Why own a dog if you aren't going to walk it?

skintandscared_2

I literally can't wait until we can get out and walk our little Jack Russell. Have to wait until after his jabs but when they are all done we will be straight out as soon as the vet says we're allowed!! My OH has had rotties before, so he's used to walking every day in all weathers.

gettingready

I have to say that sometimes, especially in the winter, after all day's work and travel to/from work... it is tough to get home in the dark and have to take Zara out straigh away. But I do it because she is my hairy baby.

Plus I have a dog walker who takes her out for a good hour in the middle of the day.

vicx

Yes I feel sorry for the dog but she is not my responsibility so I won't be taking on another, I have two of my own that get all my spare time. The owner is capable of training and walking her own dog but is too lazy to do it. I just wondered why some people bother to get a dog, its cruel keeping the dog when its got no life and no walks to look forward to. I would go crazy if I was a dog and was at home all day on my own and never got taken out. I bought her a kong last year so the dog had something to occupy herself with while at home all day alone but she has never used it. I looked after that dog all day when owner was at work up until 6 months ago. I was in and out seeing to the dog but I have no time now and I also stopped it because owner wasn't training the dog, the dog is getting worse every time I see her.

I can see this dog turning vicious very soon. Its just a shame, the dog would have been lovely dog with the right owner. I've just got home 30 minutes ago and the dog hasn't stopped barking in the garden, it really is annoying and I usually don't mind dogs barking just this is a nuisance.

Owner also told me a few days ago that the dog is over due her first booster. I said she will need her puppy vacs again since she is about 4 month over due but she said no way will she pay. Very irresponsible dog owner!

catkins

gettingready wrote: »

I have to say that sometimes, especially in the winter, after all day's work and travel to/from work... it is tough to get home in the dark and have to take Zara out straigh away. But I do it because she is my hairy baby.

Plus I have a dog walker who takes her out for a good hour in the middle of the day.

The majority of the time I enjoy walking my dog even when it's pouring! I am lucky that I don't work any more but I know the feeling of getting in from a day at work and over an hour commute and then having to walk the dog but, as you say, it is part of having a dog.

Sometimes now if I am not feeling great or it is snowing (I hate snow with a vengeance!) I would rather not have to walk my dog and I know he would be ok with it for a day or so but I would just feel too guilty. When I see how excited he gets when I pick up his lead and how much he enjoys the walk it is always worthwhile.

When my previous dog died last year I actually missed the walking which I wasn't sure I would

UKTigerlily

She is right to not walk her during the day in this weather & right that Shih Tzu are one breed even more at risk than most but it sounds like she doesn't care at all for the dogs welfare (are you sure she isn't taking her out? you can't watch 24/7 & some of us are out at 5am)

chucknorris

OP why not print this link out and give it to her:

http://www.allshihtzu.com/Shih_Exercise_Requirements.html

vicx

UKTigerlily wrote: »

She is right to not walk her during the day in this weather & right that Shih Tzu are one breed even more at risk than most but it sounds like she doesn't care at all for the dogs welfare (are you sure she isn't taking her out? you can't watch 24/7 & some of us are out at 5am)

What weather, are you in a different country to me? We have had a few nice sunny days but not scorching. Its mainly been cloudy or light showers. She definitely is not walking her, she admits to me and other neighbours that she doesn't take her out. She seems to think that shih tzus don't need exercise.

I had my two dogs out for a walk last night and could hear her dog barking from 4 streets away so its only a matter of time before someone complains. I got home at 5pm and the dog was barking constantly from 5pm until 10pm last night. She just leaves the dog in the garden and ignores the barking.

calicocat

vicx wrote: »

Yes I feel sorry for the dog but she is not my responsibility so I won't be taking on another, I have two of my own that get all my spare time. The owner is capable of training and walking her own dog but is too lazy to do it. I just wondered why some people bother to get a dog, its cruel keeping the dog when its got no life and no walks to look forward to. I would go crazy if I was a dog and was at home all day on my own and never got taken out. I bought her a kong last year so the dog had something to occupy herself with while at home all day alone but she has never used it. I looked after that dog all day when owner was at work up until 6 months ago. I was in and out seeing to the dog but I have no time now and I also stopped it because owner wasn't training the dog, the dog is getting worse every time I see her.

I can see this dog turning vicious very soon. Its just a shame, the dog would have been lovely dog with the right owner. I've just got home 30 minutes ago and the dog hasn't stopped barking in the garden, it really is annoying and I usually don't mind dogs barking just this is a nuisance.

Owner also told me a few days ago that the dog is over due her first booster. I said she will need her puppy vacs again since she is about 4 month over due but she said no way will she pay. Very irresponsible dog owner!

Ask for a welfare check to be done then, this may be enough to spur the owner into thinking about her dogs needs?

Ilona

I have been walking a dog for two years because the owners hardly ever take it out, and by hardly ever I mean 3 or 4 times a month. It lives in a shed in the garden 24/7. I cannot do nothing, that poor little dog would have a rotten life if I didn't walk it.
Ilona

bagginslover

vicx wrote: »

What weather, are you in a different country to me? We have had a few nice sunny days but not scorching. Its mainly been cloudy or light showers. She definitely is not walking her, she admits to me and other neighbours that she doesn't take her out. She seems to think that shih tzus don't need exercise.

I had my two dogs out for a walk last night and could hear her dog barking from 4 streets away so its only a matter of time before someone complains. I got home at 5pm and the dog was barking constantly from 5pm until 10pm last night. She just leaves the dog in the garden and ignores the barking.

Why don't YOU complain? It seems you feel strongly enough about it to do so.

Some dogs don't need walking, the foster I'm being assessed for at the moment (checking I'm suitable for her) will very probably be homes somewhere with a garden so she doesn't need walks due to the way she is. Not saying this is true of the dog in this thread, just a general FYI