Afternoon, in a couple of weeks I am walking Hattie's best friend Harry for 2 weeks whilst his owners are in Spain, he is an enormous Labradoodle Now dear Harry only gets about 30 minutes walking per day and Hattie gets between 1 1/2 - 2 hours, so here is my problem, do I walk Harry for his 30 minutes return him home and continue with Hattie or let him enjoy our walks? Hattie and Harry are the same age 8 years old Thanks everyone. xx
Is he in good health Helen? If so, an eight year old dog should be able to cope with that kind of increase, especially if you can maybe do a slightly shorter walk for the first two or three days to give him chance to adjust. Keep an eye out for stiffness etc but my guess is he'll have a lovely time with you.
I'm with Pippa on the increased walking, and perhaps increase to your normal walks over a few days. Hope they have fun together.
I think he is in good health Pippa, although slower than Hattie who still thinks she is a puppy but I put that down to being in a younger family environment. Harry's owners are in their late 60's and just tell me he is getting slower because of his age, but I don't buy that, they just don't exercise him enough due to their own minor health issues. I think doing a few days of maybe 1 hour and access how he is will be the way to go. I have looked after him since he was a puppy but I can't any more as Harry doesn't like Charlie, so his owners have someone to housesit but she is at work during the day hence me doing the walking. I know Hattie and Harry will have a ball as they are great pals and Hattie is the only dog Harry ever plays with, I am really looking forward to it. Thanks Pippa xx
I agree Helen , if he is fit and healthy , an hour is only going to do him good . Millie is roughly 10-12 and happily walks for around half an hour every morning and then at least an hour, often more with Sam every afternoon without fail . I`m late 60`s too and consider it does me good x
Thank you ladies, I agree Kate, and I only wish Harry's owners had your attitude then Harry would be a better exercised dog. At least he will have a couple of weeks of good walks with Hattie and I. I hope after a few days with 1 hours walk building it up to 2 hours he won't even notice xx
The only problem with rapidly extending his exercise could be his paws. I launched off on a two miler with Alice, my first rescue and practically had to carry the poor dog home. Basically all she'd done for several years was walk round a small carpeted house and even small garden. Poor girl was literally footsore. Over time we went up to four miles a day and basically kept that up until she died of cancer at the age of thirteen. Right ho, I'm now off to take my 68 year old bum out for its second walk of the day with Molly. Like Kate I reckon that the miles we put in does us oldies the world of good.
