Am I A Bad Mommy?
 

Ive only had my yorkie for a year and maybe Im still a learning mamma, but I dont really take my dos for walks . (i have 1 yorkie and 1lhasa apso)but the dont really seem to mind. We play fetch in the house some and hell ru till he getd out of breath. My lhasa she's just lazy and stays in bed all the time. I did start taking him (yorkie) out for walks in the yard but when i did that he started wanting to run outside the house more and it was starting to get dangerous. We live close to the road yet close to woods and i was afraid that he'll get run over or lost. He's so fast I could hardly catch him. They seem content not going out. But I feel like I might not be doing right by them . But I dont want it to encourage him to dart out when the door is open.... also he hate a piece of gummy candy tonight.......will it hurt him? He snuck and grabbedit on the run.

I don't take mine out for walks either. I tried, but between the stopping to sniff everything and then planting their butts down and not wanting to walk at all, till I had to pick them up......... Well that stopped our walks. Mine get plenty of exercise in our house. They run around all on their own, chasing each other and playing all the time. Mine go with me to the store, to the office, shopping, soccer games, everywhere I go. So I don't think they miss not going for walks.

I think just as long as they get exercise - its fine.

I don't think you are a bad Mommy, but I've just always walked my dogs. They so enjoy it and it especially calms my Westie down. He would not be content to hang around the house.

I think it depends on your dogs energy level. My Tinkerbellis high energy and absolutely needs her daily walks. I doubt she would ever get enough excerise just hanging out in the house. I take her to the dog park almost every weekend also. You should see how fast she runs on her little legs... there is no way they can get up to that speed in the house.

What kind of candy was it? Like gummy bears? a single piece should not hurt him. However, gum, as in chewing gum or candy that has contains xylitol can be deadly.

No what ever works for you and your babies. I have 4 and cannot walk 4 at a time. I of mine won't walk on a leash and the another one will only walk if I drop the leash and let her walk on her own. I find it too dangerous to try and walk all 4, especially with coyotes and loose dogs around. They do go out in the back yard and sometimes if my dtr is here we will walk them all.

Actually, a dog might seem content to never go outside if you never take him. My little boy loves, and I mean loves to go for walks. I don't because I feel as though our current living situation doesn't allow it (dangerous neighborhood). However, if I take the time to put his harness on, drive him out to a safe neighborhood, you can physically see him enjoying every sniff, every step, and every dog we meet.

It very could be that they don't enjoy walks, every dog is different. But they can't miss what they don't have.

I don't take Shay out for walks either...we play and run around the island in the kitchen (lol I know weird... but he loves it, and is so sneaky.. he will run around , then stop, turn around,and peak and wait for me to ..lol..like hide and seek)

It sounds like you don't have a large fenced area outside either and you mention the one just stays in bed all the time. So, I think you really need to work in a daily walk ON A LEASH. You can buy a coupler that swivels so the leashes will not become tangled. It is important that they get daily exercise. If you have a fenced yard like I do, then you can just do it all in the yard. I throw toys for fetch and they like to just run the perimeter of the yard a lot. Still, we like to work in walks outside the yard for variety and socialization. Since your dogs sound like they are in different levels of shape, you may have to walk them separately. Start out with short walks at a slow pace -- maybe only 10 minutes at a time to start. Then add 5 minutes a week until you are walking them for 30 minutes a day.

You don't have to walk them daily but there needs to be some sort of fairly good exercise. A little fetch inside, is probably not going to be enough (although I am sure you could make it work). If you are not going to do the daily walks, then you need to really evaluate how much exercise they are getting. Especially the one you say is lazy and stays in bed, you need to get that baby up and moving before it has a heart attack. It will be the very best thing for their heart, for their lungs, for their bones and muscles. This really is important!

They will sniff things along the way and try to eat strange things they find. On a leash you can limit it, but they may still get an odd piece of candy or try to lick another dog's leavings. Not the end of the world and still healthier than allowing them to lay around and clog their arteries and atrophy muscles. Make sure they are always up to date on shots.

