How much do you exercise your dog?
- Thread starter Ilovedogs56
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opcorn:
We do a 30 minutes run the the morning and an hour walk in the afternoon on weekdays (off-leash usually), and then some physical game. Flirt pole, Jolly-Ball, crazy tugging, working on more physically demanding tricks, etc. He also goes to daycare once a week.
On weekends we have longer off-leash hikes and sometimes go to the dog park. When it's hot we go down to the off-leash water area at the lake sometimes.
So basically, 2 hours on weekdays, anywhere from 2-6 hours on weekends, depending on what I'm doing.
On weekends we have longer off-leash hikes and sometimes go to the dog park. When it's hot we go down to the off-leash water area at the lake sometimes.
So basically, 2 hours on weekdays, anywhere from 2-6 hours on weekends, depending on what I'm doing.
Monday-Wednesday-Friday they get nothing, usually. These are the days that I'm gone for 12 hours and would rather not exercise when I come home lol, plus by that time of day they've usually already put themselves to bed anyway. (They of course WOULD be game for exercise... but if they're not bouncing off the walls, meh, I'll leave them be).
The rest of the week they usually probably get about an hour or 2. That would typically just consist of off leash time at the park, and maybe an on leash walk or 2.
This of course doesn't account for all the time they spend hanging out in the backyard during the summer, where they might run around with their toys, tug on their spring pole, whatever.
The rest of the week they usually probably get about an hour or 2. That would typically just consist of off leash time at the park, and maybe an on leash walk or 2.
This of course doesn't account for all the time they spend hanging out in the backyard during the summer, where they might run around with their toys, tug on their spring pole, whatever.
I'm really inconsistent. 0-6+ hours depending on the day. The paps don't do too much because of Summer's age and Mia's health. Mia gets some ball playing at home, running around the house, out in the yard, and when it's cool we'll go for a walk of 1-3 miles. Summer gets about the same but can walk in hotter weather than Mia can and also occasionally gets some agility. Mia gets to play with our tunnel sometimes if she can handle it.
Hank in good weather gets 20-30 minutes of training plus a 3ish mile walk (to and from the park) and 30 minutes at the dog park on weekdays. Saturday and Sunday he has training classes. We usually hike once (3+ mile walk), do some training, sometimes spend an hour or two playing with friends' dogs. We usually have a down day during the week.
I'm getting to where I think we may stop going ot the dog park. It's tough, I'm just not liking some of the stuff there but Hank looooooves going when it's got a good group of dogs. Luckily our nosework class is Hank and a young Terv and Aussie and they all match really well so they get to play every week. Sadly they can't play in the big field though so he is still not getting as much running.
But Hank is really adaptable. It's nice. He can go a week or two without much and only be mildly annoying. As long as he gets a little bit of running and a little bit of training, he's good.
Hank in good weather gets 20-30 minutes of training plus a 3ish mile walk (to and from the park) and 30 minutes at the dog park on weekdays. Saturday and Sunday he has training classes. We usually hike once (3+ mile walk), do some training, sometimes spend an hour or two playing with friends' dogs. We usually have a down day during the week.
I'm getting to where I think we may stop going ot the dog park. It's tough, I'm just not liking some of the stuff there but Hank looooooves going when it's got a good group of dogs. Luckily our nosework class is Hank and a young Terv and Aussie and they all match really well so they get to play every week. Sadly they can't play in the big field though so he is still not getting as much running.
But Hank is really adaptable. It's nice. He can go a week or two without much and only be mildly annoying. As long as he gets a little bit of running and a little bit of training, he's good.
Mine get basically nothing in the AM; a quick potty break, a couple of short leash walks/releases to run into the woods behind our condos during the day. In the evening, we generally either leash walk about 3 miles, or go for an off leash hike for anywhere from 2 - 4 miles, with some swimming time if the weather is warm enough. Weekends are generally another 2 - 4 mile hike both days, and a decent leash walk. Plus agility practice for Gusto a couple times a week.
They are finally at the point (or rather Gusto is, because Meg has always been flexible) where I can skip a day pretty much completely if the weather is terrible. Gusto might be a little bit of a pest in the evening, but not unbearable. By day 2, I really do need to find him somewhere to run hard for a bit. But really, he hit 3 years and just got so much easier to live with.
They are finally at the point (or rather Gusto is, because Meg has always been flexible) where I can skip a day pretty much completely if the weather is terrible. Gusto might be a little bit of a pest in the evening, but not unbearable. By day 2, I really do need to find him somewhere to run hard for a bit. But really, he hit 3 years and just got so much easier to live with.
