Basset hounds are not great workout buddies.

EdieBird
EdieBird Posts: 38
edited September 29 in Chit-Chat
Just thought you'd all like to know that.

I took my 3 year old Basset Hound, Beau, for a fairly long walk this afternoon. He has to jog/trot to keep up with my normal walking pace. Poor short-legged dog! I had to walk slower so he wouldn't get worn out before we got back home, no WAY am I carrying a 60-pound dog half a mile. He did like the part where we walked down the beach though, sniffing around and smelling the seabirds. Now that we're home, he's gone "flat Basset," a condition where Bassets collapse flat out on the floor and no force of heaven or earth can move them until they're ready to get up again. (AKA, stubborn doggie needs a LONG nap!)

Beau also "helps" with my regular workouts, licking my face while I do pushups, trying to crawl under my arms for a hug while I'm doing crunches, and sitting RIGHT in front of me while I'm doing knee lifts or kicks. He's my cheerleader.

Replies

  • natskedat
    natskedat Posts: 570 Member
    This. I. Love. Cheers for dogs.
  • Jessamin
    Jessamin Posts: 338 Member
    Neither are British Bulldogs. He tries his darndest. :(
  • fab50G
    fab50G Posts: 384 Member
    Chihuahuas keep up a surprisingly good pace! LOL
  • Heather75
    Heather75 Posts: 3,386 Member
    Aww. Cute.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    Pugs aren't such great workout companions either! (I have three of them). :-) The youngest can come along on walks when the weather is cool, but he's exhausted afterward.
  • jenstanley13
    jenstanley13 Posts: 193 Member
    I love this!! My fat lab loves to go for walks but just sprawls out on the tile as soon as we get home...the heat is not a friend for her! My weimer would make a great walking/jogging partner...unfortunately he thinks everything belongs to him and I have to make sure we don't cross paths with anyone (he is a rescue and apparently did not get much socialization when he was younger).
  • fridayjustleft04
    fridayjustleft04 Posts: 851 Member
    Retrievers aren't great for workouts, either. I tried to take mine for a run and all he did was get right in front of me and stop. Eventually I just walked. It was either that or trip over an 80 pound dog every 3 steps. When I workout, I have to keep the door closed so he (or the other dogs) can't get to me in an effort to lick my face/get in my way/get kicked or hit. Although, once when I was doing crunches, my goldie DID lay on his back next to me like he was going to do them too. Hahaha :laugh:
  • jujubean1992
    jujubean1992 Posts: 462 Member
    I LOVE IT! so cute. all my kitties do is lounge on the couch and watch me as they drift off to sleep.
  • bethvandenberg
    bethvandenberg Posts: 1,496 Member
    I had to put my basset hound down at the end of last summer. I was so sad. But I don't ever think I'd ever have another one. They are so stubborn! I literally had to wait one time on a walk for 30 min till he would get up and walk again. Then I bought a wagon so I could tow him home. But I did love it when he would flip his ear over his eyes to shade his eyes while he slept.

    My vet once told me that I could walk to mexico with the dog and he'd still weigh the same. lol

    That so made me smile. Great story...I miss my Flash....
  • acaudill042106
    acaudill042106 Posts: 108 Member
    My tiny chihuahua is no workout buddy either..but i've felt under the weather today and she's been super loving! I'm always afraid i'll stomp her while working out..she weighs only 3 lbs.
  • taldie01
    taldie01 Posts: 378
    Surprisingly my min pin can run 5kms, I was worried Id have to find a couch to 5kms program for him.
  • Jessamin
    Jessamin Posts: 338 Member
    The Bulldog may be a bit lacklustre but I am telling you my English Stafford is a GREAT work-out partner. Endless energy and enthusiasm from that little guy.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    CUTE! My cats help me workout by napping on my yoga mats warming them up for me :)
  • skinnybearlyndsay
    skinnybearlyndsay Posts: 798 Member
    My beagle is the same way. He HAS to stop and smell every little thing, so walking him at my normal pace can feel like I'm dragging a 25 pound weight behind me. :) But I know he's happy when he collapses on his "couch" when we get home.
  • bisky
    bisky Posts: 1,089 Member
    I had a Basset growing up. She was a great companion and loved to roam...at her pace. Now I have a golden that is related to the energizer bunny. Plus 3 cairn terriers....definetly not workout dogs.
  • cchelll
    cchelll Posts: 12 Member
    I loove Bassets. You are so lucky to have a great buddy.
  • bwilcox30
    bwilcox30 Posts: 30 Member
    Love this, my bassett cannot make it around the block. Gotta love him though!
  • tam120
    tam120 Posts: 444 Member
    I have a 10 year old 8 lb poodle who is surprisingly quick but doesn't like to go anywhere but down the street to the park, If I try to walk anywhere else he lags behind or tries to go into people's yards like he thinks it's our house. The rott/shepherd runs too fast, I tried to keep up and I got bad shin pain for days. For her it's all or nothing. we're running fast or we're walking fast, nothing in between, that's why she goes to daycare 3 days a week.

