I think its some of the posts on this thread implying people shouldnt have dogs if they dont take them out.

Some dogs do not like going out, period! Some dogs cannot tolerate "outside" open spaces, like some people. Many dogs are happy to play with their owners in their gardens, or interact and exercise in other ways, forcing a dog to wlak out in public IMO is far more cruel if the animal cannot cope, than not walking it, but spending time with that animal indoors or on its own property.

See, why is it ok for me NOT to walk my papillon because she has heart problems? Its ok ME knowing she CANT walk and it will do her harm, but she doesnt know that does she? If I show her the leads, or she sneaks into the hall when I call the others through, she bounces round wanting to go, I know if she went, within a very short time she would be exhausted and coughing, not good, but hey she "got out!!"

I think its fair to say that many dogs do better not going out, just as much as many of the ones that dont go out may be better if they did! Horses for courses!

Me personally, have a disability which is what one would describe as highly unpredicatable, i have a very complex bowel disorder which leads to periods of incontinence, which can vary in its severity. I was also diagnosed with a problem with the ticker at the start of the year, so there are days when I can not walk my dogs, and as they are my responsibility I do not put this onto anyone else.
They do get regular exercise but there are times when they do not, as I can't walk them and they are my responsibility-end of, nobody to pick up my pieces..i want the dogs, i sort them out. And i really dare anyone to question the happiness or contentment of my dogs
Oh also, if its raining..no walkies, due to one refuses to go out point blank in the rain..and the other wont go anywhere without her, so..guess that makes me the antichrist too for not dragging a dog out which would get anxious due to its general distain for the weather, or leaving that one at home to take the other out for it to be miserable due to not having his partner in crime there.
You can't generalize with things like this, at all

I think its good to have so many different opinions, its all food for thought, but things are not usually black or white, in the real world its often different shades of grey, and it seems some people don't see the grey with this or other threads.I think if its possible, and in the best interests of the dog it should have regular walks, but I totally agree that a dog that is loved and cared for and has company is far better than a dog that is left on its own for hours on its own and then taken out for a walk, maybe the question should be should you have a dog if you can't spend enough time with it.

julie, i dont think anyone would want you to rehome your dog but being a dog lover would you being disabled go out and get a gsd pup now knowing you couldnt walk it.

I agree with Dawn. A friend has a GSD who is nervous and finds life outside of her house and garden incredibly stressful and difficult. This friend is very experienced and knows what she's doing and her dog is lovely and more importantly, happy and healthy. Other dogs shouldn't go out for health reasons, one day it will happen with Biff, his exercise is already restricted because of his arthritis and laryngeal paralysis,he can cope with less and less and I can see a time where he will get a wander around the garden a few times a day. Is that cruel? No, it would be more cruel to take him out. He also gets incredibly stressed these days and is tense on the lead because he is wary, he can't see out of one eye and knows he's wobbly at points on bis rear end so spends the whole walk in a state of alert...he doesn't actually enjoy that I dont think, but at this point I need to keep him supple so out we go...I am reviewing our options at the moment with it and this was high on our list of conversations yesterday (between me and OH)...

Umm some posters have clearly stated anyone unable to walk their dog should rehome the dog and get a cat (although why confining a cat is OK in their minds if confining a dog isn't I don't quite understand.)

If you look at my posting history, I am a toy dog lover mainly we have a Retriever x collie and a yorkie. Retriever was for my husband as he loves walking but as it turned out she hates walking !
Any further dogs will be toy size preferably chihuahuas as we have had a chi before and she definitely got plenty of exercises just running around in doors.

I would never under any circumstance have a GSD I don't like them at all. But I would defend anyones right to have what ever dog they want as long as the dog is happy.

yes julie you would get a dog which could fit in with your life so you could both be happy,my dad was 84 and he had a yorkie which was the reason for him to go on he had to get up and feed him ect and he said many times without little max he wouldnt want to carry on they were a great team and love each other because they could live the same life style,but a gsd pup would have been a diffrent story, and if something happened to me now and i couldnt walk my dog i wouldnt rehome them i would have to get help from friends and family ,but i would go out and get a pup of a breed that i couldnt cope with,as you said a small companion dog i dont ever want to be dogless as they do give you a reason to go on and make you laugh along the way life would be to empty with out one .and for the older people,housebound or disabled the RIGHT DOG can improve their lives no end

My view here was not just that the dog will outlive the owner but IF it does this particular pup has not been socialised in ANY way.... you surely cant think this is a good thing?
And if it ends up in another home will it struggle more than a dog who has been out into the big world more?

I am not generalising either I was stating my view on this particular case, NOT all elderly people who may for all i know socialise their dogs, employ walkers etc.
Getting a puppy is different IMO than getting an older dog who appreciates the company an older person can give them.

I`m wondering how the heck they`re going to get a GSD that has never been out to the vet! Dogs are fairly site-specific about training - e.g. if you train in the garden it doesn`t occur to them that you have to do the same thing in the Park. And with a naturally suspicious breed like a GSD this could be downright dangerous (for the vet, that is).

As for the question of out living pets who knows we could anyone of us get knocked over by a bus and not come home tonight, death can happen at any age. So I would not personally preclude an older person having a puppy if they felt they could manage it.

What worries me more is the number of people who can't afford the animals they take on (thinking of a recent news story about RSPCA having placed a huge dog with a couple on benefit who could not afford it's treatment).