results out today from pdsa study show that more dogs than ever do not get enough exercise and 1 in 3 are not let off lead. millions do not even walk their dogs regularly.
no wonder there is a rise in unhappy and overweight dogs :-(

Mine is not let off the lead because if she saw a squirrel or cat she would be off , she could get run over etc.

She still gets 2 good walks a day.

I have just read this in the Mail and it says that dogs need 'the company of other animals' and 'daily running off the lead'.
Well, what a bad owner I am ! She is an only dog and she doesn't have a 100% recall.

My dogs are walked twice a day, EVERY day, come hail or shine but they don't get off lead exercise, only in our largish garden as they are rather prone to chasing sheep, deer, squirrels etc. Even though we live in the middle of no where there are still cars, vans and tractors that race up our small lane. This is how I lost my GSD, 8 years ago, her recall was pretty good but she was out in the garden last thing at night in the Summer, saw a baby deer and went for it, sadly straight into the path of a tractor, she scaled a 7 foot wall to chase it...so I am now slightly paranoid about letting my dogs off lead. They are happy, healthy, not overweight and have company nearly 24/7, with lots of visits to busy places as they love people other dogs etc, so a varied life.

I really couldn't believe the article on this that I read in the paper, they said at the end "take our online quiz" to see if your dog is happy and well cared for. If people need to take a quiz to establish this then the question begs, should you have a dog in the first place if you are unaware of the basic dog needs in the first place? I am sure that people who have dogs and don't walk them, know full well that what they are doing is wrong.

Not letting a dog off lead for recall reasons and safety is fair enough but to think people have a dog but dont exercise it??!! Surely thats cruelty and failure to meet its basic needs??
My parents have a neighbour with two dogs. They are in a dreadful state, show severe signs of boredom and have been out a handful of times (6-8!!!) in the several years they have had them. On one of those occasions the dogs (on a split lead) starting fighting, a person walking by attempted to split them up, only to receive a nasty bite to the end.
it is desperately sad but do the owners see any wrong doing in themselves....not at all :-(

I would take the newspaper article with a pinch of salt but the results from the actual survey are disturbing

> should you have a dog in the first place if you are unaware of the basic dog needs in the first place? I am sure that people who have dogs and don't walk them, know full well that what they are doing is wrong

I think that just as a neglected baby soon learns not to cry - many neglected dogs simply stop 'asking' to go out (or in fact never learn to do so) and give the message to their owners that it's ok not to take them.

This is another reason why puppy farmers and back yard breeders do all dogs and owners a disservice.  Good breeders are the very people who should be educating potential owners as to the responsibilities of dog ownership in general and their breed in particular.  Puppy farmers don't give two hoots as long as they get the cash and they'll sell to anyone.  Unforgivable

In a lot of areas - its against the local byelaws  to let your dog off lead -  and many don't have facility to transport their dogs to areas for off lead exercise. Mine get lead walks every day but I can't allow them off lead every day not because they have poor recall but because I would be fined if I did (in a park devoid of any other users too lol)

Off lead walks for most breeds arent a neccessity though so dont really fall under the category of 'cruelty' or neglect of a dogs needs'

Does anybody here walk a bitch in season off lead? I don't!

I feel so sorry reading this, all these poor dogs that are never allowed off lead.

One of the basic freedoms for all animals is ability to exhibit natural behaviour, and they can't do that on a lead.

Having large gundogs, a walk on the lead would just not be enough, also they are very social dogs who love to meet up and play with other dogs.
It very often involves driving out to various places so that the dogs can have a good run, but nothing nicer than seeing a dog, exercising all there senses, kicking up their heels and just enjoying life to the full.

Often I pass people in the car lead walking their dogs and you can see by the owners faces what a chore it is, there is a Golden Retriever, lives down the road and I see his owner walking him, always on a flexi, poor dog looks really miserable. Sometimes I just wish I could take him for the day, and let him be a real dog for a while and have a bit of fun with my lot.
Regarding bitches in season, I take fine to a large recreational field, all fenced, it is a bit boring for them as just grass, but they do get a good run, and if a male dog comes on the field I just whistle them back and pop them on the lead, have done it with all my bitches over the last 13 years and never had a problem.

I can understand some dogs walking on lead every day for a few reasons, but like dorcas in some cases it saddens me.
I'm lucky enough to have Dartmoor on my doorstep, yet I know many locally who drive and have well behaved dogs of active breeds who just get to go around the block. One of these dogs I would have the man's arm off for, such a beautiful girl who would love to work, there is something special about her and I hate driving past her on the pavement when I'm heading up to the moors.