As I mentioned this is really important for the health of your dogs. It will be good for your health too! Getting out in the fresh air and walking at a moderate pace is invigorating, will give you more energy and make your pups much more healthy! Think of the remote and hope-it-never-happens situation of requiring surgery ... if they go in in good health from daily exercise they are much more likely to make it through. When they face surgery in poor health, lungs not stretched to good capacity, hearts not used to any exercise, then it is VERY dangerous! So, get the leashes out and have some fun! Walking with your dogs can be a hoot! They are always coming up with somethng funny to do, to find, and people to entertain. You can meet some great people out walking the dogs! :) Have fun!

If my guys didn't go for a walk, they would drive me nuts. Vinnie is lazy, but he loves being outside walking. He got a little fat last year with all the snow and not being able to walk as much (we had several major snow storms in the DC region). But he dropped the weight once he started walking more again. Alex, my newer guy, is a walking maniac. He just LOVES to walk and will walk as long as I let him. They both did a hike last weekend (not too long, just around 3 miles) and while Vinnie was exhausted, Alex was still looking for more.

Personally, I think going for walks (on a leash) is really important for dogs. Walks provide physical activity that we know is good and they also provide mental stimulation (all the smells, people, dogs, etc). I also like walking time for me. It's the one time of the day when my focus is completely on the dogs and they get ALL my attention.

I walk Gatsby, he needs it if i dont take him he sits in the hall and cries.
My beat friend has two small breed dogs a Maltese and a Chiweenie they dont walk her Chiweenie is very afraid of out doors and her Maltese is approaching 12 and he dose not get along so well anymore and her dogs are fine

No you are not a bad Mommy. I only walk my dog in my yard on his leash. He also likes to sit outside while I garden (when the weather is warm). He also likes to sit on my lap outside in the nice weather. I don't like walking him around the neighborhood because not everyone keeps their dog on a leash and I'm afraid he will get hurt from a bigger dog.

We have a large privacy fenced in back yark and no I don't walk my dogs they go out back and run around. I don't even like too many people knowing I have the dogs because I'm afraid of dog nappers. I'm always afraid that if someone see's me walking a yorkie and a shorkie they could follow and find out where I live.

My Ruby is not a walker. She goes around the corner and is already tired, but she loves play with ropes. Now she has a broken leg, so I am not walking with her at all; actually I try to make her rest most of the time.

However I am felling a awful mommy for another reason. I crate trainning Ruby and she goes in her kennel to nap no problem at all... But in another forum i said about the crate trainning and it was a huge thing!!!! People said that I just wasn't a bad mommy to my dogs, but also to my 2 year old daughter... It hurted my feelings so so much!!!! I felt like a monster... And started to wonder if I am really that bad canine and humane mommy!:(

Welcome to YT.
Someone in another forum said you were a bad pet owner and mother to your daughter because you crate train your dog? is that correct?
If that is what was said to you then I cant even begin to explain how ridiculous that is!
Crate training is in NO WAY cruel, you said yourself that your dog has no problem going in the crate to nap.
Crate training is probably one of the quickest and easiest way to potty train your dog, I know Poppy has come on leaps and bounds in her training since I started crating her.
Please do not listen to whatever idiot said those things to you, and I have no idea where they got the thought you were a bad mother to your daughter because of a dog crate!
Good luck in the training, you will see how well crate training has worked for everyone here. :)

Personally I agree too. It also provides socialization to different experiences which I think is important.

For example the lady across the street has a dog whom she never takes for walks. She thinks the he has enough room to exercise in his dog run but then she complains that he isn't very friendly and can be aggressive. I wonder why? Perhaps its because he was never properly socialized or exercised.

Now this womans dog is a doberman who requires a lot more exercise than a yorkie but I still think it's important to get your dogs out to experience new things.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I don't believe in keeping any dog inside all the time. Walks are an essential part of a dogs life. If you don't have a desire to ever walk a dog, then why get one? I understand things like weather come into play, and lack of time, etc. Even if there is a point in your life where you literally just cannot walk your dog due to lack of time, weather, etc and have to have a month or two of no walking... I simply can't fathom not ever doing it, or wanting to, or putting forth an effort to. I live on 3 acres with 90 acres of farmland behind us... no sidewalks, or neighborhood, so I have to drive up the road to give Jackson a "real" walk with sidewalks, etc. Yes, a game of fetch indoors, or chase, etc, can substitute real outdoor exercise, but it should not be a replacement, IMO.

