I do, 2 or 3 times a day. I just ask as sometimes I come across posts that say 'if he hasn't had a walk that day'. While I know sometimes things in our lives make it hard to walk the dogs continuously through the year I'd feel so guilty if I couldn't. Even when I pulled a muscle in my back a few years ago I would still drive to a field and let her run about.

But I must admit, being a single mum with 2 kids and 2 dogs sometimes, only sometimes I really can't be bothered and would like a day off lol.

Sadly I know of one walker that only takes his dog out about once a month :( And he wonders why they are both funny and scared of everything.

So yes, do any of you have the very odd occasional day off?

If I'm going to a show I can't walk them, but I get hubby to walk the one that doesn't do shows. Other than that, I only miss a day once in a blue moon. I have smaller breeds that don't NEED to be walked every single day - but they enjoy it so much I feel mean if I miss a day!

The only days I haven't walked them is when I've been away or in hospital - but then they've always been walked by someone else. When there's nobody else they still get taken out, even if it's only for 5 minutes. It's part of the deal!

It really depends on the DOG. I have an oldie Cavalier that could never cope with a walk every day, so he choses when he wants to go. The rest of the time he potters about at home. Also have an epileptic Golden who cannot tolerate daily exercise. Likewise my Papillons, the garden they have more or less constant access to is so big to them it's like a field, they can run and run and chase each other and play (and they do) -there is no need for structured walks on a daily basis under those circumstances -they get more exercise in the garden than on a lead walk.

For my own dogs they have a walk once per day.  The walks can be varied, sometimes they go to the field and play together, sometimes individually, sometimes I take them for a run up the field with my mum and sisters dogs so they always have someone else to play with, sometimes we go for a long road walk and sometimes just a short 25 - 30 min walk round the block.  I also cycle with my Akita as she doesn't run offlead. 
The dogs also have access to the back garden for free play throughout the day at weekends and during the week they have free play in the garden for 2 hours in the morning, then we have an hour at lunch when I train them individually and then in the evenings they have their walk, garden access or just lounge around indoors with me.
I show my dogs so sometimes we are away for a day at the weekend, OH walks the one's that stay at home.  I also do Working Trials training most weekends so this mentally and physically tires them out and I will be running my agility classes as of May which all my dogs will take part in.
And inbetween all that there are occasional days where we are lazy and just play and train in the garden but do not go on a formal walk but I like to think I give my dogs enough to do to keep them happy.

Depends on how you define walks :-)  I have the luxury of opening the front gate and wandering up over fields or woods.. dogs get great excersise, but no socialisation,

Everytime I go into town (very small one horse town) I take someone with me, usually one of the youngsters, this is not for excersise, but purely a socialisation element...

We also have different training classes 4 nights a week with different dogs, again not neccessarily for the training element, but again for socialisation..

The drawback of living very, very rural means socialising takes precedence to excersise (IYKWIM)

Very rare I miss a day. When I broke my knee I had a rota of friends who came every day to walk them, and if I am away and someone is looking after them they go out even if only for a road walk. They have one walk every morning for about 1 1/2 hours in the country park. My firend and I go together and we potter about, stop for a coffee (We take a flask) sit for a while then potter some more. They do not really race around except after the odd bunny or squirrel and pup spends 90% of the time on a long line, Granny Pepsi goes at her own pace and is very clever at cutting corners by antisipating our route!!!
So yes I would say 99% of the time they go out every day. If I am not working (3 days a week 2.30 till 10 or 5 -10) they will have another walk in the afternoon but usually only Merlot and the Pup...Granny Pepsi does a lot of sleeping!! OH will often take Merl and Chablis out for a road walk when he gets home at about 5.30 if I am working. My back door is open all day long, even while I am at work as My friend next door keeps an eye out for me, so they can come and go into the garden at will, I have 7 ft high solid fencing round and bolted and padlocked gates!! The sight of three Berns throwing themselves at the gate barking is enough to frighten anyone off!! However they will often just follow me around the house and ignore the garden...as i write this I have the three of them squashed under my desk and it is a lovely sunny day but they often do not use the garden....Garden for rent anyone??? :) :)
Aileen

I have Labradors and my two are walked first thing (about 6:30am) for about an hour, just at rambling speed.  Then they get a ten minute walk at lunch time, and five-ten mins training.  We do another rambling hour at 4pm(ish), and then they get a last walk for about ten to twenty mins at 9pm.  Mine are kennelled although they do have the run of an enclosed area as well.  Indie has a lot less energy than Tau, and tends to trot behind me at heel, whereas Tau is usually up front looking for fox poo to roll in.