I have a herding breed and two working gundog breeds one of which has a strong hunt drive. They would all chase the sheep/cows/ponies/deer we regularly come across if not taught any different. I don't walk near any roads though so that's not a concern.

Most of my enjoyment from my dogs comes from watching them bound around the moorland, sniffing, chasing each other, swimming, wading through muddy bogs. I can't imagine not letting them run free. But that's just me, each to their own. I do appreciate that many people have genuine circumstances restricting this, I do also agree that some dogs (wouldn't restrict to breed) do not require daily free running and their welfare is not compromised by it, but certainly the lazy dog owners with their bored dogs exist. A neighbour once had a collie who never went for walks, only ever saw her on the driveway. She seemed happy enough but knowing the vast expanse of moorland just a minute away did make me sad.

There's a lot of nice walks on my doorstep, woodland within 5 mins and a large park 5 mins the other way but although I'm in a fairly urban area, there is every type of walk imaginable all within a 20 minute drive. The amount of dogs I see only ever getting walked to pick the kids up from school is terrible!!

There are three beaches, four or five woodlands, two parks and plenty of fenced in open spaces all easily accessible by car fairly easily, but there is a collie down the road goes to and from school twice a day (a ten minute walk tops) and then there's a Lhasa apso at the end of my road that I've never actually seen other than through the window of the house.

Nando doesn't always get two walks a day but sometimes his one walk can be anything up to two hours. We avoid busy places at weekends as I also find these people that don't let their dogs off or take them out during the week always flock to my favourite places and spoil my walks!!

This is the Mail link if anyone's interested -
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2522324/Walkies-No-luck-dogs-millions-dog-owners-dont-allow-pets-run-lead-day.html

I must admit I feel rather guilty as I can't take mine out as much as I'd like, being carer for elderly mother who can't be left alone. But I do try to make up for it - I only get 6 hours free time, 3x a week, so on two of those days I do 1-1 training lessons with them (agility and scentwork/tracking).

I thought the Blue Cross was supposed to spend the donations given to it on its animal hospitals & medicines etc not squander public donated funds on pointless surveys by paying 'YouGov' to spend on staff saleries.

Pointles survey, does not help one single dog in any way whatsever
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I thought the Blue Cross was supposed to spend the donations given to it on its animal hospitals & medicines etc not squander public donated funds on pointless surveys by paying 'YouGov' to spend on staff saleries.

What does the Blue Cross have to do with the PDSA or have the merged secretly ????

What does the Blue Cross have to do with the PDSA or have the merged secretly ????

I dont know >>exactly<< but the blue cross was called PDSA before some part or all of it became Blue Cross, you can try emailing them for the details of it all but if they are anything like The Dogs Trust your likely to a forever flow of letters asking for funds.
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This google wiki link says pdsa also runs animal hospitals, as I understand it the blue cross does the same, I allways thought they were the same charity but no idea what complexities are involved.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_Dispensary_for_Sick_Animals

The web page designs of the two sites below are both from the same design but one is Blue X the other PDSA

Blue Cross
http://bit.ly/1hRab4r

PDSA
http://bit.ly/JmReIS
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The two are NOT linked as the PDSA doesn't do rescue, the Blue Cross does QED

The two are NOT linked as the PDSA doesn't do rescue, the Blue Cross does QED

I checked them out & could find no modern connection, but, I am sure there was a direct connection in the 1970' (76). KC is another charity whioch  for the life of me I dont understand at all because one part seems to be not a charity & some other part is, or was a couple of years ago did, charity laws are complex unless someone takes a few days learning to understand them from scratch.
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The PDSA has always been the PDSA & the Blue Cross has always been the Blue Cross. There is no historical connection between the two

For the past five years with te4h changing canine demographic in my city to a high proportion of badly bred bull breeds  resulting in dog walkers who are often very wary of other people's dogs.

I have found it really difficult to walk my gang, due to having 6 of a breed that do not trot at heel, and whose recalls can be a bit, 'hang on a minute' with the occasional 'deaf un' thrown in, even though they are dog sociable, and very people sociable.

It is just not worth the hassle.  Add to that our country park has new developments on th3e edges that are not dog proof, and our council recycles food waste in bins that my dogs find easy peasy to get into!!!

So my lot these days are walked entirely on lead.  I use the old Bristol to Bath Railway line in a lot of our walks, which is like walking country lanes, but with only cyclists to worry about.

