Not walking show dogs because of the rain

[Beth]

I have a working cocker that would be bouncing off the walls if he didn't have a walk as WELL as stimulation and quality time.

I don't call that obsession     I call that part of my dog ownership responsibilities of having this breed and strain of dog

I agree Helen - you have a selectively bred working cocker   

My "obsession" was based around that fact that I believed that HAD to walk my dog every day - even though he didn't enjoy it that much - because imo, that was the done thing by dog owners     
It took Marks comment that I have quoted for me to realise that actually, all dogs are different, and my dog didn't bounce off the walls if I didn't traipse around the streets with him as long as he was offered a range of stimulation and exercise    That might include setting up weaves in the kitchen as well as other games and activities to keep him thinking    Bonnee needs a different sort and level of stimulation to Molo - she is far clever 

Jarvis is no worker, but i know that he does get stressed by not having a walk, no matter what training i do with him. With his recent injury which resulted in no walks for 2 weeks i actually witnessed him becoming depressed and that was with constant company and clicker training. We do have the odd day where he won't get walked, if i am ill for instance, or if there is really really heavy rain which is too nasty to walk in, but no matter what i do, for him nothing compares to getting out in the big wide world.

[KellyS]

Ours get walked at least once more often than not twice a day plus we have a big garden for them to run around in. I have been having problems with Tinkers coat because i take her over the fields and she gets muddy and wet she wears the coat away on the back of her front legs - they look awful at the moment - moth eaten - not great for showing but what can I do - she needs to go out I have just ordered a hand made all in one waterproof coat so hoping this will help

[tiamaria]

I know of loads of dogs who get walked the same route, on lead, every day at the same time, with no interaction with their owners; just because a dog is walked every day, doesn't mean that they are stimulated 

I must say i never thought of it like that! That is so very true!

[joanne_v]

I agree that not every dog needs the same stimulation but I still think its ridiculous not walking dogs for days before a show just because of their coats and I bet some of them dont get as much alternative stimulation as they should.

My dogs are not walked every day but its just not possible with my job. However, I think 4 hours of play in a quarter acre field with half a dozen other dogs is equal to an hours walk in terms of exercise but perhaps not in mental stimulation. They get one or two weekday walks after work but I would rather be able to do that every day for practising recall and just for socialisation with strangers and unknown dogs. They are more than happy with the sitution though, its just me that feels a bit guilty as I just believe that dogs need and should be allowed walks every day (aside from ill days etc).

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

poo breath believes theres a contract somewhere guarenteeing him two walks a day and woe betide me if he doesnt get them, its right up there with the sin of not giving him any of the guinea pigs veg of an evening.
 The only time he has been happy to go with less is when i had a really bad chest infection and he didnt hassle me once to take him out.

[Helen]

poo breath believes theres a contract somewhere guarenteeing him two walks a day and woe betide me if he doesnt get them, its right up there with the sin of not giving him any of the guinea pigs veg of an evening.
 The only time he has been happy to go with less is when i had a really bad chest infection and he didnt hassle me once to take him out.

Jarv sez 'right on poo breath' 

[Sarah.H]

I think its all just a matter of commen sense regarding if you're ill, the dog won't enjoy it or its the day before a show etc. But to not take your dog out as its been raining is just pathetic  , especially in Britain - poor Millie would only get a couple of walks a year if I did that 

[Nicola]

I have a working cocker that would be bouncing off the walls if he didn't have a walk as WELL as stimulation and quality time.

I don't call that obsession     I call that part of my dog ownership responsibilities of having this breed and strain of dog

The only time he has never been for at least 1 walk a day was when he was ill at the vets......

Mine are the same, there's no training I could do with them at home that would use up their energy sufficiently to mean that they didn't want to go out. I tried it once out of interest when I just had Alfie and Tilly; I did a load of obedience stuff, seeking games around the house and played with them in the garden and afterwards they were still bouncing around the house jumping on the furniture play wrestling, barking and rarring at each other and every time I even looked like I was about to stand up they started running to the door and back in case I was taking them out. Which I did because I genuinely do believe that they need free running physical exercise every day and I would feel guilty if they didn't get it; it nearly killed me keeping Rodaidh in his crate for 8 weeks and although we had no choice and he coped well he was far from a happy boy at the time. I probably am obsessed by the amount of exercise they get but I live with them and I know the difference in them if they don't get it.

[tracey]

I've heard this before. Someone at a cocker show said that they didn't walk their dogs for four days before a show so that the coat stayed clean.... 

Four days We are showing Sunday and mine have been over the fields today and spent several hours in our large garden playing with each other and me Mine will be bathed Friday night after being exercised and trimmed Saturday. They will still be exercised Saturday but not over the muddy fields

Between shows our dogs live a normal doggy life and mid week look nothing like they do at weekend shows

[Rhona W]

Well I've not walked a working dog because of the summer.   

[Tori]

I think its all just a matter of commen sense regarding if you're ill, the dog won't enjoy it or its the day before a show etc. But to not take your dog out as its been raining is just pathetic  , especially in Britain - poor Millie would only get a couple of walks a year if I did that 

tis very true......I've got to admit i have real issue with Laney and the rain............SHE HATES IT...just sits there and you have to drag her....so i try and generally take her back after a couple of mins as you can image she was not impressed on our holiday.....The chatsworth show on sunday threw it down and she was sodden......Gundog my a**e!

Well I've not walked a working dog because of the summer.   

 

[Michele]

Between shows our dogs live a normal doggy life and mid week look nothing like they do at weekend shows

I agree Tracey.  

Would I be embarrassed for you all to see mine right now, they certainly don't look like show dogs but they look like happy pets.  

As for letting them get wet when they shouldn't, oh no wouldn't happen.

[Cob-Web]

its just me that feels a bit guilty as I just believe that dogs need and should be allowed walks every day

That's why I'm so grateful to Mark (Top Barks) - I used to feel the same way, but I have so much respect for him and his methods, that my opinion changed  

Of course, if experience shows that without a daily walk, an individual dog suffers, then it is the responsibility of the owner to give them what they need - but all dogs are different, and the traditional "two walks a day" approach is not the only option for all dogs, at all times  

[bibathediva]

Mine... 99.9% of the time are walked twice a day...very rarely they are  walked once a day...but i do it for me as well as the dogs...mostly because i enjoy it but also i don't want to be stuck in 24 hours a day and i think we all 3 appreciate the change of scenery ...although Biba would probably languish in bed all day if it was up to her 

[PennyB]

Would I be embarrassed for you all to see mine right now, they certainly don't look like show dogs but they look like happy pets.  

As for letting them get wet when they shouldn't, oh no wouldn't happen.

 

I think mine just love the change of scenery above all else