    LOVE DOGS! :love:
  • greyhoundluv
    greyhoundluv Posts: 49
    You would think my greyhounds would be wonderful running buddies, but no way!! When I have tried to break into a little run with them they either stop dead,or just trot along but look at me the whole time with the most incredulous expressions, like "don't you know we are retired??" or maybe it's "you silly human with your piddly pace, we are just humoring you when we can so easily crank it up to 35 mph!!"
  • charmsangel13
    charmsangel13 Posts: 50 Member
    Hahahah!! I have 3 mini foxies and they love to help me work out. I actually started using them as weights when I did crunches. They love walking too (not great with other dogs, but getting better) as long as I dont go further than 5 km ... any more and I end up carrying one or more back to the car. Luck their combined weight is like 15 kgs. Thats them in my ticker!
  • eeeekie
    eeeekie Posts: 1,011 Member
    I have a Dachshund/Chihuahua mix...NOT a good workout buddy. He also have very short legs, he's quite rotund as well so he doesn't move all that fast. He has arthritis and patella mis-tracking. I used to take him on mile long walks uphill and all and he was so slow but it's only gotten worse. He slows to a very sloooooooow walk after he's done his business. However, if he sees another dog he's got a new pep in his step and all his energy comes back quite quickly lol

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  • EdieBird
    EdieBird Posts: 38
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    Ahhhh! Love that expression! ROFL
  • Andee08
    Andee08 Posts: 147 Member
    My Akita is HORRIBLE during the summer, he would much rather be on top of the AC vent then outside. However, he is great motivation during the horribly cold months. He does not like weather above 60 degrees but can handle anything down to -10! My German Shepherd mix is the best work out buddy as she never gets tired and always wants me to keep going. They are the perfect match, one for winter and one for summer and both for the spring and fall!
  • elinsofie
    elinsofie Posts: 69 Member
    Surprisingly my min pin can run 5kms, I was worried Id have to find a couch to 5kms program for him.

    I'm not surprised :) The min pins I know have tons of energy! Many small dogs have just as much stamina as larger dogs. I don't run, but taking my havanese for long/fast walks has never been a problem.

    My dog often leaves the room when I workout on my Wii. I guess he doesn't like that I get to jump around and play while he's not allowed to join. But when I get to the cool down exercises at the end of the workout he comes back to lick my ears :)
  • funnigurl13
    funnigurl13 Posts: 3 Member
    My beagle is the same way. He HAS to stop and smell every little thing, so walking him at my normal pace can feel like I'm dragging a 25 pound weight behind me. :) But I know he's happy when he collapses on his "couch" when we get home.

    Ditto with the beagle! I don't walk her very often (she wishes I didn't work full-time so I could) but whenever I do, it's nose the ground and a million stops to "pee!" It's still a good workout, but it would nice if she could keep up!
  • Atlantique
    Atlantique Posts: 2,484 Member
    My pit/border collie is great for runs or long walks.

    But every time I get on the floor, she spends the entire time dropping her toys on me in the hope of starting a game of fetch. Then she'll bark to remind me that I haven't thrown the toy yet. :D
  • eeeekie
    eeeekie Posts: 1,011 Member
    Ahhhh! Love that expression! ROFL

    He was super excited. It was his first time at the beach lol
  • keesees
    keesees Posts: 4 Member
    I know how you all feel. I have a Pom-bass and he is just worn out and doing the "flat basset" thing too after our walks. Unfortunately we have been having a lot of rain so we have missed a couple of days but finally got back out today! As for carrying him....never in a million!! lol
  • squigglypuff
    squigglypuff Posts: 279 Member
    my bullmastiff is THE WORST. sometimes he'll stop in the middle of a walk, lay down, and refuse to move. i have to call someone to come around with a car because there is NO WAY i'm carrying a 140lb dog.
  • EdieBird
    EdieBird Posts: 38
    my bullmastiff is THE WORST. sometimes he'll stop in the middle of a walk, lay down, and refuse to move. i have to call someone to come around with a car because there is NO WAY i'm carrying a 140lb dog.

    I call Mastiffs speedbumps...there's one that visits the nursing home where I work, a lovely therapy dog named George. When his owners says it's time to leave, he'll literally lie down across the hallway (usually at lunchtime when the residents are trying to get to their dining rooms) until someone bribes him to move. His owner usually has to tell him they'll go see a specific person, who gives George massages, before he'll budge. It's like a flat Basset times three. LOL
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