I find that training always wears them out much more mentally than just a walk, and when it gets warmer, I'll switch their training to the evening when it's cooler, as they will switch off when it's too hot. 

This topic is something i am interested in as i was speaking to a woman not long ago who breeds and shows dobermans and she told me that she never walks her dogs as its 'too much hassle'. They had the garden to play in twice a day!

I cant imagine how wound up my three would be if they didn't get daily walks, were out first thing for about an hour off lead except for the ten minute walk to and from the fields.
Afternoon walk is usually an hour and a half through woods, which we drive to. Seeing them running around with eachother and meeting other dogs is really one of the most enjoyable things about owning dogs IMO.
Mine seem to know the time of walkies as they start pacing and mooching at around 4pm maybe i made a rod for my own back in having such a routine but i enjoy walking my dogs as does my OH.
They have free access to the garden all day, but generally only go out to go to the loo and have a bark.

I have an extremely unpredictable job but I personally take Mason out twice a day. An hours stroll around the park in the morning between 7 & 10 and then another hour late afternoon between 2 & 5. We also spend time every day training and just learning tricks to keep him occupied. He has a least 2 hours play with customers daily inside as we have no garden :(
Having such a social but demanding job, I have alot of friends who would kill to have a dog but their personal cicumstances wont allow it. Money, long hours, disability. So I always someone asking to 'borrow' him for the afternoon for a ramble in the wood, as playmate for their dogs, as a bomb-proof pup to help with nervousness in others etc. He's like a mini-celeb :)
It helps me a great deal if I cant get out for some reason and he brings so much joy to people who would otherwise be stuck at home all day :) Oh, and he loves the attention, treats and toys he gets from everyone aswell. He gets more birthday presents than I do!

Mine get dragged out at least 3 times a day (whether they want to go or not :-) ) for lead walks by my father who lives next door to us. They also have free access to the garden all day. At weekends they also get at least an hour each day free running and we try to manage this most evenings weather and light permitting. Last year everyone but me went away on holiday in November and as I work full time the dogs could only get out in the morning before work then I took them for a run in the woods at night in the dark - complete with two torches for me and flashing collars for them. Despite being confined all day they were absolutely fine with this.

I walk the three dogs together in the park or at beach once a day so they can have a good belt about and then they all go out for a stroll on the lead alone or in a pair at some point too. Vic also has two good games of fetch either in the garden or a sheep free field if there is one.
Once in a blue moon I wont walk them if I feel wretched and there is no one to help but like Jeangenie says it depends what you mean by walk, because I'll still take them out on the lead for 10 mins for a change of scene.

>I'll still take them out on the lead for 10 mins for a change of scene.

In emergencies I've found that as long as they've had their collars and leads put on and been walked up the road and back, even if it's only 100 yards, honour has been satisfied and they'll settle down again (this used to take my old girl about 20 minutes in the last days of her life, but she insisted!).

Always twice and if my husband is home then three times as he likes to take him later at night as well for a quick walk.................if it's me I just put him in the garden at night as I'm not so happy going out in the dark.

Yes ... unless I'm too ill to do so, which is pretty rare :-)

That's a good point that someone made actually about what breed of dog you have too.

Having a long haired gsd and a black backed rottie I have to make sure in the summer I take them out early enough, if we go along the river it's not too bad as they can have a dunk. I'm constantly spraying my rottie with the hose this past week as he loves being in the garden but gets so hot!

I must say though, on those few occasions where I can't be bothered, once I am out with them I always feel better and enjoy it.

I also find they get a lot more tired if I do a bit of training before the walk too.

Been interesting reading your routines :)

I think it the UK the general accepted norm is that dogs are walked daily. 

