Counting walking the dog?

purpleprose
purpleprose Posts: 650
edited October 5 in Fitness and Exercise
Hey MFP!

I just rescued a 2 year old beagle and she is incredibly active! We take about 3 - 4 longish walks per day at a pretty good clip, including some stints of running. I haven't been wearing my HRM for them because I haven't been considering them "exercise" per se, but they definitely are burning calories. Do you count walking your dog as exercise? These walks are in addition to my regularly-scheduled workouts (running, personal training, yoga, etc).

I'm just curious, since I don't normally include "routine" items in my diary (I never log house cleaning, for example, since I think that's just part of life).
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Replies

  • kathydp
    kathydp Posts: 21 Member
    I count it.
  • ptweightloss
    ptweightloss Posts: 22
    In the exercise section there's a walking (walking dog) option, and I always count it. So you definitely should!
  • rextcat
    rextcat Posts: 1,408 Member
    oh yeah!!
  • Pocket_Pixi
    Pocket_Pixi Posts: 1,167 Member
    Never log house cleaning unless I am moving heavy things around or scrubbing the floor by hand...

    as for walking the dog, I count it.
  • priescm
    priescm Posts: 95
    YESSSSS! I walk my 2 dogs every night and use my HRM...I usually walk them WAY longer than I think (I THINK around 20 mins, but it IS around an hour) and in that time, I usually burn between 200 and 300 calories...MORE if I jog them for a bit or do sprints with them!
  • Cinnamonie
    Cinnamonie Posts: 138
    Once I started walking her long and regularly, I upped my activity level to like lightly active or something. That way it's counted in. I got a bodybugg for a while and saw that the days I commuted to class and took the dog to the park I burned 2700 without exercise added. So i set my calorie goal to 1500 and figure it will work itself out.
  • SunLove8
    SunLove8 Posts: 693 Member
    By all means, yes! I do because it is exercise. I have an Australian Shepard that is hyper too so I feel your pain, lol. We get to walking at 4.0 mph at times and even job together. Perfect exercise buddy!
  • Marig0ld
    Marig0ld Posts: 671 Member
    If there are spurts of running, then I say "yes," definitely log it!
  • Poohbear_Princess
    Poohbear_Princess Posts: 16
    I count mine as well since we normally are powerwalking or running. we have a wiemaraner and he dosen't like to go slow : )
  • SunLove8
    SunLove8 Posts: 693 Member
    *jog
  • _Timmeh_
    _Timmeh_ Posts: 2,096 Member
    I count it. Search exercise for walking dog.
  • MisterDubs303
    MisterDubs303 Posts: 1,216 Member
    I count them, but I'm taking the walks purposefully for exercise. We usually walk 5 miles, but sometimes only 3.5.
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member
    Heck yes I count it! I think the last time I walked my dog I buned 556 calories. I do wear my HRM, though. My experience with MFP is it's very generous.
  • ak_in_ak
    ak_in_ak Posts: 657 Member
    i have a beagle mix and our walks where my excersize all summer. We did a 2 mile loop with lots of hills and I would run sections of it. I burned 300 cals usually so yes I would count it!
  • MrsSWW
    MrsSWW Posts: 1,585 Member
    Once I started walking her long and regularly, I upped my activity level to like lightly active or something. That way it's counted in. I got a bodybugg for a while and saw that the days I commuted to class and took the dog to the park I burned 2700 without exercise added. So i set my calorie goal to 1500 and figure it will work itself out.

