How Often Do You Walk Your Grey?

[GeorgeofNE]

What does migrating have to do with walking your dog?

[scullysmum]

Sadi is walked twice a day (not including two or three other potty break walks just a short way down the street as we do not have and enclosed garden/yard) her first walk is between 45 minutes and 1.5 Hours depending on the weather, time of year etc. at weekends and when I am not working it can be upto 2 hrs. Her second walk is in the company of my friends two dogs which is for at least 1 hour.

 

Once we are away from the road and any other dangers Sadi is off leash and therefore able to stop and sniff as much as she likes as long as she keeps one eye on me. Same applies to the other dogs.

 

In my opinion it is vital for dogs to be walked daily, whether on or off leash. Their mental and physical well being depends on it. I personally also believe that dogs should be allowed to regularly spend time off leash in a fairly open area, preferably with other dogs if possible ( a large garden/yard is fine).

 

Being walked improves their ability to socialize and to become acclimatised to all kinds of different things, thus making them better all round characters. I also know that being walked off leash and being trained in recall is one very important reason why there are fewer lost dogs in the UK than in the US.

[moofie]

We walk the dogs a couple times a day usually they have 1 longer walk 30+ mins and then 2 shorter 10-20min round the block breaks. It does vary sometimes depending on the weather and spare time, if we have to rush then they will just go in the garden for loo breaks and they tend to get longer walks at weekends/days off work.

 

I really enjoy walking the dogs and think it benefits us both physically & mentally, it also helps socialise them to new things/situations. We walk at a decent pace, but i give them some freedom to sniff at certain spots as they love to read/leave peemail. Hector is happy to walk anywhere, but Throp is more selective and often plants in protest if we are not going the way he wants to go , he likes to go to the park, nature reserve and a wooded walk and knows the routes to them

 

I try to avoid areas/times when we will meet lots of other dog walkers as although the boys are good with other breeds there are often lots of offlead dogs with no recall & dozey owners. It makes me feel uncomfortable when i'm walking them both on my own.

 

The racing greyhounds get walked for about 15-20 min a day round the village at very fast walking pace so that they are trotting along. If the ground conditions are ok they would get galloped a couple of times a week and then race once a week/fortnight.

[Guest Kitty_cat]

Well this is a definite advantage to living in an apartment: the dog gets walked 3X/day, no exceptions. If I had a yard I would most certainly not muster the courage to walk him that often...

[AngelWhispers]

I guess I need to go tell my dogs they lead a boring, neglected life because they live on 2 acres, and don't get walks. The racing around the property, the frisbee throwing, the dogball games, the swimming pools, and all the deer, bunnies and squirrels to chase just aren't enough stimulation. I think my dogs would disagree and feel sorry for all the leash walked dogs. Most of mine get a leash put on them once a year to go to the vet, and every day is like going to the dog park only better...no little fluffy dogs to worry about.

[Guest md7nd]

Well, I'm one of the 2 that voted to take them out to potty, but let me explain...Nina goes out about 6 times a day, at least 5 mins, but sometimes 10+ minutes. She gets playtime inside a lot and can go in the small backyard anytime she lets us know. She pretty much tells us what she wants, especially when she knows we are going in the car and she wants to come! She really enjoys those rides... Anyways! when the weather is nicer, we'll take her for whatever walks, and we'll stop when she wants to sniff or whatever. I really dont understand how dogs must go for a walk, but not on their terms, more than a few had said when they walk, they dont let their dogs stop but only occassionally. How is that good for their mental health? If a walk is for and about the dog, than shouldnt we let them tell us what they want rather than the other way? what others think about this? And I'm like Geroge, "What does migrating have to do with walking your dog? "

[Guest ArtysPeople]

What does migrating have to do with walking your dog?

 

There's a theory that in their "wild state", canines migrate as a pack on a regular basis (daily?), and that further, the organization and leadership required in this activity helps cement the pack structure and relationships. The theory goes on to posit that humans can re-create this activity, and thereby reap the benefits of being the leader of the pack and having stronger relationships between their dogs, by going on vigorous walks with their dogs, with the human firmly in the lead and in control. Cesar Millan promotes something along these lines.