In the USA it does sometimes seem that a walk is considered optional or an occasional treat.

Not read the other posts yet so apologies in case I repeat.

Assuming I am not ill, walking the dog is the one job that has to get done daily (over and above my meals etc). If I am physically not able to (occasionally my back will have 3 days or so where I can't really walk) - we go for mental exercise - clicker training etc. I think it comes as part of the deal of owning a dog (the human responsibility to the animal they've taken on), though I do think mental exercise can on occasion take the place of doing the physical exercise and if dogs miss the odd day's walk, as long as they have company and some sort of interaction/something to occupy them it's not the end of the world. To me the dog's needs come first - but interaction and mental stimulation are as much of that as 'the walk' - my dog expects me to interact with him - while out walking we practise recalls, play seek with tennis balls....

And forgot to say - when a DOG has been ill (one had an orthopaedic op and was not allowed to be walked for a month) - mental exercise for the dog, as much as I could, including feeding all meals in kongs.

It also depends on breed/ age. My GSP will be 10 this year ( :-o :-( ) so I can get away with less than when he was a youngster and invariably got at least 1.5-2hrs off leash running daily (after maturity/ bone development).

Personally I like rainy days as you get more peace, and you don't meet the ones that are aggressive owing to lack of socialisation the way you do in the summer months - there seem to be people locally that have a dog but only take it out when THEY feel like going out (when the sun comes out). :-(

> there seem to be people locally that have a dog but only take it out when THEY feel like going out (when the sun comes out). :-(

Same around here :(
more shocking is the fact that nerly every sunny day I meet 2 loose JRTs, no owner with them, they are just let out to take thierselfs for a walk and insit on persting all the dogs they encounter and having a go at the people(including kids) they meet

Buster gets a daily walk, I have to be really ill to miss his walk (so that is very rare), if we have an extended perios of really hot weather, I'll not take him for a walk, he'd rather stay sprawled out on the cool kitchen tiles.

Out at 6 for a 40/50 min free run, 25 minute run at lunchtime then upwards of an hour in the evening. I'm lucky as we live in very rural forestry and we can walk while the boys runoff lead.
I cannot stand the carry on in the house if they don't get their daily romps. Downside is the fitter they are the more walking they want. Upside is it keeps me in shape(ish) too.
You can tell a dog that is used to walking often to the ones that are dragged out to the woods as it is a nice day for a walk.

Yes, ours have walks everyday...its one of their highlights of the day (well that & food/treats), so i don't like to disappoint them.  They always get taken out in the car to a country park/woods or beach.  I suppose about once or twice a year they don't go out for various reasons but even then i have a major guilt trip.

I can't walk my younger dogs every day, having a four year old child that can't walk as far as I can is difficult and there isn't always someone here to sit with her. :-(

I'm really lucky that I live in the sticks and I  have my own field, so my dogs get lots of exercise that way, running about after each other. They get walked out as many times as I can manage.

I also do training and agility so I don't think they miss the odd walk out. My oldies can't manage walks now so they have free access to my field and do what they want. They still mange to run if a pigeon lands!

Generally speaking my lot go out every day, usually twice but it depends on them really.

Like today - Soli has had one 10 minute walk, because her joints are very sore at the moment.  And Remy has had 90 minutes this morning and won't go out again - something's up with him and he's finding exercise rather hard work at the moment.

River is short lead-walks only as she was spayed yesterday - Opi will do pretty much whatever I do, as long as she gets out at least once she's happy!  She came with me and Remy this morning and is about to come out with me again now, won't be a long walk though - never mind her energy, I have absolutely none today (exhaustion issues).  I have wiped myself out on the first walk and trying to clean cages since, and honestly doing a long walk now would be a bad idea because I wouldn't be awake enough after half an hour to supervise properly!!

I do have a big garden though - not a field but big enough that the dogs can let off steam.  And I try to do the walks they have in interesting places - walks are about more than just physical exercise, they are a time for a dog to investigate, play, meet other dogs, people etc, generally unwind and engage their brains.

