Well this thread just got less delightful.
I've got a dog who is definitely IN training, but yes, he'll probably be a jerk if another dog came running up to us. We're working on it, and he's improved, but he's on a lead, all the time, and I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that, at least in neighborhoods and busy areas, other dogs ought to be on lead, too. Could be my ignorant American way of thinking, I suppose.
Maybe I'm just twitchy as a former greyhound owner/volunteer/enthusiast, but I just hate to see anyone believe that their dog is 100% predictable and trustworthy at all times. A well-trained dog shouldn't NEED the lead, the majority of the time. But the lead is for the dog's safety if/when the unpredictable happens. And the unpredictable rarely happens with enough warning to stop and clip on their lead.0
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