Dogs don't get walked, what's the worst that can happen?

Question

My daughter's 2 best friends families both have medium (mix) or large dogs (gold. ret.) and these dogs never get walked (I do mean literally). Our large dog gets walked, but not nearly as much as so called experts say dogs need to be walked. Families with young kids often don't have time to walk dogs, so should families not have dogs? Even if they have fenced in back yards? Yes, I suppose it might make dogs more 'nippy', but really, is not walking a dog more the norm than people who walk once or twice a day? Do you know people who never walk their dog?

Answer 1

My dogs don't receive formal walks as their form of exercise. They would if I didn't have alternative means for them to get out and stretch their legs. My home is on an acre of land and where I work is on 15 fenced (and partially wooded) acres ~ my dogs go to work with me most days and have free reign on the 15 acres.



They get plenty of exercise.



So, my dogs don't get walked. The worst that could happen is maybe environmental in nature, a sting, or minor cut or scrape. They stay in fantastic shape. We had a Dobe who got a thorn in his cornea on this 15 acres and that was ~to date~ the "worst" that's happened.



While the dogs entertain themselves and enjoy being at work, at home we have 'play time' out in the yard (garden). All that takes is the invitation from me and they race around like wild Indians ~ and don't we all know how absolutely FUN that is!? Easy on me and a blast for them. Exercise done simple.



I grew up with dogs and I take my dogs for the occasional walk, but I've always had a fenced yard of adequate size and that's all that my dogs have needed for exercise. Walking for us is a social endeavor exercising their social graces and yes, we do that regularly as politeness only stays well tuned with regular practice. Exercise in this home is a chance for the dogs to play and burn off energy.

Answer 2

I know a person with two labs who never walks his dogs. They are neurotic and hyper, even though they are way past the age where they should be (one is 7 and the other is almost 4).



A yard is not enough unless it is really big and the owner is actively exercising the dog there (by playing chase or fetch, or letting another dog in to play). Otherwise, the dogs just sniff around and sleep in the shade, which isn't exercise.



But even if the dogs are getting real exercise in the yard, the owner is missing an important opportunity to bond with his/her dogs and practice training through walks. The dogs will be poorly stimulated and scared of new things, since they never leave their homes.



Not walking a dog is a terrible idea. We walk our lab mix twice a day (I walk her in the morning and my husband walks her in the evening). She needs that activity to be happy, healthy and well behaved.

Answer 3

I will start off by saying that no, not every family is entitled to a dog. Dogs are a privilege, not a right, and responsible people should consider whether they have the time and energy to get one before they do so - not just get one because they like the idea of one and because puppies are cute.



Not all dogs must be walked but they DO need regular exercise, and some breeds more than others. Dogs that aren't exercised enough are often blamed for all sorts of naughty behavior - that they are simply doing because they are bored. Most dogs also need actual interaction with the exercise - just sticking them out in the backyard simply isn't enough.

Answer 4

It is common for a youngster (under two years) or mature adult Dobermann to come into rescue because of "uncontrollable" and "aggressive/dominant" behavior. As a rule the root cause is the “problem owner” not the dog and the dog reacted to its environment. The Dobe has huge amount of energy to burn and under exercise typically results in irritable and destructive behavior and a miserable dog.



Typically a healthy adult Dobermann which is a working group breed, requires as a minimum 1.5 hours of hard daily exercise [mine typically have 2 hours because I am an active outdoors type of person]. Some Dobermanns will *tolerate* under exercise better than others, but a sedentary lifestyle is not suited to a dog that will take as much exercise in a variety of ways to shake its life up as you want to give it.



Having a large back yard which is an unvarying environment for a dog that thrives when it is provided with the opportunity to detect and track scents, mark over other dog's urine, explore new surrounding and train/sprint flat out and not a substitute for regular daily exercise outside the home. While I could exercise my dogs on a canine treadmill inside the home to main lean condition, they would go out of their skulls with boredom, so exercise is not enough, the dog should be take OUTSIDE the home.



It is important for an person to be honest about the demands on their time at the time of purchase and how their future plans may negatively impact on their ability to provide a breed with the lifestyle it needs, not to be bored and bouncing off the wall with unspent energy. Because some dogs will tolerate not being given the level of exercise it needs, does not mean they should have to.

Answer 5

No, I don't know anyone who doesn't walk their dog. Having a yard isn't exercising the dog.



Without exercise and mental stimulation, dogs can become destructive, barky, diggers and start exhibiting bad behavior simply out of frustration.



My children are grown now, but I tell you, I would make the effort and walk that dog every single day, rather than have a frustrated dog that nips at the kids. Doing something so simple can prevent a big problem

Answer 6

I have 6 kids ranging from 3 months to 11 years old and 3 dogs and my dogs are walked 3 times a day with out fail and i work full time .

Dogs need the stimulation of a walk they need the exercise ,training is often done whilst walking your dog.

Dogs can get bored some Breeds need to be doing something all the time ,and would never survive with out being walked it would drive them nuts .

that is why there is so many questions on here ,Regarding my dog wont stop digging ,My dog wont behave my Dog chews every thing up.!!

