Well put y-not!

I've just been reading on here about all the lovely greyhounds and lurchers that have been homes.

Greyhounds are known for not requiring much exercise and said to be suitable for the elderly because they will be happy with JUST TWO 30 MINUTE WALKS A DAY. That's considered low maintenance exercise. I can't find one that says NO exercise will be OK!

Some breeds require a minimum of two hours.

How on earth do dogs get socialised if they are not taken out and about!

Much is made on of the importance of socialising. But then if a poor dog is never going to meet people or other dogs because of the lifestyle of its owner they probably think it doesn't matter.

I think the question is a no brainer and am surprised that anyone at all thinks it's OK to take on a healthy young dog if you know you can't walk or exercise it and don't know anyone who could do it for you. Is just selfish. No different to kids who bleat that they want a dog when they can't care for it and their parents are saying no. Adults who take one on in those circumstances don't have parents to prevent them doing so.

Even guide dogs who go to disabled people must be exercised.

Chris how lovely to see you here online Do pop into the chat section and tell us how you, Rosie and the family are ... we've missed you

Wow your dogs clearly have the most wonderful life. Well done for being so inventive with your dog exercising routine. Brilliant

I love that photo of little Bella who looks shattered after all her walking

I love y-not's phrase

Made me laugh out loud!

Looking into this a bit on other fora, I've decided that, apart from what is 'recommended' as the amount of exercise NEEDED for particular breeds, there seems to be two distinctly separate 'camps' of people when you read some of the discussion of it ...

Those who see walking their dog as a CHORE
Those who see walking their dog as a PLEASURE

I'm always dismayed to read people asking even before they get a dog whether it will be OK left at home for up to 12 hours while they work. Or OK if it only goes out first thing in the morning and then crated all day. Or OK if it just goes out in the garden to pee and poo. And many don't even go into the garden with the dog (as is evidenced when you read some of the house training problems aired on here where it is oft said they 'let the dog out' but have no idea if it 'goes' or not.

People who say they have to work as an economic necessity, can't take the dog with them when taking the kids to school. Can't take the dog in the car coz they don't have one. Can't let it out in the yard coz the neighbours complain.

WHY oh WHY do they want a dog in the first place? I just don't get it?

We had a poster on here explaining her problems in detail - someone who worked THIRTEEN HOURS A DAY. Take into account they have to also eat and sleep and shop and do some chores. What time does that leave for interaction of any sort with a dog? 3hrs top whack? That's assuming they spend every hour they are not engaged on the other stuff WITH their dog and don't go out anywhere else other than work. I really do not 'get it'. Why anyone like that would think they were suitable to own a dog at all. But they do. And they are not suffering physical disability preventing them from exercising or walking a dog.

Must say I feel a bit the same way about people who plan to have children knowing they will be returning to work asap after the birth and handing the raising of them over to someone else they pay to do it. At least they DO pay someone to take over. Lots of dogs are just kept tied up or cooped in a yard and not taken out and their owners don't make any attempt to get someone else to step in.

I reckon dog walkers like Catrina would be rolling in money if everyone who couldn't walk their dog paid a dog walker to do it for them.

Personally I wouldn't even want to do that. I want to walk my own dog. My dog was instrumental in getting me back on my feet after my injuries because there wasn't even ONE day when I didn't manage to get her out. Even if I was using a stick and just hobbling to the corner where I could let her off for a bit of a run. (In fact I did laugh when my neighbour Trevor who was on crutches at the time awaiting hip replacement offered to take her out for me coz he felt sorry for me lol!) I had visions of her having him off those crutches and needing TWO replacements! But that just goes to show that even 'other people' realise that my dog is used to at least one good daily walk and know I will be concerned if she doesn't get it.

Even the boarding kennels I use employ dog walkers to take the dogs they have in boarding out for a walk once or twice a day and allow them a bit of free association too. I think most boardings do that. Even rescues employ dog walkers to walk the dogs in their care - because they KNOW IT IS IMPORTANT.

The first winter I had my two 6 month old puppies, we had 3 feet of snow and for a month the only outside area I had to exercise them in was a path some 18 inches wide and about 50 feet long.

To keep them active and stimulated I used the path to train them to walk on their leads, and I'd take them into the wood shed and encourage them to clamber all over the logs and sniff for mice, which they loved!

In the house ... a bungalow... I left all the interior doors open and moved the furniture around to give them a clear run from my bedroom, through the kitchen and into the living room and allowed them to have races to work off surplus energy. We'd also play games of hide and seek, find the treat or tug each evening. I don't think they missed not being able to go for a walk ... and we had lots of fun!

Oh bless you clearing the house for them Chlo! But your dogs WERE getting EXERCISE. The question wasn't about whether you could take them for a walk. It was about not being able to exercise them or having no one else who could. Obviously the easiest way to exercise a dog is to walk it for an hour or more. But they can get exercise physical and mental by other means.

I am disabled and it is causing me more problems as I get older - my life consists of dog walking/grooming, work, bed and a bit of TV or internet!

I walk the dogs however bad I feel - it is lucky I only have to walk 30 yards to a park! On my bad days they still get 3 walks but often they are shorter than normal. On other days we go further, through woods and open fields

Having the dogs is good for me - otherwise I would never leave the house.

It sounds bad, but I am already looking to see which breed will be my next dog when my current ones die (hopefully not for a while as they range in age from 5-10 years old).
I am thinking in 5 years or more I will not be as mobile and will not be able to do a lot of grooming (a shame, as I enjoy it) due to arthritis so need a low maintenance, small-medium dog that is happy with short walks.

You are giving your dogs more walks and exercise than a lot of able bodied dog owners!

I had a really gammy leg for nearly two years after bad accident. I took my min pin on knowing it would be hard but would FORCE me to get out there three times a day even when I didn't feel like it. Living in a fourth floor apartment. Had to take her out every time she needed apee too. Good for her good for me.

You could take on a dog that is happy with two or three 20 minute walks or so. And if you are home all day like me ... dog gets benefit of all sorts of other interaction too.

To me, you do not fall into the category of someone who is unable to give their dog regular exercise or unable to strange for someone else too.

When we've had a long walk and adventures mine eats then sleeps for hours. If we have a short walk she will pay about at home too pulling out toys and all sorts. And barking at me for attention if I'm ignoring her!

I am sure a little dog like mine would be happy living with you. She could probably live happily with less exercise too but she got used to more.

Now, now Tang! You trying to get me in trouble?

"Using my wife to be creative"; today we visited Elvaston castle near Derby, I used a Tramper scooter and we take off in different directions calling the dogs between us ... that's what I meant

What a great day, three dogs, three hours, swimming, running, woodland, open fields, lots of people, lots of dogs - now I have three happy sleeping mutts and I know they had a good time. They even had thirty minutes lead work!

well, reading this apparently I am a bad bad BAD person indeed and my dogs should IMMEDIATELY be taken away from me!

NOT!

Many years ago before I had a dog I approached a dog rescue. Told them I have limited mobility so could not do walks. Reply was that all I needed was a ball to throw back and forth to exercise the dog. Grand so!

These draconian rules infuriate me frankly. My two are fine but according to those here?

We circumnavigate the house when I am able. But long walks are out and they are fine. Occasional ball games although since my wrist injury very little of that.

Would hate to see eg an old person be refused a dog because they could not "exercise" it. That companionship means a lot and we dont all have the means to employ a dog walker.