Do you ever get tired of walking them?
 

I have to admit, I've been in a slump with walking Thor for the past few weeks. I do love watching him run around a park because he's so unrestrainedly joyful, but... there are only so many parks in my area, and only so many different walks I can take him on.

I've realized I much prefer walking Thor if we are running an errand. Just walking for the sake of walking feels pointless, and I'm constantly checking the time.

Does anyone else here get the walking blues? How do you overcome them? I've been thinking about listening to music while we walk, but I'm a little concerned that I might miss things in the environment, like a dog two blocks away that Thor wants to go nuts over.

I guess that's part of it too, is I feel like Thor takes a lot of focus to walk properly. I'm always on the lookout for things that might set him off so I can distract him. I think part of me is longing for a dog that will just, you know, walk next to me without constant supervision.

I feel really guilty for not getting Thor enough stimulation. How do I break out of this funk?

Also, I'm not sure if this is part of it or not, but Thor and I used to play-tussle over toys a lot. I am not sure what happened, but a month or two ago, he stopped wanting to do that. He lets me chase him around a bit (he's never enjoyed chasing me, maybe because I'm so slow), but even then, he seems to get kind of scared, like he can't tell that I'm playing. I think I remember maybe him getting hurt/startled a few months ago when we were playing. I'm not sure, but I feel like I remember accidentally hitting him in the face with a toy or something. Obviously, I didn't think too much of it at the time, because it's very hazy. Anyway, his discomfort has limited our inside fun time. I try to use very non-threatening body language, but it doesn't seem to help.

We would both growl at each other, and his growling is hilarious because it's so high pitched. I know this is a weird thing to complain about, but I can't remember the last time he growled at me.

I feel you. I only have the treadmill option during the week. I don't look forward to Kaji's scared face or the dang wall. We thoroughly enjoy our walks on the weekends. I usually walk him late when there are no people around ti scare Kaji.

Kaji is timid, right? How did you teach him to walk on the treadmill?

Yes he's very shy. We hop on when it's off, and I start it as slow as it will go. He'll sit there giving me a defiant look up until he's just about to fall off and he'll run to me. I slowly increase the speed, and while walking backwards I call him to me. I ask him if he wants to be picked up, which he does so that gets him going. He hasn't figured out that he can jump off the sides. :p

Haha....yes there are some days that I get very bored walking Lucky but then I think to myself....this is something that he really loves and he knows that it's an every morning routine!He wakes me up at around 7:30 and by 8:30 I have his walk completed and our breakfast started....lol
His walk is an around the block walk and only takes 20 mins but he loves it....it's a small sacrifice that sometimes I dread but he don't demand alot from me...and he has given me soooo much love since I had him it's the least I can do for him!!! My advice is, make your walks a little shorter and then the days when you're feeling tired, you know it's not going to be long before it's done and you're back home with a very happy Thor!! lol

Just try to remember how much it means to him to get outside and sniff around, enjoy the fresh air & sunshine, and the exercise that he needs. It isn't about you but his good health - now and in the future. Walking helps their organs to work better and it will also help stave off future arthritis. Did this lecture help?:D

Yes! I feel ya. For sure.

Well, for one thing, I have to DRIVE somewhere to go walk. I live on 3 acres with 90 acres of farm behind us. No sidewalks or neighborhoods, we're just on a main road. So I can't just walk out my door, so I drive and it's only about 3 minutes up the road, to a nice neighborhood with sidewalks and park in their golf course parking lot and then walk the neighborhood. So even though it's so close, sometimes I just wish I could walk out my front door, I cannot wait til I'm living in a neighborhood again.

But I always get bored. I know Jackson could keep going, and I surely SHOULD keep going for the exercise, but after about 35-45 minutes, I'm just ready to stop simply because of boredom. I've been considering bringing my iPod but I'm always so paranoid about having music in my ears while walking by myself because I feel like I won't hear something important, or someone will creep up behind me, LOL. I don't know.

I never tire of watching Jackson at the dog park though. I've often stayed for 2-3 hours just loving watching him RUN and be free and happy. :) Also my dads fenced in back yard, I love watching the dogs all run and play together.