Yes I'd love to watch them really have a blast full throttle in the park, but they seem to be quite happy (settled when at home, and not climbing the walls), with the level of exercise they get in an hours brisk 'stomp' (I don't do dawdling, we go out mostly after dark and power walk), and playing in the garden with each other at home, and their level of fitness is generally acceptable.

They get to socialise with other canines at shows, training class etc., and the occasional brave souls we meet on walks who are not intimidated by their number.

The only negative I find is that my youngster are frustrated greeters and will bark and go 'meercat' when we see a dog across the road, which they aren't allowed to greet.  Frustrating for them and embarrassing for me ;)

Within eh general anti dog feeling and fewer safe spaces to run dogs (even well trained dogs are at risk on country roads, fields with livestock, and open areas being close to roads/railway lines etc.

As you have dogs longer you become more aware of just what can happen, if they act out of character, and I shudder at the chances I took when I first had them, walking in unfenced parks/greens etc.

I get a bit cross at the one size fits all, or my way is best attitudes. 

Good points in your post which has got me thinking.

So many places that allow dogs insist that they must be on a lead. Where I live we are so very lucky to have three good sized fields with a footpath running through which is owned by a lady who has a dog. There's no livestock in it now and it is mowed a few times a year to keep the grass down. She's more then happy for us locals to allow our dogs to run about etc etc. Other fields contain sheep or horses.

In the bit of Suffolk where we have our static van we are surrounded by heather heathland which is owned either by the NT or the RSPB. During the bird nesting season (April to end August) we are requested to keep dogs on a lead. As a keen bird watcher I am happy to do this. Luckily we have access to a the beach which is dog friendly and plenty of room for a good run. Once Isla gets over the 'want to greet everyone to show how much I love them' she can have some fun there.

You really need to get to know your patch and find those places that you can let your dogs have a good belt round even if it's only for ten minutes, but they are getting few and far between. Don't get me started on all those places that won't let dogs set foot in. On the upside there is a new cafe opened nearby which allows dogs in and even has dog biscuits for them.

>I dont know >>exactly<< but the blue cross was called PDSA before some part or all of it became Blue Cross

Tpotally false. The Blue Cross was founded in 1897. The PDSA was founded in 1917. Their only connection is that they're both animal charities. They're no more the same than the NSPCC and Save the Children.

I am very lucky to be a walk away from 3 different areas for off lead runs in the field, a short drive away from numerous beaches, and less than an hour away from the moors.
However, if, for whatever reason we are doing a lead walk I do allow the dogs to take it at their own pace.
I cannot stand seeing people dragging their dogs along, barely alowing them to stop for toilet let alone to have a sniff and explore the ground. In some cases it really looks like a huge chore for the owners. If that is the case, as it is for millions of people in this country according to the survey then I imagine they would be better off with a cat :-) they can feed it, pet it and look after it without the need to take it out for exercise which I think is a basic right that all dogs should have.

> I cannot stand seeing people dragging their dogs along, barely alowing them to stop for toilet let alone to have a sniff and explore the ground

Hmm - that's exactly what I do for the first part of my walk, we walk very briskly and I keep them moving.  I don't allow my boys to pee over everything as soon as they get out of our gate and, although we live in a village with few houses, I still think it disrespectful to let my dogs pee on gate posts or even on the grass outside other houses.  They do not need to mark and are quite capable of waiting til we reach the footpaths, lanes and fields where they can either dawdle on lead or, more usually, be let off. 

I'm not arguing for the sake of it but simply presenting a different view to the same scenario.  In an area where multiple dogs are walked there are some lampposts, cars, dustbins and gateposts that could well get soaked every five minutes which is really unpleasant for those householders - particularly in the summer!

:-D Don't worry St. Domingo,

I have just read this in the Mail and it says that dogs need 'the company of other animals'

True, dogs are indeed social animals, but we are also animals so I guess, and know that counts us in and it should.... dogs are perfectly happy with their human, although for socialising reasons and to make them unafraid of everything and anything they should as youngsters be introduced to their own kind, and if able to, any other animal you may come across, along with every sight and sound possible. (I know you know this already ;-) )

and 'daily running off the lead'.

Ideally yes, there is nothing like watching your dogs sprinting and running for joy, every dog should be able to do this, I guess I am lucky living in the countryside and I don't have to think about the things many of you do, however if it is not possible, a good walk on lead and plenty of garden exercise does suffice for most dogs, along with mental stimulation, I do sometimes think it is sad that a dog cannot run free, but I fully understand why for many it isn't possible and maybe that is only something that pleases the eye to see, whereas a dog is perfectly fit and healthy still doing that lead walk.

