# How long do you walk your dog for each day? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 12, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106 "2011-09-12T22:55:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Agent\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/50afbb/32.png) [@Agent\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Violet)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/21 "2011-09-14T12:51:29Z")
we have two little dogs that require a small amount of exercise and a german shepherd that requires a LOT of exercise. They hate being on leashes so we typically give them their exercise by hitting a tennis ball into the field for them to chase. Usually after 10 mins of hard running they are exhausted. the big girl needs about 20 mins of chasing the ball before she’s tired out. i wish my state was more lax on the leash law bc i’d love to be able to walk with the shepherd without a leash…she’s so good and doesn’t leave my side but i know some stick up their ass jerk would complain if he/she saw me walking the dog without a leash. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/22 "2011-09-14T13:02:28Z")
We have a frenchie that generally gets walked a mile and a half in the morning and a mile and a half at night. Sometimes she gets less than that and sometimes she gets more but that is her average except in the hottest part of the summer. Because she doesn’t handle heat well when it gets exceptionally hot she goes out quickly in the morning and quickly at night and doesn’t leave the apartment for the rest of the day. We’ve found ways to make sure she gets plenty of exercise indoors by playing fetch with her in the living room or “wrestling” with her or whatever and we got her some very active toys (including the turbo-scratcher which is technically for cats but she will spend 4 hours a day chasing that ball around the track so she gets to have one of her own) so that she has a way to burn off plenty of energy without worrying that she is hurting herself by being out in the heat. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/23 "2011-09-14T14:47:43Z")
Our three dogs have it made. We live in the country with no cars or anything to worry about (we are at the end of a long gravel private road). They are out whenever we are, romping and playing with each other. There is a lake in the woods that we walk to a few times each week for them to swim. They come to work with me every day and have access there to a fenced in 3/4 acre. Much of our recreation involves the dogs. We have a pontoon boat that we take them out on a couple times a month. They accompany us to hiking trails nearby. They are also leash trained. We take them to [free concerts nearby](http://www.summersounds.com/), where they get to play with kids and eat hotdogs. Like I said, they have it made. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/24 "2011-09-14T15:14:07Z")
> [@Gleena](#): > > Princess Jasmine the scary pibble puppy dislikes getting her dainty feet wet, so even less in the rain because she puts her wombat bum down on the ground and won’t Go. Swear to god, he won’t Go if it’s raining steadily unless he has an umbrella held over him. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/25 "2011-09-14T16:00:44Z")
We have a large fenced yard and 3 small dogs, with plenty of bunnies to chase - they gets lots of exercise. Plus we have a smaller fenced in yard, that is accessible to them all day via a doggie door, and they run around in that too. They get so much exercise that the min-pin actually keeps pulling a muscle because he only has two gears: park and full speed ahead. They are all getting a little bit older as well. We did a poor job of leash training, so I cannot walk them. I can probably walk one of them, but the other two throw themselves around like crazy-dogs. My own fault. I know - I’m a bad dog owner. I’ve already told my husband that in the future all dogs we own have to (no exceptions) attend a proper training program so that they aren’t unruly little shits. Again, my fault, you don’t need to tell me, I know, its my fault. ---
**Author:** ![Snake\_Plissken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@Snake\_Plissken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snake_Plissken)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/26 "2011-09-14T16:07:14Z")
I have a young Slovakian Pointer. I walk her anywhere between a mile and five miles, depending on the shape of my knees any given day. She also plays with the boxer next door for a couple hours. At night we walk the golf course. In the winter we walk the golf course in the morning and late at night. At the cabin she disappears in the morning and hunts all day. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/27 "2011-09-14T16:17:57Z")
One hour, 3.2 miles a day, weather permitting. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/28 "2011-09-15T15:37:39Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Swear to god, he won’t Go if it’s raining steadily unless he has an umbrella held over him. My beagle mix Winston is like that. He craps 3 or 4 times a day. That is why we call him Winnie the Poop. But if it is rainy, he craps in the garage. Nothing like stepping in dog crap to start the day off. ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/29 "2011-09-15T15:53:43Z")