I personally think it's cruel not to walk dogs every day,  even on days when I really don't feel like it a good walk always makes me feel better

We are lucky enough to have quite a few acres including woods and a lake, so walk the dogs morning and evening. This means my GSD with dodgy hips and elderly boxer stop when they have had enough and wander home slowly. Most weekends we drive them to somewhere "outside" where they can meet other dogs, either the beach or a countryside walk. They have access to the the woods and lake all day but prefer to wait for us to take them.

mine go out twice a day 365 days of the year...........

So do mine, they get walked twice a day, very rare for them to even only get 1 walk a day, never mind none.

Have replied to myself, since this isn't addressed to anyone in particular - but it's almost starting to read like a 'how much I walk my dogs' competition to me!! What if the dog doesn't WANT to go out? What if they are old and just want a 10 minute potter three times a day say? I do think that as a rule of thumb daily walks are part of the package, the commitment you take on when you decide to take on a dog, but I don't think it's cruelty to miss an odd day's walk as long as the dog has attention/ play/ mental stimulation and most importantly IS HAPPY. I wouldn't like anyone to be feeling guilty because they are unable to walk their dog occasionally / for reasons related to the dog's welfare, when that dog is well cared for and happy, fed properly, the correct weight, trained.... A dog that misses the odd day's walk but has companionship, correct food, security and is happy is better off than the one that gets walked daily but no training/ mental stimulation/ play IMO. (Though I admit that usually the ones that only get the odd walk are the ones that suddenly appear when the sun comes out..... and are off lead, unsocialised, out of control - sorry, bit of bugbear of mine - they always seem to go for my dog, and the owners never care. )

Personally I think a dog that is the correct weight and misses the odd day's walk has a better standard of care than the one that is overweight and walked daily without fail - as an example.

> What if they are old and just want a 10 minute potter three times a day say?

My oldie preferred to potter around the garden in his last few months, I wouldn't take him for a walk. He was deaf, loosing his sight and a bit tottery on his feet, he was happiest in the garden :)

> I don't think it's cruelty to miss an odd day's walk as long as the dog has attention/ play/ mental stimulation and most importantly IS HAPPY

I think it depends on the dog. On the very odd occasion when I've missed a dog walk due to feeling too ill, I have felt very guilty. Buster is not the sort of dog that gets excersie in the garden, a quick walk around it for a loo break then back to the sofa for a kip (he also doesn't play with toys so a game of fetch/tuggy is out of the question), so unless he is taken out for a walk he doesn't get excersie. He needs daily excersie for manegement of his elbow displasia.

He would be happy if he didn't go for a walk and he really doesn't need much mental stimulation, company & grub rocks his world (LOL, wish I'd called him Tim - nice but dim :-) ). In Busters case, making a habbit of missing a walk would not be in his best interests atall.
However, my last dog  - oldie that didn't get walks at the end - in his younger years we would miss a walk no worries as he would have hours of fun in the garden playing football with the kids or playing fetch.

I think it really does depend on the individual dog as to how important thier daily walks are.

mine always want to go lol

My Lab might miss one or two days in a year.  I had a neighbour's ten acre field that I would struggle to with a migraine and then sit on an old car fender well while he ran around and did some fetching.  Too bad that is now being subdivided.

As misses I don't count the odd days we go to Grandma's and he doesn't actually get a walk but is mentally stressed with the drive, entertaining Grandma, visiting an Aunt's nursing home, exploring Grandma's backyard and having to be on his very best behaviour the whole time.  This tires him out as much, or more, as a two hour run off leash.

I walk the Viz twice a day, one of the walks is a one to one extra socialisation/training/lead walking etc.

My labs sometimes miss the odd  walk, today they had their first walk at 7pm, but i am home all day, and they much appreciated the cooler walk.
We usually take them all out together in the evening...Our walking patterns vary daily depending on where we are going and who we are meeting :)

My dogs were walked by somebody else when I was in hospital for 4 days, but after that they got walked every day by me even when I was having chemo.  Might have been slightly shorter walks but at least they got one.  ;)

Totally agree with you Munrogirl, I don't think if you miss the odd day that it is being cruel to your dog.