For the 3 weeks of my girls season I never used to take her out, we just played games in the garden, (too many loose dogs about)  and this is a dog used to approx 2 hours  a day off lead running, she never bothered as long as she got attention from me, we'd play retrieve and agility games, which gave her a run and she was happy, (I would also just cut her food portion slightly) and when you think about it  daily running off the lead  could also mean for dogs which are on a chain or rope in the garden with no freedom to roam, there are still dogs out there who live a life like that and are never even walked.

So, I don't think those who lead walk should be worried and put themselves in that category, (according to The Daily Mail) we all do the best within the area we live in, which I agree is becoming harder and harder in some places for dogs to be accepted. :-(

The PDSA study may well have a point, dog ownership seems to be for absolutely anyone today, people who years ago would not have contemplated a dog because they cannot offer it a good life, seem to get one anyway today, our throw away society The worst thing for me, are people who are bringing dogs into their lives working full time, leaving a pile of food down and crating or leaving a dog to foul their home whilst out all day, and then on returning not having the time or inclination to take it out, these are the dogs suffering becoming overweight and not getting enough exercise or attention.

Some dogs do not have great lives........

But, as has been said, what is the point of the survey if nothing changes, no-one except responsible breeders (who too can be duped) are going to say No you can't have a dog! The word No! doesn't seem to exist much today.........

>I'm not arguing for the sake of it but simply presenting a different view to the same scenario.

Agreed; there's a time and a place for everything, and peeing on other people's property just isn't on.

I would be miserable if my dogs couldn't run off the lead. I have always had rescue dogs, and over the years have had one or two who were not entirely trustworthy with other dogs, or people, but I have always made huge efforts to make sure even those dogs had some time running off the lead safely. My current two, both rescues, I have trained to have a decent recall, and they are off lead whenever possible. I have the confidence that they will come to me to get put on the lead when necessary. The sheer joy of watching dogs interacting and dancing along beside me lifts my heart--- and theirs! I am sure I could keep them fit and settled with lead only walks, but they need the fun aswell.

^ agree with your post completely Zan :-)

Mine are off lead every single day, except if they need to be kept on lead for medical reasons, one of mine has stitches at the moment and obviously isn't allowed to run. All mine are sociable and have good recalls but even when Mr Beastly was alive (dog aggressive borzoi) I went to great lengths to find places where he could run off lead. I recently got a pup from the Netherlands, he lived in the Hague and was used to being walked on lead along busy pavements, I let him off the second day I had him and he's been off lead every day since with no problems.

Perhaps it's easier in Scotland though with the right to roam and let your dogs off most places.

> The sheer joy of watching dogs interacting and dancing along beside me lifts my heart

Yep :-)

We are really fortunate where I live. Lots of forestry commission land and downland for off lead exercise plus parks and sea front for on lead socialisation and walkies. Mine get hours of exercise everyday. The oldies are content to play ball games in the paddocks and some still do water retrieves in the lake and the youngsters love running free in the forests. I get a bit frustrated by those owners who bring their nervous dogs to the off lead areas and then scream abuse at any dog that approaches to say hello. Disliking confrontation as I do, I find myself nevertheless suggesting that there are plenty of parks with dog control orders  in place where they might be more comfortable exercising their dog.

I don't allow my boys to pee over everything as soon as they get out of our gate and, although we live in a village with few houses, I still think it disrespectful to let my dogs pee on gate posts or even on the grass outside other houses

That is something I have never ever thought of either as a dog owner or home owner.

I don't allow my boys to pee over everything as soon as they get out of our gate and, although we live in a village with few houses, I still think it disrespectful to let my dogs pee on gate posts or even on the grass outside other houses

It's something I don't let my dogs do as I also find it disrespectful. Weeing on anything that someone else may have to touch is something I try to avoid. A dog regularly wees on my front wall where a shrub grows around the pillar and when I trim the shrub in the summer my hands always smell of dog wee afterwards :-(

Very true, although I find cat poo is more common and far more offensive to come across when doing my gardening :-(

Cat poo is horrible too :-(

An inadvertant handful of other people's cats' poo is even worse than your own (I used to have cats), just as other people's dogs' wee and poo on your possessions (car, doorframe, gatepost etc) is worse than if your own do it.