I was just wondering how often those of you who own more than 3/4 dogs take them out for walks? I don't mean running about in a field but out on public land - the park, river, canal and especially lead walks? Mine are taken out in 2 shifts first thing in the morning for 15/20 mins on the lead and then just over an hour together in the evening when there are 2 of us. They have free play on sundays on a rugby field before everyone else is up.

I know the time and type of exercise will vary by breed, type, size and the dog but would like to know how that compares with others, especially in many multiple dog households.

When I'm walking them (not atm while I'm doing separation anxiety training for some, there's no way I can walk them all without leaving the worried ones and it just undoes the work I'm doing) I take Linc, Rai and Willow for a long walk first thing, and Phoebe if it's a walking day for her (phobias so she only goes out once or twice a week).  They get about an hour, off lead, either at the field down the road if they're in a giddy mood or at the nearest park so we can be sociable :-P

Then I take Saffi, Paige and River out for a 20 minute walk, two on-lead (restricted exercise atm) and Linc comes on that walk too so two off.  Down the field for them as I have to avoid dogs because of the medical problems (River gets worried and lungey because she has a slipped disc).  Then Remy and Linc go out (yup, Linc comes on all the walks) for Remy's little pootle down to the end of the road and back.

Then in the evening rinse and repeat!  I should do three walks really - the wonkies should be getting three but with work atm it's just not possible.  Although Remy does get three little pootles as his only take 6-7 minutes.

It's a bit of a pain some days but it's what has to be done - there's only me here to walk them and we have a 4 dogs per person by-law round here too.  Although I wouldn't go anywhere in town with more than 4 anyway, it's my limit for control.  I used to take everyone out for a good blast sometimes at an old disused field out of town, but since Phoebe arrived and three got slipped discs I haven't been able to - Phoebe can't go in the car at all and it would be too much for the three so it's just not doable these days.

I have 6 20kg size dogs who I lead walk together daily, but I do use head collars. 

We do a good brisk speed, to keep everyone moving. 

The first few minutes we may stop for someone wanting to pee/poo, but then it's pretty much route march.

Used to do the country park etc with up to five, but have found over the last 20 years that walking more than two dogs off lead, seems to be a lot of hassle, as so many people are now nervous, with the increase of bull breed types attacking other dogs, the rise in handbag type dogs, and a generally less dog savvy dog walking public..

With mine being an independent (though friendly) range ahead type breed, instant recall of several at once is a little unrealistic.

I am very lucky to have a big garden(picked over the house when we moved 2.5 years ago) & they all have plenty of free exercise there.
I road walk(a good speed) daily with the youngest four, in 2 lots once a day, of around 2 miles each lot. The male(12) gets less often of 2-3 times a week, for a couple of reasons mainly as he is a git with other dogs, also his age & as Crufts was his last show! The 16.25 & 9.5 year olds dont go through age & disability.

I have 5 GSDs
The 4 eldest are walked once daily! not altogether I must add
My eldest (nearly 10) has 1hr exercise daily a mix of on lead and off lead
My next 3 ( aged 7,5,2) have around 2 1/2 - 3 hrs daily around 1 hr of that is on lead ( getting to and from our walk) the rest is off lead.
Then I have the puppy (10mths) she is walked twice daily, once through town with a 10 minuite play on the fields then second walk is at the local park where she is off lead playing/socialising.

I have a very small garden (yard really) all free running is done on our walks.
I am very lucky where I live it is a very dog friendly place.
Just wanted to add my eldest is walked alone as is the pup the other 3 are walked together.