My Akita will certainly let me know if she doesn't want to go for a walk, if I get her lead out and she wants to go she runs to the back gate and waits to be put on her lead, if she doesn't want to go she huffs a bit and walks to her bed and lays down...she never wants to go when its raining lol!  The Rottie's will go out for a walk whatever the weather.

When it was really snowy and icy mine only played in the garden, I couldn't drive the car and it was too dangerous to walk on the pavements incase of falling over or cars sliding onto the kerb.

I road walk my three each day but as soon as we arrive home they want to go and run around the garden like loons luckily we have a v large garden. We also go to the park for free running but not at weekends or during the summer as its full of children, so I prefer to give it a miss and stick to roads. My son plays football with them when he arrives home from work (there most favorite time of the day) then we have days out all together trips to Wales such as llangollen up the orm, Delamere Forest , Pendle Hill and Lymme Park are their favorites, luckily my OH works shifts so we can get out during the week which is more difficult for people who work 9-5.

I think it would be cruel not to make sure my dogs had a chance to burn off energy at least once a day! Only getting out once would be a rarity - two or three would be the norm. However, I have collies and can only speak of my experience with this breed. They need a daily opportunity for a mad fly around the fields with a ball :) My 15 year old now refuses to come with us but will stand at the gate and make sure we all return safely! He prefers to stot around the garden whenever he so pleases :)

> My 15 year old now refuses to come with us but will stand at the gate and make sure we all return safely!

Collies always have to be doing a job don't they?? when my boy was 16 and no longer wanting to go out, he still had to sit out on the front lawn to watch the school children walking past and to get his fusses from them all..It was his "duty" after all !!

That made me smile Bilbo :) Bless the oldies :)

I've found it quite hard to accept the fairly rapid deterioration in my boys health. Even at 14 he was agile and still enjoyed rounding all the young 'uns up on our walks. The vestibular incident really hit him hard. However, he is quite clear on what he is prepared to do and what he absolutely will not do anymore. He is quite adamant that the gate is far enough for him - however, the look is very clearly "just make sure you make it back as you have my tea to prepare soon" :)

Three times on a normal day and four on others.He always goes out no matter what as he won't soil his own       patch unless he's unwell then hes got no choice.
He likes to sit in the front porch watching the world go bye wagging his tail at any one that he see's just loves
everyone :-) 

Maisie and Billy are walked every day. While we are at work, a friend and a neighbour (on different days) walk them at lunchtime and we take them out again in the evening, either for a run or a lead walk.  At weekends, my husband and his friend take them out for one really long walk (minimum 3 hours).  I don't take them out in the morning like I used to because M&B prefer cuddles in bed (!) or on the rare occasions that I'm sick (hubby helps out here - sometimes), if it is baking hot or if it is absolutely tipping down with rain.  This is not because I'm a fair weather walker - I don't mind rain but M&B absolutely hate it and there is nothing worse than a bedraggled Maisie crawling along at a snail's pace, tail between her legs with the most miserable eyes you have ever seen!!  We play ball games indoors instead - we don't do ornaments!  They're OK though with light rain and drizzle and I like it too - more room to run and play (the fair weather dog walkers are at home) and a nice comfortable temperature too - especially in the Summer. 

Personally I think it is really cruel not to walk your dogs on a regular basis unless you are really ill and have problems doing so - sorry if this upsets people but this is what I think.  I read somewhere that a walk for a dog is like a really good book or film is to us.  In fact it is more than this - apart from exercise it is a chance for a dog to be a dog and engage with the outside world.  How miserable it must be for them to be stuck indoors all day.   My dog walks helped me to recover from a radical hysterectomy (I am lucky that my dogs are good on the lead) and the dogs enjoyed the extra time too! 

We have such a routine. My dogs sit outside the door while I shower, fidget while I dress and by the time I brush my hair they are at the door nudging the handle. We then all go and let the goats, sheep and chickens out ( terriers on leads for the chickens) and then continue our walk. There is no way I could NOT take them out as the guilt would be impossible to live with.

mine too Roxylady.  they'd go stircrazy if they haven't gone out by 8 in the morning.  and the same goes for their afternoon walk, don't need a watch , i know by the dogs movements what time of day it is lol.