We used to do a lot more, but right now we're pretty limited by Brisbane's health issues. Currently it's 5-10 minutes of walking on pavement (conditioning his pads), 15-45 minutes of walking in deep sand (conditioning the rest of him), and 10 minutes of balance work every other day.
We used to do 45-90 minutes of hiking most weekdays, a 6+ hour hike every couple of weeks, chuckit on the beach every other day...
We used to do 45-90 minutes of hiking most weekdays, a 6+ hour hike every couple of weeks, chuckit on the beach every other day...
Anywhere from nothing but free play to an hour or two. It depends on how I'm feeling. I do a lot more mental exercise than physical. They often have to eat out of work to eat toys, or they do basic obedience for their dinner.
Working from home, you'd think they'd get more, but the reality is I'm pretty much chained to my computer and phone during work hours, so they get a little bit here and there, not a lot. After I get off work at midnight, I usually take them down the street and we run around a courtyard for thirty minutes or so to let them smell the dogs from the neighborhood and leave pee mail lol, and then we come home and I turn them loose to run the back yard together. It's about a half acre that's fenced in, so they have a lot of fun just tussling with each other in the backyard. They all have an off switch, so unless it's been a week or more with nothing constructive done, then they start bouncing off the walls for a good run.
But mental exercise trumps physical. Harrison does get more physical exercise, but just making him think and clicker work for thirty minutes or so can be enough to wear him out if he's getting a few hours of running loose in.
Working from home, you'd think they'd get more, but the reality is I'm pretty much chained to my computer and phone during work hours, so they get a little bit here and there, not a lot. After I get off work at midnight, I usually take them down the street and we run around a courtyard for thirty minutes or so to let them smell the dogs from the neighborhood and leave pee mail lol, and then we come home and I turn them loose to run the back yard together. It's about a half acre that's fenced in, so they have a lot of fun just tussling with each other in the backyard. They all have an off switch, so unless it's been a week or more with nothing constructive done, then they start bouncing off the walls for a good run.
But mental exercise trumps physical. Harrison does get more physical exercise, but just making him think and clicker work for thirty minutes or so can be enough to wear him out if he's getting a few hours of running loose in.
I'm pretty inconsistent.
Some days nothing, some days several hours.
I'd say we consistently average 30 minutes of running, whether that be actually going for a run, several sessions of frisbee, or going to the dogpark. I don't include walks in this, since they really don't do much for Leo.
It's definitely correlated to how much I personally exercise :rofl1:. He gets exercise no matter what, but when I am actually interested in exercising myself, we definitely do more. His favorite days are when I have a tournament. I play ultimate frisbee all day, and he gets many many sessions of frisbee throughout the day and many opportunities to play with doggie friends.
Some days nothing, some days several hours.
I'd say we consistently average 30 minutes of running, whether that be actually going for a run, several sessions of frisbee, or going to the dogpark. I don't include walks in this, since they really don't do much for Leo.
It's definitely correlated to how much I personally exercise :rofl1:. He gets exercise no matter what, but when I am actually interested in exercising myself, we definitely do more. His favorite days are when I have a tournament. I play ultimate frisbee all day, and he gets many many sessions of frisbee throughout the day and many opportunities to play with doggie friends.
Weekdays: Either a few hours at the park + the bike ride there (~one mile round trip), or a 5-6 mile bike ride around the neighborhood. Always in the afternoon because I only have time to give her a quick potty break in the morning.
Saturdays: 2 mile walk in the morning before I volunteer at the rescue, and a few hours at the dog park (and the bike ride there) after I get back.
Sundays: We usually go on a long hike on Sundays, but if not we'll spend several hours at the dog park and go on a long bike ride. We also usually go to the pet store on Sundays.
Sometimes I'll take her on an additional 2 mile walk on weekdays, especially if it's really nice outside. And if it's raining hard I'll usually go on a walk instead of a bike ride or the park, or sometimes I'll just skip going outside altogether.
We're pretty consistent in our routine. It's not a ton of exercise, but she's always tired by the end of it, so I figure it's enough for her.
ETA: She also gets at least one training session a day, and our trips to the park are also just big fun training sessions.
Saturdays: 2 mile walk in the morning before I volunteer at the rescue, and a few hours at the dog park (and the bike ride there) after I get back.
Sundays: We usually go on a long hike on Sundays, but if not we'll spend several hours at the dog park and go on a long bike ride. We also usually go to the pet store on Sundays.
Sometimes I'll take her on an additional 2 mile walk on weekdays, especially if it's really nice outside. And if it's raining hard I'll usually go on a walk instead of a bike ride or the park, or sometimes I'll just skip going outside altogether.