Lol, I thought I was the only one who didn't LOVE walking my dogs. I have to drive to a nearby park (our neighbourhood is a bit too dangerous to walk around in or I'm just paranoid) where I can walk the dogs. The park is only five minutes away and it's huge, so I try to go every night after work. But by the time I get home (after an hour in traffic), I'm usually not keen to do anything else, much less drive somewhere.
I had to force myself to get into a routine, otherwise it was too much of a hassle. Now, we walk four days a week for half an hour after work and on weekends, we either go to the park for hours or we do something fun. If I can't walk them, I play fetch with them until their tongues drag on the floor :D

Well I am lucky in that we live on 40 acres, and we have a path around the woods for walking that we made, but the problem...I get so lazy. I work 8-5 and it takes me 40 minutes to get to work and 40 minutes to get home, so my point being that when I get up its dark, when I get home its dark..lol...No excuse, but it sure does not help. We do have an area in the back fenced in so she can run and play while I sit there..lol..Not good, being that I need to lose weight as well..Our day for big walking is Thursday, my daughter has dance class, I drop her off and we hit our local park, its huge (with ponds and such) and we walk until its time to pick up my daughter. So I have no help for you, I am in a funk too I guess, I wish some of you lived closer so we could motivate each other..lol..

Well, ya. I for sure get tired of walking both dogs. Walking two dogs is not as relaxing as walking one.

I am paying a dog walker on Monday's and Friday's so I can have those days off! I'd have one every day if I could afford it.

We just moved to a new area; so walking has been a bit more fun. Exploring the new trails and parks . . . so that perked up our walking a bit. But now it's dark early and I can't get to one of the really fun parks after work; just around the ole neighborhood.
Yawn.

I try to think of it as stress relief for me; getting some fresh air after being in an office all day . . . then I remember the other benefits like ~ Ringo won't bark all night long; they will both be tired . . .

I can do an hour and then I've had enough. Ringo could go on and on.

I just got a bike and am going to get a bike basket for Lucy to shake things up a bit . . . but then she is not getting exercise and Ringo can't go so . . . doesn't solve the problem.

Luckily I don't have to walk too far. About 2 blocks, and I'm there. But I do wish we had an actual "dog park" where Ollie could run around with other dogs. he loves for me to throw a ball or frisby... but he just can't get the concept of bringing it back... So I end up playing fetch myself!!! I get a little bored but he loves to run around in such a big open area.

I hear ya, by the time i get off work,cook dinner, feed dh and pnut, clean up the mess, do laundry...etc.etc i am in no mood to walk! But i look at pnut and he gives me that look like mom please take me out.. or i will have dh take him. One time i was playing with pnut and i threw his toy and i hit him in the head! He wouldnt touch that toy for a month!! I felt so bad lol, i was glad he wasnt mad at me.

Like someone said on here, just enjoy the fresh air and the time with thor when you go walking. Pnut loves to go sit in the grass.. but hawks always come and ruin our fun!

I drive to the park that is 3 min drive from my house for walks. The scenery is better and no loose dogs. I also have my walkman on

It's good to know I'm not the only one, ha ha. I thought it was my shameful secret.

I'll happily walk an hour if we are going somewhere, even if it's not really necessary. I used to order takeout from somewhere really far away and then walk there even though they delivered. Maybe I find a place for breakfast I want to go to every day. I used to go to my local starbucks, but they asked me to stop bringing my dog in.

I'd definitely walk a long way for a fancy coffee... maybe I need to find an inconvenient, dog friendly Starbucks.

And music! I have to try music. I sort of thought about audio books, but I think that I wouldn't be able to pay attention to Thor at all. Maybe worth a shot though.

I'm lucky enough that I could afford a daily dog walker, and Thor does go to daycare for socialization, but I feel like walking is how I show my love for him. I got him because I didn't think his owner took good care of him, and I wanted him to get the attention and stimulation he deserves. Hm, maybe I need to keep that in mind.

Or I could get a dog walker for weeks where I'm really busy for work... oops, I think I just overloaded on ideas. Ah, so confused! Okay, far away coffee and music to start with.

