I mapped my usual walk today, and checked it with a pedometer. 4.2 miles round trip for me, all off lead so much more for the dogs especially Tarka with her manic obsessive water retrieving and swimming - she'll swim at least 900m daily. We frequently go on a couple of miles extension depending on time, work, etc. They never seem tired whilst out, but like to crash out for a couple of hours after. They have no second walk, we have a large garden and they have free access for the rest of the day if not at work with me, and we normally have a thinking training session for 20 minutes or so late afternoon. So is this average/normal and how far do your adult dogs go?
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? I don't know about distance, but Poppy gets anywhere between 1 1/2 and 4 hours exercise a day, and never seems tired unless it is hot out…
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? Depending on how hot it is, but as a rule, ours have around an hour off lead every morning , they are both swimming and retrieiving during the walk so I guess they get a fair bit of exercise , then they have a 50/50 on and off lead in the late afternoon, for about 45 mins , plus garden lunacy when the mood takes them
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? In normal weather Tatze and I walk for an hour to two hours off lead every day and then two 10 - 15 minute on lead walks (sometimes we run if I'm feeling fit )
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? We live on a 10 acre farm, so my dogs are off lead almost all the time, which results in far more exercise for them than for me! My 13 year old (who is now 14, I guess! August birthday!) tires more easily than the two younger dogs, so I'm careful in hot weather not to expose her to too much time out running. She loves to fetch her frisbee and would go till she dropped, if I let her. The puppy is at the other end (15 weeks and 3 days! Already!!), so needs some care, there, too. The middle dog is about 3.5 and would go all day, if allowed. What he really wants to do is take off and explore all the fields. Good thing his recall is pretty reliable! I guess a total per day would be around 2-3 hours during the summer, split into multiple sessions (I'm a teacher so have lots of time in the summer). During the school year, it drops to about 1 hour per day, in two sessions. The dogs also have access to a 16' x 18' outdoor kennel, attached to an insulated garage, so they have a big "playpen" when we're gone. I think the two younger dogs wrestle all morning while we're gone since they're both pooped out when I get home after lunch (teaching summer school). I think a healthy Lab could work almost all day, as long as they have good food and an opportunity for sufficient rest at the end of the day (think about hunting Labs). I think an under-exercised dog is a disaster waiting to happen. A bored dog with too much energy is not a good thing! I wish we had a lake within walking distance of the farm, but getting to a lake that allows loose dogs would require a 35 minute drive at high speed, so not really an option!
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? I think Tarka and Lochan get much more exercise than Charlie - I'd like Charlie to do more, but we're still watching the clock on his exercise. Ideally, I'd like to do one big walk a day too. But we don't because a) when I'm working I think it's better that the dog walker does shorter, but more frequent, walks and b) we are coming to the end of a programme of exercise broken up into chunks. Possibly c) that my gardens are on the small side so feel it's better for him to get out a bit more. When we're in London, he gets 2 x 30-40 min off lead, and 2 x 30 on lead, a day, and 2 sessions of hydro a week. His off lead walks are not high energy, as I'm concentrated on keeping him close and under control. In Cornwall, he gets the same walks per day, but his off lead walks are more racing around, river swimming instead of hydro when he gets to chase a ball, and 3 training classes a week. Very, very, limited retrieving right now. A few carefully placed blinds a week and that's it. He seems completely unaffected by the heat, and apart from keeping him out of the sun by walking earlier or later, and making sure he has water breaks in the shade, doing a bit more swimming if it's really hot, we don't change anything because it's warm.
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? My two Labs seem happy with an hour or hour and a half off lead exercise a day, I probably only walk a couple of miles but they do further. They have a 15 minute lead walk in the morning with the younger one having a few tennis ball structured retrieves. They seem happy with less exercise that I gave my GSPs and not as lively!
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? Holly gets about 90 minutes every morning and 30 every evening during the week. At weekends I usually take her out for 2-3 hours in the morning, then a short walk before bed.
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? jasper as 3 to 4 hours in the day and 20 to 30 mins at night, most off lead walks
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? [quote author=Boogie link=topic=7172.msg98674#msg98674 date=1406895971] In normal weather Tatze and I walk for an hour to two hours off lead every day and then two 10 - 15 minute on lead walks (sometimes we run if I'm feeling fit ) [/quote] What is this running that you speak of? :-[ That is the province of 18yo son only.... It would seem they are about average in terms of exercise and fitness, although clearly I am not ;D ;D. I do get them a bit fitter at the end of summer ready for picking up which seems to tire them out much more than anything else.
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? Interesting.... Dex has slight seasonal adjustments. All year round he gets his big walk in the morning 1.5 - 2 hours a combination of lead and off lead and 2-3 mornings we will make arrangements to meet one of a few friends who are mad enough to get up as early as me this time of year! In the Winter he gets an hour before dinner 5-6 pm and this will include an illegal run around off lead in the park with a few carefully cultivated pals ;D....at the moment we go out for half an hour at 6 and he gets a max of 30 mins. In the cool months he gets half an hour on his lead before bed but I'm going a little bit longer now as he's missing out a bit with the days being so hot so he probably gets about 45 mins.oh,let's not forget the extra winter strolls he gets for his toilet breaks which slip into extra walks and plays if we meet another dog : Swimming is tricky....( it shouldn't be,we've got a pool in the garden ;D !!!!!) dogs are banned on all beaches but there are a few loop holes and I'm happy to get him out there at 5 am to beat the patrols but I am always on pins and a bit wary and I think he picks up on that.The sea is incredibly salty so he doesn't love swimming in it and we have a very fragile interest in retrieving so he won't plough in to get anything I've thrown unless we are with another dog and that dog is very keen,Dexter has to make it his mission to take the toy so the dog will chase him :
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? Riley is about to be on short rations unless he stops p**sing about on his retrieves. He's getting the hard line until he knows who's boss (that's me by the way ) Before that he was on a minimum of 1.5 hours split into two walks plus a couple of short garden training sessions. If he's lucky he may see the light of day again
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? Oh Riley,cop on quick son,Mum sounds like she really means it! ;D
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? He's been assessed by the finest spaniel trainer in the country and I've been told I'm letting him get away with murder ;D
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? Ah Riley,she's not cross with you really,she's dead proud of you!well done x
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? No I am most definitely not happy he's messing me about. His exercise will be retrieve based or at heel, he will be occupied every step of the way and if he doesn't want to play he will go back in the car! I might still love him a little bit though
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? Oh Blimey,at least you've got a plan in your mind and sound like you have had great advice. Let's know how you/ he gets on.... ;D
Re: How far do you walk your adult dogs? Oh poor Riley. Mind you, I took the same advice when Lochan was also messing about with a dummy and it worked like a magic charm. Back in the car immediately when she blinked a dummy and one very surprised labrador carted home unceremoniously and left there while Tarka came out. A few days at heel and only having fun when retrieving and she was back to normal. Hope he gets the message soon, although Lochan says if it's raining and you don't want to go out you can just blink the dummy and you get to go home......