    I've just changed my setting to a similar level, got fed up with trying to log all the various walks I do with the dogs and commute - changed to lightly active (though I think with 4 walks you could change to active), then just count your actual workouts. I changed because I'd hit a 6 week plateau and so far it seems to be working.
  • leopardvice
    leopardvice Posts: 73
    i count it if the rest of the day you have been out and about and moving around as well. if youve been pretty much sedentary i wouldnt count it.
  • brigg9
    brigg9 Posts: 104 Member
    I count mine. With my German Shepherd it's either "power-walk WITH the dog" or "drag the human." It's the only speed she knows. We'll do about three-ish miles in 40-45 minutes. It's great for cardio. =)
  • MrsSWW
    MrsSWW Posts: 1,585 Member
    Oh, and well done for rescuing a dog rather than buying a puppy - we are a rescue household too with 3 to keep us busy!
  • WarriorWomanMaxine
    WarriorWomanMaxine Posts: 162 Member
    yeah i count it after all its exercise
  • ronda_gettinghealthy
    ronda_gettinghealthy Posts: 777 Member
    I count it... because it is not the same everyday...some days are shorter, some longer some faster some slower and with my Dalmatian Howdy...it is ALWAYS and adventure to go for a walk....
  • smpreston
    smpreston Posts: 262 Member
    I walk our dog about 30 minutes each morning. I don't ever log it though as there just aren't enough calries burned to justify it to me. I use those calories as a cushion for missed or miscalculated food logging.
  • KarenG1213
    KarenG1213 Posts: 24
    Count the walking...but I don't count housework unless it's deep cleaning or moving furniture, etc. We are a doberman rescue home, so I'm there with you on rescues!!! Good job! : )
  • FaugHorn
    FaugHorn Posts: 1,060 Member
    I count those things because this is set for me being sedentary, if I don't track extra calories I burn then it will be inaccurate. What's your activity level set to?
  • i_am_asparagus
    i_am_asparagus Posts: 336 Member
    Dog walking definitely counts, especially if you're walking briskly. My dog doesn't like going slow so I normally burn around 500 cals on a 90 min walk. When he's off the lead I do powerwalking to make sure every minute counts.
  • purpleprose
    purpleprose Posts: 650
    Once I started walking her long and regularly, I upped my activity level to like lightly active or something. That way it's counted in. I got a bodybugg for a while and saw that the days I commuted to class and took the dog to the park I burned 2700 without exercise added. So i set my calorie goal to 1500 and figure it will work itself out.

    I've just changed my setting to a similar level, got fed up with trying to log all the various walks I do with the dogs and commute - changed to lightly active (though I think with 4 walks you could change to active), then just count your actual workouts. I changed because I'd hit a 6 week plateau and so far it seems to be working.

    That's an interesting idea...I didn't even think of bumping up my overall activity level.

    Thanks for all the feedback! So many MFP dog owners. I hope it gets easier - our first few days have been stressful!
  • yoopergirl
    yoopergirl Posts: 41 Member
    Definately count it! I also rescued a dog recently, a little australian shephard. Interesting, since I had always said I never wanted a "working" dog 'cause I was too lazy to walk/work as much as they wanted. Glad I have her now.
  • emmyvera
    emmyvera Posts: 599 Member
    Yes, for sure!

    I have a mini doxie, so he isn't an everyday long walker. If I take him for a 10 minute slow walk then I don't count it.

    But when is ready to exercise himself and get his ears flapping in the wind..... then I count it! :wink:
  • FaugHorn
    FaugHorn Posts: 1,060 Member
    Definately count it! I also rescued a dog recently, a little australian shephard. Interesting, since I had always said I never wanted a "working" dog 'cause I was too lazy to walk/work as much as they wanted. Glad I have her now.

    I just adopted a little aussie shepherd mix too! She is CRAZY active (I didn't know her breed when I got her, she looked like a mutt) She can outrun me anyday, definitely keeping my heart rate up between exercise and having to clean up after her when she decides she's bored and needs to get into something...
  • mea9
    mea9 Posts: 561 Member
    I for sure count it!

    2year olds are great btw! I really don't get why people get puppies, train them, then "get rid" of them. Whatever. If I can get one, I'm not complaining! My last dog was 2 or 3 when I got him from the SPCA. He was house broken and he knew real tricks! BEST dog ever!
  • rthompson81
    rthompson81 Posts: 305 Member
    I count mine. With my German Shepherd it's either "power-walk WITH the dog" or "drag the human." It's the only speed she knows. We'll do about three-ish miles in 40-45 minutes. It's great for cardio. =)

    Ha ha, me too! I have a lab and a border collie mix. It's definitely exercise in my book just trying to keep up with them!
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