Answer 7

The lack of exercise can cause the dog to be neurotic,overweight and stressed out. Yes the dog can get exercise in the yard but unless you are interacting with the dog and keeping it on it's feet then it will probably just lounge around in the yard and do nothing. That's not an adequate amount of exercise for anything. Imagine a person who never exercised other than to walk around their yard. That person would be overweight, most likely in pain, and sometimes grumpy. Well dogs are the same way. They need vigorous exercise. Whether it be from a long walk or a game in the yard. Sometimes I get lazy and I don't walk my dogs but I always find a way to exercise them. They have an agility set and a springpole to keep them busy.

Answer 8

A dog is a very active animal, and needs to be out and about exploring. Dogs sniff around for a reason, and having a Dog isolated would only obstruct the Dog from Exploring new Scents. This could lead to aggressive behaviour in the future if the dog is isolated too long, making anything it hasn't seen before a threat to the dog, and perhaps some scents too. A Dog needs Exercise to maintain a healthy heart, like i mentioned before a dog is over active, and can only mean it has an over active heart too! Exercise helps keep the heart healthy... an UN-healthy heart will only lead to problematic problems soon enough.



#Like Humans, if you don't exercise your classed as unhealthy :P

Answer 9

My brother in law has 2 Staffordshire bull terriers they are around 8 years old now and they get walked maybe once a week if they are lucky; its purely because he is lazy. When they were younger they got 3 walks a day. But they seem happy they just roam around the yard all day.



They are gaining weight kinda fast though and they do jump up a lot more than when they were younger I think that's due to the lack of walks

Answer 10

Walking provides several benefits:



-Socialization: your dog becomes familiar with and non-reactive to a huge number of stimuli. People of all shapes, sizes, ages, races and levels of disability; normal environmental stimuli-bicycles, rolling trashcans, buses, fire engines, sirens, road equipment, people on ladders, etc.; dogs of both the polite and impolite sorts.



-Exercise. Admittedly, you can provide exercise without walks though.



-Entertainment. Dogs find walks exceedingly entertaining as they explore the world through smell. Even changing the side of the street on which you walk your dog opens up a whole new world for him as he acquires information so much more by smell than we humans do!



-Bonding and training. The dog enjoys walks, and if he enjoys them with you, you are bonding. And walks provide endless training opportunities! All sorts of things that you didn't anticipate (along with those you reasonable would) occur on walks. You get to practice giving your dog direction with high distraction and increase his trust in you and his obedience.



The "worst that can happen" if you don't walk the dog is that you have a fearful or aggressive unsocialized dog who only listens to you when there are no distractions present.



Yes, I know people who never walk their dogs and they are badly trained (or more accurately, half-trained) and usually fearful or aggressive.

Answer 11

You're right, it can make dogs aggressive, destructive, and contribute to poor health. Exercise does the same things for dogs as it does for people - it keeps them in shape and helps them socialize. For bull terriers and larger breeds that are bred for a specific purpose, with a job to do, generally do better when they are given proper exercise. All dogs need exercise, but usually larger dogs need more of it to stay in shape. Bull terriers also have an unfortunate bad rep thanks to a couple of really stupid people, and even if they are friendly, they can still scare a lot of people. Discipline is also a form of exercise, so if he only took them for a twenty minute walk and then did twenty minutes of obedience training, it would probably help loads - one, with the pulling, but two with the jumping on people. For the female, same thing, except maybe longer walks and cut down on her diet. Females, of any species, are more prone to putting on excess body fat without proper diet and exercise. It also helps them live longer, and forms a stronger bond between owner and pet.

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Answer 12

Even if the dog doesn't get nippy it will certainly feel frustrated and/or depressed.



My dog is walked twice a day and also gets to run around the farm for at least an hour. Anyone who doesn't have time to exercise a dog shouldn't have one.

Answer 13

I personally don't think it's fair. They need exercise and entertainment. People say just stick toys in with them or play with them but a lot of dogs aren't playful and they would prefer getting out somewhere. If they are not exercised or entertained they will start to misbehave in an attempt to amuse themselves especially if it is an only dog. :) x

Answer 14

EXERCISE is important. Simply taking the dog for a walk isn't.



As long as the dogs get some type of daily exercise, who cares?



My dogs rarely go for walks, but they do get exercise every day.

Answer 15

Contrary to popular belief, dogs do not need to be walked. What they do need is exercise and that can be given in the form of playing fetch for a few. minutes, using a spring pole, or placing the dog on a treadmill.

Answer 16

they can become over weight which can lead to diabetes which can lead to DEATH

ok, not very often but it can still happen. they can also be more likely to bite and nip at you can children, their claws can get to long (walking wears l.them down) which can damage their paws.



so it is really important to walk a dog no matter what size...

Answer 17

Dogs who get no exercise can get bored, hyperactive and destructive. It depends on how big their yard is.

Answer 18

your dog can become stressed and over excited because it is not getting excercise and releiving their energy. thiscan casue htem to be grumpy and not pleasant pets to have.