We're pretty consistent in our routine. It's not a ton of exercise, but she's always tired by the end of it, so I figure it's enough for her.
ETA: She also gets at least one training session a day, and our trips to the park are also just big fun training sessions.
I'm usually fairly consistent, although since the weekend Venice has just been going around the block twice a day until we see the vet about her leg.
On our normal summer exercise schedule though...
45-60 mins of offleash walking in the AM. 4-5km.
20-30 mins on leash in the pm with my dad, a few days a week.
1 hour of flyball a week.
1 or 2 chuckit/frisbee sessions a week (lots of hard repetitive work irritates her stifle injury)
1 hour-long offleash walk a week with a dog pal (lots of running)
On weekends, 5+ km hikes, not usually more than 2.5hrs because of her knee.
In summer, I don't do much training. I did a lot of conditioning and balance work over the winter but we've slacked off now that we just walk a lot instead.
I think she probably gets a lot of exercise for an average pet - she'd do fine with much less exercise I think. She's pretty flexible and is okay with not doing ANYTHING for a few days straight. When she was on house rest for 6ish months she kind of accepted it after a week and was great.
On our normal summer exercise schedule though...
45-60 mins of offleash walking in the AM. 4-5km.
20-30 mins on leash in the pm with my dad, a few days a week.
1 hour of flyball a week.
1 or 2 chuckit/frisbee sessions a week (lots of hard repetitive work irritates her stifle injury)
1 hour-long offleash walk a week with a dog pal (lots of running)
On weekends, 5+ km hikes, not usually more than 2.5hrs because of her knee.
In summer, I don't do much training. I did a lot of conditioning and balance work over the winter but we've slacked off now that we just walk a lot instead.
I think she probably gets a lot of exercise for an average pet - she'd do fine with much less exercise I think. She's pretty flexible and is okay with not doing ANYTHING for a few days straight. When she was on house rest for 6ish months she kind of accepted it after a week and was great.
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Depends on the weather and season but 1-1.5 hours at least 3-4 times a week. Plus often a 3-4 hour hike, or 5-10k walk/run on one day during the weekend.
In the winter it's considerably less. Maybe one 5k walk per week plus 1-2 days of 1 hour running/ball/park. In the winter she does a bit more 30 minute walks but it's not too strenuous or tiring so I don't count it much as heavy exercise.
In the winter it's considerably less. Maybe one 5k walk per week plus 1-2 days of 1 hour running/ball/park. In the winter she does a bit more 30 minute walks but it's not too strenuous or tiring so I don't count it much as heavy exercise.
Henry doesn't need much and is happy with a 30 minute leash walk each evening and a short hike on the weekends.
Rhys needs a good bit more. During our walks he often wears a back pack, then comes home and does drag work with 25-50 pounds of chain. It's not unusual to go on an hour hike with him dragging 10-15 pounds, either.
A few times a week he gets to play flirt pole and we do some basic obedience. He eats out of work to eat toys once a day and we are working on some conditioning stuff.
I used to jog a bit more with him but have slacked up on it.
Rhys needs a good bit more. During our walks he often wears a back pack, then comes home and does drag work with 25-50 pounds of chain. It's not unusual to go on an hour hike with him dragging 10-15 pounds, either.
A few times a week he gets to play flirt pole and we do some basic obedience. He eats out of work to eat toys once a day and we are working on some conditioning stuff.
I used to jog a bit more with him but have slacked up on it.
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Now, not a lot, because they're older (10) and Milo's on medication that makes him a lot more mellow/sleepy.
The dogs play together for probably about 30 minutes of hard exercise (running, wrestling) a day. Benji spends the day outside so will sporadically run around but usually he's just resting. He's always been low energy.
Milo gets, aside from his time with benji, some indoor and outdoor ball playing/tugging, probably just like 10-15 minutes a day, though. He's been going for 2 hour training sessions (yes it's long) to work with me once or twice a week, which is nice. When he was younger he got all of that plus walks a few times a week (maybe 2-3 times) and once a week or so we went on a longer hike, to the beach, etc.
When our pool opens he will swim about an hour a day, or at least he always has in the past.
My city dogs in the apartment got:
20-30 minute AM walk
Short 10-15 potty break midday and dinner
Long 30-60 minute walk each night
One got time on the long line/playing ball a few nights a week, and the other did the dog park 2-3 times a week. One was also able to go run errands and cafes and stuff with me, so that was a few days a week. They each got 10 minute training sessions once or twice a day.
The dogs play together for probably about 30 minutes of hard exercise (running, wrestling) a day. Benji spends the day outside so will sporadically run around but usually he's just resting. He's always been low energy.
