What's the point of walking a dog?

[Rajah]

It sure isn't to wear down the dog. I took Scamp for a walk for about an hour and a half last night posting signs door-to-door over part of the neighborhood. We came home and *he* was still hyper. *I* was exhausted. I'm still exhausted today.

So what's the point of walking?

(I know, it's to establish the concept of "the pack" and socialize the dog)

 

[luvwinnie]

You have the Energizer Bunny of the dog world on your hands!!

 

[corie161]

My dog is the same way. I take him for a nice long walk thinking it will tire him out and I can have some quite rest in the evening. WRONG! I beleive he thinks it means...time to play...time to play...time to play!

 

[gris gris]

I never walk my dog (I know, I'm a bad dog mom). He runs around our yard and gets his exercise that way. Plus, he really is a lazy guy. Anyhow our vet told me I need to get him on pavement to get his nails worn down. So I started walking him, and he walks on the grass!!! The big bad pit mix is too prissy to walk on the pavement. I pull him onto the road, he gets right back up on a lawn.

 

[Rajah]

We spent a good 20-30 minutes after we got back playing fetch. He's really picking up the routine well, too. (Sit, Go fetch!, Leave it, sit....)

And he still wanted to chase the cats when he got in.

 

[luvmydogs]

I often wonder why I take my one Chihuahua, Cookie, out for a walk. We get like 50 feet from home, she gets tired, and I end up looking like a moron carrying her the rest of the way around the block. People stare.

 

[Rajah]

I never walk my dog (I know, I'm a bad dog mom). He runs around our yard and gets his exercise that way. Plus, he really is a lazy guy. Anyhow our vet told me I need to get him on pavement to get his nails worn down. So I started walking him, and he walks on the grass!!! The big bad pit mix is too prissy to walk on the pavement. I pull him onto the road, he gets right back up on a lawn.

He knows what makes a good walking surface!

 

[stinkerbelle]

We get like 50 feet from home, she gets tired, and I end up looking like a moron carrying her the rest of the way around the block. People stare.

I carried a 40lb sheltie a half mile once cause he konked out on me! heeh

my dogger is a couch potatoe...we're such bad parents...yes we play with her, but our yard is not fenced in, and we can only be outside with her for so long. she's not very good on a leash - so we do have to work on it.

but after a 20 min walk - she's OUT for the night. heheheh

 

[Pooh93]

That's funny! I was just coming on here to look for any updates to your puppy situation and I saw this thread! I take it that you haven't had any luck finding his owners?

 

[MUFFYCAT]

After my DH walks the dog each night, he gets this wierd boost of energy. He runs wild back and forth in the living/dining room about 15 times
then he just collapses and gets ready to sleep

it's really wierd to watch the dog go crazy like that!

 

[BeckyEsq]

For us, walking the dog is to make sure he "goes" so we don't have to keep letting him out all night long. One trip around the block and he will go three or four times and then he's good for the night.


He does sleep better at night too when he gets his exercise!

 

[brerrabbit]

Well in my neighborhood the reason to walk your dog is so he can go do his business in somebody else's yard. My dog died in 1995 and we have not had another one since, just two cats, both inside. However it doesn't mean I don't get to shovel poo anymore. I get to pick up three to four piles a week from other peoples dogs who let them go in my yard or others who let their dogs roam the streets.

 

[Rajah]

That's funny! I was just coming on here to look for any updates to your puppy situation and I saw this thread! I take it that you haven't had any luck finding his owners?

Nope, sure haven't. We've posted more signs around the neighborhood, expanding our posting radius. And last night I started going door-to-door with notes for the most likely region. And I've got an ad in the paper and at animal control (silly me... I didn't realize the SPCA and animal control weren't the same thing ). I've had a few calls for *other* dogs, but not Scamp.

Right now, DH and I are shifting into the thought of "do we keep him, or rehome him". There are pros and cons for each.

 

[Sir Real]

After my DH walks the dog each night, he gets this wierd boost of energy. He runs wild back and forth in the living/dining room about 15 times
then he just collapses and gets ready to sleep

it's really wierd to watch the dog go crazy like that!

Until you put that last sentence in I thought you were talking about your DH.

 

[Castlebound]

Well in my neighborhood the reason to walk your dog is so he can go do his business in somebody else's yard. My dog died in 1995 and we have not had another one since, just two cats, both inside. However it doesn't mean I don't get to shovel poo anymore. I get to pick up three to four piles a week from other peoples dogs who let them go in my yard or others who let their dogs roam the streets.

That is the way it is in our neighborhood as well. We only have two goldfish yet I have dog poo in my front yard. One neighbor doesn't even bother with a leash. They just let the dog out of the house and watch as it does its business in other peoples yards.

 

[AuntieM03]

Until you put that last sentence in I thought you were talking about your DH.

Me too!

 

[Kimberly]

My parents have a Newfoundland named Bear. I've taken him on a few walks, and I really shouldn't say that I take him on walks. He's so big that it seems that he takes you for a walk (165 lb dog, solid as a rock). He actually still remains pretty hyper (read as - stays awake) for a dog his size after a walk.