I think it's time to pull the 'Therapy Dog' Card out and wave it in their faces! :D

I love walking Piper everyday. I drive down the road where there is a State Park on the Long Island Sound. I enjoy walking the bike paths, trails and during the off season the boardwalk. Piper is a great little walker and sets a fast pace. She loves the people, other dogs, birds, rabbits and anything that comes along her path. She is truly happy during her walks and that makes me happy. We try to walk every day when the weather is nice. Even in the dead of winter, you'll find Piper (bundled warmly) and myself taking our daily walk.

Walking a dog that is misbehaven I think would be a chore. I have Harlie leash trained now and it's a joy to walk her. She knows my commands and responds perfectly. I use;

Lead- She stays in front to the right
Forward- When she stalls to fart around
Cross- When it's time to cross the street

I use a short leash on her harness and can snatch her up like a yoyo if something happens. She loves her walks and I love to walk her. The neighbors greet us on the sidewalk to say hi and she loves that too. It's good for her and for me. Just try to think of it as their time with you outdoors to explore under your supervision...they crave the attention.

Walking
 

Sprocket and I walk once or twice a day depending on the weather, I never do anything but watch what he is doing, the things going on around us, or talking to him. Maybe other people have safer places to walk but , we have to be aware of other people (crazies), dogs w/out manners, and cars. You know, stuff and I'm such a worrier, I'm always watching. Besides I love the time I spend w/him, "our time", his previous owners never had time for him, then when we come home he's tired and a "good boy" and sleeps! When I don't want to walk I try to remember they are very smart little people, this stimulates their brain as well as the exercise. The walk doesn't hurt me either :D my neighbors already think I'm crazy, so talking to the dog is better than just talking to myself! Enjoy your time together! :animal-pa

Walking my pooches in the winter is almost imposible. I am here in alaska and during the winter the wind blows about 40 miles an hour and the temp drops to 20 below. I walk them if the wind isn't blowing, but never to far because of the cold an snow. Summers are great for walking, but so short lived. I have a treadmill but they hate it. How do I get them to love it? Any advice?

Walking
 

[quoteI=BobbieD;3310540]Walking my pooches in the winter is almost imposible. I am here in alaska and during the winter the wind blows about 40 miles an hour and the temp drops to 20 below. I walk them if the wind isn't blowing, but never to far because of the cold an snow. Summers are great for walking, but so short lived. I have a treadmill but they hate it. How do I get them to love it? Any advice?[/quote]
Alaska, wow, and I complain about the rain, about the treadmill, I don't know, I don't like it either, so I'm not much help there, but I do know lots of people do use them and successfully. I sure wish you luck. :animal-pa

You need to get the ipod, mp3 or whatever you use with your favorite tunes playing. LOL Use one ear plug, that way you can still be aware of your surroundings. Just because there are two doesn't mean you have to use both of them. You can still look around to watch for other dogs or people or traffic. Don't feel guilty about wanting another dog that stays by your side. Change your pace up a little while walking Thor. He would like most diffently. I walk, mostly power walk with Bella then I will throw in some running some. Not much because I'm not a runner, but she likes. I've already since I've had her, if one wants to loose weight get a yorkie. I've never seen anything like it. Do keep in mind that everything that was just said is coming from a personal trainer. I see you live in CA. Wow...I assuming most of the time you have decent weather to walk in. Here in IN that's not the story. One more thing, if possiable change your route. :-)

I cant help i love to walk my dog

I hear ya, too. I used to do two walks a day religiously, but I've generally cut it down to one. And we don't stay out for an especially long time, maybe 20-30 minutes. I make it up to them by doing something else with them at the time we used to take our second walk. We'll play on the agility equipment or practice nose work. They even enjoy a new physical therapy game we're doing -- walking over 4" boxes with treats as motivation.

The Nose Work guru who came up went off on a tangent one day about walks. He criticized people who don't make walks fun for the dogs. He said a walk to dogs is not like a walk to us. They don't care about the exercise. To them, it's an adventure. New smells on every corner. He says he lets his investigate stuff. He said he uses treats too to keep it fun.

So that's where I'm at. The morning walk is about them, not me. I make it as exciting and fun as I can because I know the rest of their day is going to be boring while I'm at work. Besides, we have such a routine that they literally attack me if I put off their walk.