Having taken on a rescue dog who I believe was left to exercise himself due to his previous owner having lots of land, I would rather the dog be walked.

Eddy was overweight due to not wanting to run about on his own as he got older and he's very territorial when out for walks. I don't think he understands that other dogs are allowed to be in places he is.

Personally, I think dogs get far more from a walk than just the exercise. I think it's important they get to sniff other dog's pee, see new things, smell new smells, meet new dogs etc.

I know someone who doesn't walk their dog due to the dog getting too distressed when out due to a health problem but other than that I think it's very wrong.

I certainly disagree with getting a pup when you have no intention of walking it. Bearing in mind that dog may well outlive both the owners, it may have a much harder time finding a new home if the lack of socialisation and walks has an effect on it's temperament. If I was getting a pup at a late age, I would be doing everything I could to ensure it was rehomable should the unthinkable happen. In fact, I'm only 20 and I do that with my current dogs!

Hmmmm....

When i lived in south africa, barely anyone walked their dogs, because you have such vast amounts of space to call a "garden"! i can honestly say i didnt know anyone who did ever walk their dogs.....and then when we moved here with a tiny garden you can see the cultural differences.....and maybe the climate has alot to do with it, but the dogs are pretty much the same quality wise between the 2 countries....what was i goin on about???!


anyway.......yes i do think its cruel not to walk, unless you have a huge garden and you make time to go out there and play ball with the dogs etc....! but downsides to this is that your dog would be very anti social!

meh, enough of me rambling

i walk mine 4 times a day x

it sounds to me as if the woman know she could,nt walk a dog and still went and got a gsd puppy,and i think that is terrible if she had to have a dog at all she would have surely been better of getting somthing smaller and older or a cat "HORSES FOR COURSES" and yes if i did,nt take mine out they would drive me mad so i can see the poor pup ending up being rehomed after the damage has been done so i would never get a dog i could,nt walk and if somthing happened to me now i would pay to have it walked for me and i,d better go now as im getting my knickers in a twist

Ideally I would walk mine miles everyday, but we don't live in an ideal world sadly. How much exercise they get very much depends on how fit I am. They don't suffer, I play all the time indoors with them, and my vet has on more than one occasion praised their fitness for their ages so I must be doing something right.

We also have 4 large staffie cross dogs at the end of our road and it's far safer for my dogs not to be walked past the house unless we can see they are not in the front of the house !

Yes those who say we shouldn't have dogs have a point but our circumstances have changed since we got them, and our choice of dog would be different now than when we chose them back then.

I think it's better they live out their days here with us than be wrenched from their homes and rehomed as they are devoted to each other and to us. They are both rescue dogs and the rescues they came from are aware of our circumstances and are happy the dogs are still happy and well cared for so we will carry on as we are for the time being.

I think you need to be fully aware of the circumstances.

Mya only gets one short walk a day - literally about 300 yards. She's so terrified of people, it's about all she can handle. The walk has to be in the dark, as she's worked out that there's less people about then. Now the dark mornings are here, I can get her out sometimes if it's really early.

Walking her in the daylight is just so stressful for her - poor lamb - but after two and a half years with me, she's has improved immensely. At opne stage you couldn't even put the lead on her.

Sounds like you are doing a great job with her Vicki, not all dogs like walking !

I agree, some dogs just won't go for walks for various reasons. Leon is a prime example, for all the years that I had plenty of land for them to run about in and play around it wasn't a problem. However, if I tried to take him anywhere he would just act like a slug and I would end up dragging him. After the first few weeks of literally dragging him around and pushing him out the door when we moved here, Leon has realised what great fun it is and now demands to go out at least 3 times a day, and is gradually increasing the length of each walk...to say I'm thrilled is an understatement.

I do think it is cruel if people get dogs and neglect their needs, but sometimes there are reasons why they don't go out for walks, and until people have all the facts I don't think it is right to judge them.

If...............only this were an ideal world. My FIL's health is detioriating and as I am his soul carer long daily walks have become very difficult for me when John (OH) is home its fine no problem but as I'm on my own with him 4days at a time it becomes difficult, Yes I do have a big garden, but whats important is that they are mentally challenged daily and they all have training sessions(including the pug)and we play lots of mind games.
Hopefully we will be moving in about 3wks time and John will retire giving us more time with the dogs,yes I do feel guilty at not being able to give a lot of excercise daily but hopefully very soon it will change.

Jeanette

forgot to add a dog walker round here costs at least £17 perdog...........I have 4 I gave up work to look after FIL the government pay me £52 weekly to look after him24/7so it wouldnt go far would it.(Must get off my soap box)

So with regards to my first post....do you think the RSPCA would do anything about someone buying a pup they dont intend to walk or is it out of their control?? Anyone know??