 

Personally, I don't know or care how much of the whole pack/migrating theory is correct. I do know that being "in charge" on our walks (setting the pace, walking out front and not letting him stop and sniff every time he wanted to) when Arty first came home had a huge impact on our overall relationship, and led to a much better home life. It may not be right for every dog, but it worked for us.

[Guest SoulsMom]

I think you hit the nail on the head there. Every dog is different. What some need others don't and vice/versa. The key is to make sure they are well socialized and mentally stimulated. Exactly how this is achieved can vary by dog and activity.

 

ETA and of course, exercise . .

Edited February 11, 2009 by SoulsMom

[Guest shelbygirl07]

What does migrating have to do with walking your dog?

 

Migrating IS walking your dog. A structured walk.

 

Dogs are genetically programmed to migrate in search of food, shelter and territory. It is the term that most behaviorists use to describe "roaming in search of". It's just a word to describe the style of walking that a dog does when he or she is on a mission.

 

Numerous times, i've made people change their walking styles because their dogs can not handle having a territory. The dogs have severe anxiety.

 

Edited to add:

We, humans, tend to be guilty of applying human psychology to our canine companions. We assume our dogs enjoy leisurely walks where they get to stop every 3 feet and urinate. We often think "wow, how can one dog pee so much?". That is because your dogs stops and lifts it's leg or squats and lets a little urine out at a time but always seems to have some in reserve. The truth is, they are marking "their territory" and this gives them anxiety! Think about it, everyday you do this leisurely walk where your dog marks every spot that he or she can. The next day, you go on another leisurely walk and your dog starts sniffing the same spots and realizes that some other dog has come along and marked over the area that they claimed the day before. This happens every day, 7 days a week for a month to a year. Wouldn't you feel anxious over "who's been invading my territory?" That would be like someone entering your house every day and you couldn't stop them from sitting on your couch and watching. You have NO control over the situation. All you can do is repeatedly ask for that person to leave your house but, yet, they never do. Dogs do not see the world as us, they see it in terms of what is theirs and what is not.

Edited February 11, 2009 by shelbygirl07

[Guest ArtysPeople]

What does migrating have to do with walking your dog?

 

Migrating IS walking your dog.

 

Dogs are genetically programmed to migrate in search of food, shelter and territory. It is the term that most behaviorists use to describe "roaming in search of". It's just a word to describe the style of walking that a dog does when he or she is on a mission.

 

Interesting. Arty always walks like he is on a mission (nose to the ground or ears pricked), and now I have a new term for it.

[Guest Redpack]

I think running in the yard gives them far more exercise that the walks...but I love the walks! They get me out of the house and I usually take my son and the stroller.....(we're on hold now until Gabe's leg is stronger, he's still recovering from his surgery-- then I'll get him used to the stroller). There are two places on our walks that pee mail is checked. But I find walks to be time to spend with my dogs and I enjoy them. Judging from the reaction when the leashes are picked up, my hounds do too!

[Guest EmilyAnne]

Every day, ideally 3 miles if the weather isn't ridiculous. Henry LOVES to sprint! We walk at a decent pace, and once in a while, me and Henry take off as fast as we can, and run about a full block at a time. Henry LOVES this and has so much fun! We do this on average about 4 times per walk.

 

I can't take Riley on our walks cause he has a wrist issue. He's been to the vet, had x-rays and is on Metacam. I can walk him only half a block. Riley will be 14 in April. I am hoping with warm weather he will get better.

[Guest ArtysPeople]

Edited to add:

We, humans, tend to be guilty of applying human psychology to our canine companions. We assume our dogs enjoy leisurely walks where they get to stop every 3 feet and urinate. We often think "wow, how can one dog pee so much?". That is because your dogs stops and lifts it's leg or squats and lets a little urine out at a time but always seems to have some in reserve. The truth is, they are marking "their territory" and this gives them anxiety! Think about it, everyday you do this leisurely walk where your dog marks every spot that he or she can. The next day, you go on another leisurely walk and your dog starts sniffing the same spots and realizes that some other dog has come along and marked over the area that they claimed the day before. This happens every day, 7 days a week for a month to a year. Wouldn't you feel anxious over "who's been invading my territory?" That would be like someone entering your house every day and you couldn't stop them from sitting on your couch and watching. You have NO control over the situation. All you can do is repeatedly ask for that person to leave your house but, yet, they never do. Dogs do not see the world as us, they see it in terms of what is theirs and what is not.

