10 min walk a WEEK?!?!?

LizandRiley · 02-22-2012

Hi everyone!

i was just wondering if i am right in thinking that a 10 min walk a week is a very bad idea?!?!
my sister in law had a dachund/jack russell cross who was 6 months old who started getting aggressive the first week they bought him home so they rang a local dog trainer/behavourist who came to visit to see what they could do about sorting the problems out! She told them that due to his breed he would be ok with a 10 min walk a week and time out playing in the garden!!!
i thought walking a dog with a hyper nature should calm them down a bit??

cigwyllt · 02-22-2012

What a dog like that needs as much, if not more than, physical exercise is mental exercise. He needs to stimulated mentally, given lots to think about.

Of course a lot depends on what is meant by "playing in the garden". Shutting the dog outside for 5 minutes or 50 minutes is not "playing". Our back garden, the area that is enclosed and where we allow the dogs to be free, is not huge but I can not throw a toy from one end to the other. So as far as exercise is concerned they can get plenty of running with me sitting in the garden and throwing a toy for them to chase. But that is very different from shutting them out and expecting them to exercise themselves. That just won't happen.

I.Heart.Goldens · 02-22-2012

My personal belief is that ANY dog, any breed, any age should be walked off your property at LEAST once a day. Now your length of walk, where you go, etc etc is up to you to decide. It's a personal pet peeve when someone says "oh well I have 2 acres, and they just run as they please, that's enough", or "I have a big backyard...that's enough" whether its 2 acres, or 400 square feet it's still their prison, it's nothing new to them. Dogs are pack animals, and as descendants of wolves (who travel their perimeter of their territory daily) your walk with them is so crucial to not only burn that everyday energy and get their minds working, but also it builds that bond with you (or whomever walks it). To me, mastering walking is one of the most important things you can accomplish with your pup. Plus your dog REALLY appreciates it, and it's fantastic for you!

I am very active with my Golden, he gets two walks a day, about an hour each (Am and Pm) and we go to advanced training 2-3x a week! I also try to walk as many different routes, and different places, trails, parks, by the local canal here, so he's always experiencing new smells, and places. We also go to the Dogpark every once in awhile as a treat and I'm sure it is on of the major reasons why my boy is so calm, gentle, and respectful. What's the saying? A tired dog is a happy dog?

I'm sorry, I'm no trainer but I do view myself as a person who likes and strives for a respectful, trained doggie (all my dogs have been) but 10 minutes is not even enough per day... I just think of all that pent up energy...sheesh, it's another misconception that little dog's don't need as much energy, there's so many high energy small guys I've met. Energy level is very dog specific, you need to figure out what truly your personal pup needs. Just to add...just reread and it says that he has Jack in him!!!!! that is probably one of the most highest energy smaller dogs on the planet!

Lunareclipse · 02-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by I.Heart.Goldens

My personal belief is that ANY dog, any breed, any age should be walked off your property at LEAST once a day. .

I will let your tell my saint bernards they should go for a walk.

I wonder how long it will take you to pry them off the floor.

Walks can be breed specific too. You never want to take a great pyrenees where you don't want him to guard. If I took my pyr on a walk around the block, he would think the block was his and try to patrol it. I do take him to the dog park, though. It's far enough away that he wouldn't think it's his and run off to patrol it.

I.Heart.Goldens · 02-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

I will let your tell my saint bernards they should go for a walk.

I wonder how long it will take you to pry them off the floor.

Walks can be breed specific too. You never want to take a great pyrenees where you don't want him to guard. If I took my pyr on a walk around the block, he would think the block was his and try to patrol it. I do take him to the dog park, though. It's far enough away that he wouldn't think it's his and run off to patrol it.

LOL goes to show you how much I know, I've never met a dog that doesn't enjoy going for walks! Every dog is different, with different energy levels...guess your Saint Bernards is very LOW hahahaah:-D

reeskujo · 02-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by I.Heart.Goldens

LOL goes to show you how much I know, I've never met a dog that doesn't enjoy going for walks! Every dog is different, with different energy levels...guess your Saint Bernards is very LOW hahahaah:-D

You can add Akita's to that list lol...after 15 minutes of him walking around the neighborhood trying to convince all the neighbors he owns it he's ready to go home..Yesterday I couldn't get him to move off the couch to go potty for the first time of the day until 3 in the afternoon and that was only because I bribed him to get up with a piece of cheese!

Lunareclipse · 02-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by reeskujo

You can add Akita's to that list lol...after 15 minutes of him walking around the neighborhood trying to convince all the neighbors he owns it he's ready to go home..Yesterday I couldn't get him to move off the couch to go potty for the first time of the day until 3 in the afternoon and that was only because I bribed him to get up with a piece of cheese!

I have to bribe my saint bernards to get up and go out too. Especially Sammie. She hates going outside for any reason. She acts like going outside is beneath her. But she doesn't go in the house. I've had an instance with her when we first got her where she refused to go out when it was raining. She held it for 2 days until I strapped a leash on her and drug her out to potty.

reeskujo · 02-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

I have to bribe my saint bernards to get up and go out too. Especially Sammie. She hates going outside for any reason. She acts like going outside is beneath her. But she doesn't go in the house. I've had an instance with her when we first got her where she refused to go out when it was raining. She held it for 2 days until I strapped a leash on her and drug her out to potty.

Seigi hasn't been out since 9 last night and he still won't get off his fat butt to go out yet...I wish I could hold it that long lol.

Lunareclipse · 02-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by reeskujo

Seigi hasn't been out since 9 last night and he still won't get off his fat butt to go out yet...I wish I could hold it that long lol.

I do too! Sammie's bladder must be the same size as her stomach. I have never seen a dog hold it so long. I wish I could get away with not going for that long.

cigwyllt · 02-22-2012

Manny and Ojo (Jack Russell + terrier) are both really easy. I haven't walked them for weeks - can hardly walk myself LOL. But as long as they have mental challenges they are happy as can be. If you are thinking in terms of the pack then they are content because I am at home with them the whole time.

When I first had my accident and went to stay with my parents taking Manny with me he would go out once in the morning and once at night but I had to stand in the doorway with him!

lange · 02-22-2012

Kuma loves walks and being out. She's a social butterfly. She's missing the reserved Akita gene!! Wrigley wants to be home relaxing all the time. My dogs are weird in their own right.

reeskujo · 02-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by lange

Kuma loves walks and being out. She's a social butterfly. She's missing the reserved Akita gene!! Wrigley wants to be home relaxing all the time. My dogs are weird in their own right.

She's still young to Lange...Seigi didn't start getting that way until he got much closer to 2 yr.s old.

lange · 02-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by reeskujo

She's still young to Lange...Seigi didn't start getting that way until he got much closer to 2 yr.s old.

The rate she's going it might be when she turns 10, Ree.

reeskujo · 02-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by lange

The rate she's going it might be when she turns 10, Ree.

LOL...No she won't..It'll come out of the blue..One day you'll just notice a difference in her attitude.

Lunareclipse · 02-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by lange

The rate she's going it might be when she turns 10, Ree.

That is the same with Buster. He didn't become a giant area rug until he was 2 years old.

Lara's mom · 03-03-2012

Each dog has his or her own preferences. Bailey LOVES to stroll around the neighbourhood in any weather except rain and enjoys stopping for coffee and a treat at an outdoor cafe in the summer. Lara would much rather chase tennis balls in our park.