If a dog is agoraphobic it can't really be classed as a 'healthy dog'. Agoraphobia is a medical condition.

I am speaking from the standpoint of someone who knows they won't be able to walk or exercise a dog yet takes on a 'healthy' dog anyway. Assuming from the title that this is about what you should consider BEFORE taking a dog on.

Not what things might go wrong afterwards with either yourself or your dog. No one has a crystal ball to see into the future. I'm sure there are other reasons why some dogs can't be 'exercised' i.e. if they have a really bad heart condition. But all my experience of owning HEALTHY dogs is that they not only need to get exercise and mental stimulation - they love it.

As I said - looking at the guidelines for prospective adopters of dogs from rescues gives you some idea of what is generally considered to be the 'norm' for someone wanting to own a dog.

If you KNOW you cannot exercise a dog and you take one on anyway I think that's just selfish. Dog doesn't get any say in it and there are other animals you could own that don't require the exercise if you just want a 'furry' at home.

Thing is when mine come into season they have no choice but to be home for 3 or 4 weeks and I have to say I don't notice a difference in them at all. I get a bit stir crazy but they adapt and that's lucky because we can't have them out and about at that time.

We have had as I said dogs that couldn't go out much or ever in one case and really they were happy playing with toys and each other. None got fat or displayed different behaviours.

I am not doubting it's best to go out just it's not as necessary as we think.

Exception to the rule .... what a wonderful life Marley has roaming around the farm. My dogs would LOVE that.

Of course there are times when we can't walk our dogs for whatever reason, I just felt really sad when my friend told me about her neighbour and his new rescue. She says every time she walks past the house the little dog is sitting on the back of an armchair looking at the world outside. Unfortunately she isn't really a doggy person so doesn't feel confident enough to offer to take it out. She does walk my dogs with me though but godforbid she took them out by herself.

We are having an issue with Cookie at the moment, his body wont let him have the exercise that his mind needs.
I think that if you interact, play, train, work what ever with your dog enough then it is usually happy.
I do personally believe that dogs should be walked everyday but I understand that not all dogs need/want this, but that when you get a dog this is one of the basic needs you should be aware of, same as it will need toilet training and feeding. It should be common sense.

I usually find that dogs who get a lot of input from their owners throughout the day through play or training or what ever are less fussed about a walk, but if you are out or have had a busy day quite often the best thing for both of you is to go out and get some air, have a run around and have a good nights sleep.

Julie your dogs also have each other to interact and play with. I do believe it is slightly different to have a lone dog like this friend's neighbour has.

My girls have each other, and there are times, especially when one of them has babies and they are all intermingling, that no one goes out, and they are fed up about it, but don't go off their heads, anymore than they are anyway. I do managed to get them out when in season because I am lucky enough to have the river over the road, so I just take them on there then.

If you have a high energy breed or a dog that loves going out then you should in my opinion take it out my Max needed his 3 walks a day when he stopped needing them and clearly didn't want to go I knew something was wrong.
Ollie never even from a puppy wanted to go out he was always happy with a slow stroll round the block and home he was ill from very young but not obvious.
Dillon loves his walks but some days he will dig his heels in and want to stay in the garden doing some training, playing and pottering around. On those days I make sure we do more training and playing and that he gets the chance to race up and down.
We have a much bigger garden now so I never feel so guilty and it is always his choice unless I am ill but he never gets really naughty if he has to miss a walk like he had to miss a few when I burnt my hand badly.
I have never seen the two little cavaliers next door walked in the 6 months we have lived here. They bark constantly whether we are in the garden or not and they cannot stand Dillon being on the other side of the fence. So I think they have never been socialised which is a shame.

I am not talking about dogs who occasionally can't go out. I've owned bitches in season too. Nor dogs who are old or infirm. Nor who have playmates and garden games. I am talking about people who take a healthy dog on (as per the title) knowing they are not going to take it out, exercise or walk it. Either because they cannot or don't want to or don't have anyone who can. As I said, I think most rescues wouldn't let a fit and healthy dog go to an owner like that. With good reason. Most dogs DO need exercise and I'd have thought most people would agree they do.

It's not about being unable to take a bitch out twice a year when in season, nor about dogs who become frail or inform, or who develop fears or phobias of the outdoors is it? Or is it? Maybe I've missed the point? I can see this going the way of the debate I raised about whether people give enough thought to the expense of owning a dog BEFORE they get one. Some chose to ignore that question and discuss something else altogether! Like how much they'd give up to have their dog treated by a vet. Or how they'd starve themselves to feed their dog.

If you look at bed profiles designed to help you choose a dog, most list exercise requirements. I don't recall seeing any that say NONE.

This is an easy one - simple answer NO!