Not only for the physical aspect of exercise is getting outside essential, but also mental. My dad has a huge fenced in backyard and 2 dogs, and I often bring Jackson. It's GREAT exercise for them to run around and chase, etc, and while it can be fine to do that for a few days... my stepmom STILL takes them on walks around the street, just to drain their energy, and for change of scenery. Look at it this way... a backyard (or a dog park) is basically like a Chuck E. Cheese for dogs, as it is to kids. It's a GREAT place to be able to let them run free and do whatever, but it doesn't provide structure.


Back to this quote: But they can't miss what they don't have. I find that a lot of people claim their dog HATES walks, etc. And sure, I'm sure that can be the case for some dogs... but it's typically the lack of effort on the owners part, and if they've never experience a true fun walk, they don't know what they're missing. I've seen it time and time again on It's Me or the Dog and the Dog Whisperer.. the owner claims the dog simply won't walk, and once they discover how great it can be, they LOVE it. I dogsit for a Rottie and as a young pup, he HATED it, because it was new to him. It took a good 4 weeks to get him movin' and now he absolutely loves to walk.

I will never be in agreement with keeping any dog indoors 24/7 on potty pads unless a serious medical condition requires it. I don't care if a dog is 4lbs or 200lbs, they are still dogs. I know two 4lb and 6lb yorkies who walk 4 miles a few times a week, and go to the dog park weekly, and can keep up with 15lb Jackson easily. Why? Because their owner allowed them to do it... and didn't ever keep them confined or keep them away from doing it.

I try as often as I can to take the boys out for a walk. Miloh loves grass so much that as soon as he sees grass he gets extremely happy & begins to jump like a bunny! Totally agree with Britster! :) Allowing our babies to explore new places should not be a questionable thing.

I do believe it depends on your dogs personality. I have three of them and I have to carry one when I'm walking my other two. My girl that I carry loves to smell the roses and only feels secure when she has her space and doesn't feel invaded by others. If I let her loose in the yard she takes off like a bullet but if I walk her she get's behind and scopes everything and not even ten minutes she's begging to be picked.

Yes, I agree it can definitely depend on personality. But let me ask, when your one would beg to be picked up... what would you always do? I'm going to assume you did just what she asked: picked her up. They learn very quickly, after one time, that they can manipulate you (LOL- Jackson knows I can't resist his little face looking up at me while I'm on the computer so he'll sit there and stare at me, and I wind up getting down on the ground and playing with him). So they totally know what they are doing. I guarantee if you just ignored her, she would continue walking. It's typically always a matter of owners over indulging, sometimes without even trying.

Kacee loves to walk, but that is how I started her out. On weekends, we walk twice (sometimes more) a day. One walk is two miles. Two walks = four miles. We always end up walking a bit more though. During the week, this time of year, we can only walk two miles of an evening and afterwards, we play in her fenced yard for quite awhile. She loves the stimulation of the walk and loves to stop and visit with friends and their little dogs, too.

well I think what ineed to do is invest in one of those curved gated things for the door. He was just 3 months when i got him last nov. so i didnt worry w walks till spring , he enjoyed it but it caused him to dart out the door more and it was dangerous. we live close to the road and he was hard to catch so i stopped the walks because it scared me. But I guess if we get one of those fancier curved gates that might help. We live in a rural town with no dog parks no trainning classes etc.

Quite the opposite usually occurs---when a dog is cooped up indoors, they tend to door dart because they want to get outside sooo bad. A dog that is outdoors and walked often won't have as much of a desire to do so because they know they know they are going to get to do it without having to dart out. Teaching a stay command is fairly simple and will help with door darting. But I agree, a gate at the front door is always a GREAT prevention tool!

Agreed. Or, just make sure that leash is attached before you open the door. He will eventually know that he will go out when he sits so you can attach the leash. They catch on really quickly - Rocco was sitting and waiting at 4 months.