Have replied to myself, since this isn't addressed to anyone in particular - but it's almost starting to read like a 'how much I walk my dogs' competition to me!! What if the dog doesn't WANT to go out? What if they are old and just want a 10 minute potter three times a day say?

THANK YOU for that Terry! You are so right! My words somewhere high up above seems to have been totally ignored. It's not cruel to not walk all dogs every day as it depends on the DOG! It would be extremely cruel for instance if I tried to walk my Rufus every day -in fact he'd be miserable and he would most likely die! We have often said it is SO lucky we do not live in a flat where he would have to be taken out for a walk several times a day just to wee, as he would have died years ago. Now he is still alive 8 years after the vets said he would die, he's happy, he does what he wants, and he gets perhaps one walk a month which is HIS choice.

I have a collection of veterans and they are all different, some fit as a fiddle, others not. The healthy 10 year old can walk for miles, but the 8 year old with HD cannot, nor can the 7 year old with epilepsy, or the 15 year old with heart failure. I also don't think it's cruel to not take tiny dogs for daily lead walks when they can and do run and run in a large garden. Where we live we're fairly isolated so it's not like they go out to see anything they don't see at home.  They do get walks, of course, but not every day. Now the young and fit Malinois, that's entirely different!

It just cannot be said ALL dogs should go for a walk every day no matter what.

Personally I think it is really cruel not to walk your dogs on a regular basis unless you are really ill and have problems doing so - sorry if this upsets people but this is what I think.

I best have my Rufus, Arnie and Simba put to sleep then as if I tried to walk them every day, it would be REALLY cruel. In fact Rufus and Simba could quite easily die during walks if they were walked daily.

once a day for about 40 mins, by walk i mean a really fast walk, off lead for a hour on saterday and sunday when we dont have a dog show to go to, i'm really lucky to have a mate who has two leos who will walk mine that dont go to the camp shows, at open shows they all come and i it in a walk between classes.
Hard work sometimes, when its snowing / raining but that's part of then deal owning a dog to help keep them fit and heathly. Although my older boy will sometimes refuse a walk, i let him, as i feel he knows best.

To be fair I think people mean that we should expect to walk a fit healthy dog daily  the amount appropriate to the size/breed.

Walks have three equally important purposes physical and mental stimulation and socialisation.

Any one of these may vary in it's importance for the individual animal based on breed, age, life experience.

To be fair I think people mean that we should expect to walk a fit healthy dog daily  the amount appropriate to the size/breed.

Exactly, I have 2 dogs that for age or hip problems walk as far as they want and then wander home and wait for the lively ones to return. You cannot force a dog to walk, that would be cruel, but for those that need and have the energy for walks then they should be taken out otherwise they become frustrated and that would also be cruel. I think most people were referring to fit healthy dogs , at least I know I was.(boxers, terriers)

Sorry, I should have made it clearer, I was absolutely talking about fit healthy dogs! :D It would be cruel to drag out a elderly or ill dog daily if it didn't want to go.

As someone else said, they only day I didn't walk my gsd was if it was absolutely pouring with rain, she hated it, would even wait to pee for hours lol. But I found out later if I drover her to the common she would love to walk, just not on the streets. She actually dragged me as a pup into someones front garden to shelter under a bush once lol.

My rottie however will want to walk whatever the weather.

And oh do I know what you all mean by fair weather walkers! Our local common is so busy with dogs and people in the summer, yet in the winter you only see the odd regular :/

And this wasn't meant to turn into a competition thread about walks :D I was genuinely interested if people have the odd day off here and there, as I say after reading various forums and hearing people say 'if mine don't go for a walk that day'.

Not replying to anyone in particular.

I agree with those who've said it also depends on the dog - Henry for example still wants a walk every day - in fact when he started heart tablets the vet said to rest him, so I left him at home while I walked the other 2, and he dug out under the gate and went to visit the neighbour instead! After that I decided it was better for him to have a short walk than to do all that digging and running around. I also had the path under the gate concreted!! I do restrict how far he walks, but otherwise, a fit and healthy dog is better off with regular exercise. :-)