I've usually got at least 4 with me. I couldn't take them to public places, two are unfriendly with other dogs, one is fine if left alone but would get snappy if approached, none of them would approach other dogs. The last one is friendly, though may approach other dogs! I'm lucky to have dartmoor on my doorstep, so they get at least an hr up there, then I drop the 3 grumpy ones home and the friendly one comes out with the dogs I walk, so he gets a good few hrs across dartmoor/public places, which suits a young HPR breed to the ground.
My lot only go on leads when we go to shows, again very lucky living here, but the downside is their lead walking leaves a lot to be desired :)

I might be a bit on the paranoid side, but I do prefer walking on the moor and having a better chance of avoiding dogs. Most are friendly and well controlled but my boy has been set on by two dogs in parks in the past. I can control my dogs reliably in a group, but if an unfriendly or friendly but thick dog that doesn't understand them saying go away were to approach I would struggle, because one wants to play, one wants to escape and two want to eat it, bedlam :)

When we had numbers (usually no more than 6 adults) and none of them was elderly, I could take them out in the field quite easily myself.   The trouble started once we started getting oldies who couldn't go as much as they used to or keep up with the others.   That meant two strings - the younger ones out first for a good long walk, and then back to relax while I took the second string out for a more suitable stroll.   Lots of work but in those days I was fit!!!

We almost always lived out in the sticks, with few other dogs around.

If your lot are keeping healthy, not putting on weight or showing signs of being 'cabin crazy' then you are probably doing fine.  What works for some, doesn't for others.

I have four dogs ranging from 3 - 13 years old (sighthounds and spaniels) and luckily all of them are well and even the 13-year old still keeps up easily with the rest of the pack, so I don't have to do any separate walks with any (yet).

Mine all get one walk a day, though we also have a big garden where we play and train, it's big enough to have a bit of a run too - even for the long legged sighthounds. (I too bought the house due to the garden for the dogs... LOL).

During the week I take them out for an hour before work, about half of that off lead (2 of the dogs)/long line (the other two).
At weekends we go to a different area for 1.5 to 2 hours where again about half is off lead (three of the dogs) and one on a long lead (though working on getting him reliable enough for off lead too). Where I live now in the countryside we rarely meet any dogs, so that isn't really an issue anymore - but lifestock and wildlife now is, hence why I have to be very careful where I let my high pray/hunting drive dogs off lead. Previously in London, I used to walk in either areas where I had a good view around me or at quiet times to manage my lot around other dogs. Here I have to pick the areas and times depending on the lifestock and wildlife around us.

They also go to training classes weekly (or will do again when I have found some in my new area) and the younger ones to obedience shows at some of the weekends.  

When I used to live in London, they had a bit more off lead (same amount of exercise but more of it off lead) and more socialisation with other dogs, but the garden was so small that it was unsuitable for anything other than toileting.

I have 4 dogs of my own and can walk them together. However I walk them where we rarely meet up with other dogs. I have a 5th one here just now for an extended holiday and have to take them out in shifts. Boys first then the girls. I can only mange all 5 if I have somewhere else there to help.

I have 6 Shelties who are lead walked daily around our estate and through parks.
It's not a problem until somebody wants to stop us for a bit of fuss and a stroke, then it's spaghetti junction with the leads!!

With mine, its difficult with me to take them out together on my own. More because of the older ladies with their handbag terrors....sorry....babies. I find that even before I reach the gate to the huge park opposite the house, their little wonders will come barking and growling, giving it that gobbyness and i have to listen to 'don't you let your dogs off lead, they'll savage my babies!'. So sadly we pound the pavement first thing and then go out after nine pm to play frisbee and whistle training with hubby.

Its the stigma of the breed sadly. My lot won't say boo to a goose.  Different story if its fox or someone at the door!

>(I too bought the house due to the garden for the dogs... LOL).

I thought that I was the only one!  My house is not that big.  But the garden is humungous.  My Border Collie can truly race in it.  Training and brainwork is done in the garden.  Walking outside is pavement work.  At the weekends I am not that far away from a big park where he can run around and make friends with other dogs.

Nope, I picked this house for the garden too!  My only criteria when house shopping were double glazing (on account of Remy's alopecia) and a garden big enough to fit a full agility kit into :-P

Another house buyer here buying with dogs in mind, our house is a reasonable size but the garden is big and great for my six 'smalls',  patio doors from the kitchen open on to the garden.

Makes a great race track for the troop, out of the house at full pelt up the garden round the trees back in through the doors round the furniture and back out again and again and again!!!

Come to think of it I wonder where they get the energy for an hour plus free run through fields in the morning and the lead walk later in the day!!