Milo gets, aside from his time with benji, some indoor and outdoor ball playing/tugging, probably just like 10-15 minutes a day, though. He's been going for 2 hour training sessions (yes it's long) to work with me once or twice a week, which is nice. When he was younger he got all of that plus walks a few times a week (maybe 2-3 times) and once a week or so we went on a longer hike, to the beach, etc.
When our pool opens he will swim about an hour a day, or at least he always has in the past.
My city dogs in the apartment got:
20-30 minute AM walk
Short 10-15 potty break midday and dinner
Long 30-60 minute walk each night
One got time on the long line/playing ball a few nights a week, and the other did the dog park 2-3 times a week. One was also able to go run errands and cafes and stuff with me, so that was a few days a week. They each got 10 minute training sessions once or twice a day.
No set amount of time. We go to Flyball practice every weekend for a couple of hours and they probably get about 25 minutes of training each, give or take. They get two turns. I also try to practice tricks and Agility stuff at least two or three times a week, probably about 20 minutes each time. Sometimes more because I'm really bad for "this is going so well, let's keep going". Then I also try to take them on a long two hour walk once or twice a week that involves walking, running, fetch and swimming (weather permitting). In the spring/summer my friend and I go on fairly long hikes at least every couple of weeks as well. And some weeks they get barely any exercise and are fine. All depends on how I'm feeling/what we're working on/how my week is going.
Nowadays it's one 30 minute-1 hour leashed walk a day in the evening, and a few hours of running like a maniac with a few select playmates every couple days (his style of play went from wrestling to "chase me chase me chase me! Don't you see me looking over my shoulder for you?! RUN!"). I do the play dates to make up for the off leash hiking we used to do every week, as we work on his reactivity. He gets his food from training or from puzzle toys, very little put in a bowl (only if I want to add a supplement powder to it), so those factors also keep him mentally tired.
Weight pulling for 40 minutes before dinner
Bike-joring for 1 hour when I get home
Running on the treadmill for 1 hour while I get ready for work
Swimming for 45 minutes during my lunch break
Pulling me on the scooter for 1 hour before bed
And about 2 hours of fetch broken up to 20 minute sessions throughout the day.
Sunday Syl gets half as much because of Church.
Bike-joring for 1 hour when I get home
Running on the treadmill for 1 hour while I get ready for work
Swimming for 45 minutes during my lunch break
Pulling me on the scooter for 1 hour before bed
And about 2 hours of fetch broken up to 20 minute sessions throughout the day.
Sunday Syl gets half as much because of Church.
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Since Skill came home:
Skill or Siri runs between 2-4 miles with me in the morning, hopefully they will soon be doing this together.
Everyone to the hockey rink for off-leash running for between 15 minutes to half an hour. Sometimes there is fetch or discs involved for the youngsters, sometimes not.
If Skill or Sri comes to work with me and I have empty space in the day, we try to walk around a lake or practice recall at a park. After work they get to run around the facility while I clean.
Siri has agility Tuesdays (private lesson) and Thursdays (class).
So, not a great deal. Skill is adjusting well so far, and the other dogs are enjoying the daily hockey rink runs, which were just leashed walks before.
Skill or Siri runs between 2-4 miles with me in the morning, hopefully they will soon be doing this together.
Everyone to the hockey rink for off-leash running for between 15 minutes to half an hour. Sometimes there is fetch or discs involved for the youngsters, sometimes not.
If Skill or Sri comes to work with me and I have empty space in the day, we try to walk around a lake or practice recall at a park. After work they get to run around the facility while I clean.
Siri has agility Tuesdays (private lesson) and Thursdays (class).
So, not a great deal. Skill is adjusting well so far, and the other dogs are enjoying the daily hockey rink runs, which were just leashed walks before.
Depends on the weather...if it's cold/snowing/raining/etc we don't do a whole lot of "exercise". Just trick training and I'd sit down for an hour every night or every other night and alternate dogs.
In nice weather we go for a 4 mile walk in the morning (when we aren't busy at work) and then in the evening we either go for a walk or hang out in the yard and play flirt pole, frisbee, fetch or agility until it gets dark. Then tricks every few days.
In nice weather we go for a 4 mile walk in the morning (when we aren't busy at work) and then in the evening we either go for a walk or hang out in the yard and play flirt pole, frisbee, fetch or agility until it gets dark. Then tricks every few days.
I swear Hank goes to sleep at 10 pm on the dot no matter what we do. We've had lots of rain and severe weather this week so Hank hasn't done much since Sunday and he's snoozing away. He was a little bit wild tonight so we did about 15 minutes goofing around training and playing tug. I do love a good off switch.