We do 6-8 miles a day during the week split up 4 times - less in the hot part of the summer (he hates the heat) and more during the winter (loves the snow). On his afternoon walk he is allowed off-leash in a large field about a mile away. On weekends we also take him to one of several dog parks or beaches in the area. Oh - and once a week he goes to a doggy daycare where he romps and wrestles all day long. ---
**Author:** ![Gleena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@Gleena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleena)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/30 "2011-09-16T03:37:59Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Swear to god, he won’t Go if it’s raining steadily unless he has an umbrella held over him. I mean this both euphemistically and physically. She just sits. Stubbornly. So the neighborhood is treated to the sight of me half-dragging a dog across the street. (Since _civilised_ dogs do NOT poop in their back yards! :rolleyes: Apparently.) And then, yes, I have to hold the umbrella. I’m well aware she’s trained me. But who’s a pretty girl then, who is? Jasmine is, oh yes she is, Spazzy Jazzy Mina Me is a pretty girl. 😉 [As you can see, with her boy.](https://picasaweb.google.com/108808501775468292215/CafeBonesWithMelDec09#5421267816938407298) [Brother Dog](https://picasaweb.google.com/108808501775468292215/CafeBonesWithMelDec09#5421267666952745890) is dumb, but gorgeous as well. ---
**Author:** ![Snake\_Plissken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@Snake\_Plissken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snake_Plissken)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/31 "2011-09-16T04:24:00Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Swear to god, he won’t Go if it’s raining steadily unless he has an umbrella held over him. hehehe, Mine will only go out in the rain if I go out and stand in it with her. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/32 "2011-09-17T02:03:22Z")
I don’t walk my dogs. Between our wide open and sparsely furnished house, and the 2500SF kennel out back, they have plenty of room to run and play. They are all young and filled with energy so they spend about 10 hours a day running around outside and inside, and about 14 hours a day sleeping. If it ever looks like they’re not getting enough exercise, I’ll start walking them even though I detest going for walks. I have no problem with walking. I just don’t like going for walks. I will walk 8 miles to get to a doctor’s appointment if I have to but I don’t want to spend 15 minutes walking 1 mile just to end up back where I started. The 2 dingoes are about 30 pounds and almost 2 years old and the terrier is about 20 pounds and almost 1 year old. They are all healthy and at their ideal weights. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/33 "2011-09-17T02:58:52Z")
> [@Gleena](#): > > [As you can see, with her boy.](https://picasaweb.google.com/108808501775468292215/CafeBonesWithMelDec09#5421267816938407298) That’s the best picture you have of her? Peeing in her food dish? 😕 Not that she’s not pretty, but…huh. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/34 "2011-09-17T04:21:00Z")
Ideally, around 2 hours a day. When he gets home from walks he likes to go around the yard at top speed, but this involves a lot of cornering. It’s a decent sized yard, but he wants to go very fast. I try to get him to the dog park at least a couple of times a week so he can go full-tilt off-leash, because he can run five times faster than I can and apparently he needs to. Unfortunately the dog park closest to us is closed for “repairs.” I guess they mean filling in all the holes the dogs dug. He also goes to a puppy play class, 1 hour once a week, which is usually one hour of non-stop running with the other herding dogs. He’s a BC mix and a puppy. I expect he will calm down in a couple of years. He also doesn’t care if it’s raining, snowing, or a hundred degrees. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/35 "2011-09-17T05:21:44Z")
Until she got really old and we no longer let her have a “say,” my dog preferred to be outside with a doghouse rather than be in the house, so she didn’t need potty walks. Walks were for exercise and adventure, at a rate of 4-5 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes at a time, so 2 to 4 miles a walk. I miss having a dog…I’ve gained 20 pounds since then. ---
**Author:** ![Gleena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@Gleena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleena)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106/36 "2011-09-17T05:57:13Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > That’s the best picture you have of her? Peeing in her food dish? 😕 Not that she’s not pretty, but…huh. The first link is her? This one is her dumb brother. (I find it amusing.) Here this first link: [https://picasaweb.google.com/108808501775468292215/CafeBonesWithMelDec09#5421267816938407298](https://picasaweb.google.com/108808501775468292215/CafeBonesWithMelDec09#5421267816938407298) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-walk-your-dog-for-each-day/596106.md?page=1)