 

Hmm. That is a very intersting theory, and I'm not so sure I agree with the part about it causing them anxiety, at least not with greyhounds that I know. I acknowledge at the outset that racing greyhounds are raised in an environment that is very different than how most dogs are raised, and I think that has a lot to do with how they behave once they get in a home, which can also be very different than non-racers. Racers spend their entire lives peeing where others have peed (repeatedly, every single day, often in the same relatively small area [turn out pen] for months at a time), and I can't say that I've ever seen it cause anxiety. Now where they DO exhibit anxiety sometimes is if another dog (or person) is invading their kennel/bed, which ex-racers almost always see as "their space" -- there have certainly been enough threads here on GT about this feature of ex-racers. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'd be surprised if the practice you describe (reducing anxiety by changing walking patterns because the dog can't handle having a territory) held as true for ex-racers as it does for other dogs, because of how racers are raised and trained. But feel free to surprise me!

 

ETA: for ex-racers, taking away their territory (bed/kennel) has actually been known to CAUSE anxiety in some, particularly if they're recently retired. Ex-racers almost always have a sense of territory, and the only time I've heard of it causing a problem was when it was taken away or not respected.

 

I believe that Arty recognizes the pee of dogs he has met and had a positive interaction with, and his behavior when he's smelling their pee doesn't seem anxious at all. In fact, it seems interested, engaged, but relaxed. The only time he ever seems anxious is when he is smelling the pee of one particular dog who always barks aggressively at us. In that case, he gives it one quick sniff and then he always wants to cover it up right away with his own scent. I don't know how that would fit into your theory, it's just my experience.

Edited February 11, 2009 by ArtysPeople

[Guest StarsMama]

I was stuck between not walking at all and not walking regularly. I also live on two acres, in the country, and in Wisconsin. Walking Star in the winter is close to impossible. (We had over a hundred inches of snow last year.) In the summer, when our weather is nice I will load her up and take her into town to the river levy and we walk but that is only a few times a month. I go out with her in the yard. She runs, chases balls and sticks, and seems happy to me.

 

[Guest shelbygirl07]

Edited to add:

We, humans, tend to be guilty of applying human psychology to our canine companions. We assume our dogs enjoy leisurely walks where they get to stop every 3 feet and urinate. We often think "wow, how can one dog pee so much?". That is because your dogs stops and lifts it's leg or squats and lets a little urine out at a time but always seems to have some in reserve. The truth is, they are marking "their territory" and this gives them anxiety! Think about it, everyday you do this leisurely walk where your dog marks every spot that he or she can. The next day, you go on another leisurely walk and your dog starts sniffing the same spots and realizes that some other dog has come along and marked over the area that they claimed the day before. This happens every day, 7 days a week for a month to a year. Wouldn't you feel anxious over "who's been invading my territory?" That would be like someone entering your house every day and you couldn't stop them from sitting on your couch and watching. You have NO control over the situation. All you can do is repeatedly ask for that person to leave your house but, yet, they never do. Dogs do not see the world as us, they see it in terms of what is theirs and what is not.

 

Hmm. That is a very intersting theory, and I'm not so sure I agree with the part about it causing them anxiety, at least not with greyhounds that I know. I acknowledge at the outset that racing greyhounds are raised in an environment that is very different than how most dogs are raised, and I think that has a lot to do with how they behave once they get in a home, which can also be very different than non-racers. Racers spend their entire lives peeing where others have peed (repeatedly, every single day, often in the same relatively small area [turn out pen] for months at a time), and I can't say that I've ever seen it cause anxiety. Now where they DO exhibit anxiety sometimes is if another dog (or person) is invading their kennel/bed, which ex-racers almost always see as "their space" -- there have certainly been enough threads here on GT about this feature of ex-racers. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'd be surprised if the practice you describe (reducing anxiety by changing walking patterns because the dog can't handle having a territory) held as true for ex-racers as it does for other dogs, because of how racers are raised and trained. But feel free to surprise me!

 

ETA: for ex-racers, taking away their territory (bed/kennel) has actually been known to CAUSE anxiety in some, particularly if they're recently retired. Ex-racers almost always have a sense of territory, and the only time I've heard of it causing a problem was when it was taken away or not respected.

 

I believe that Arty recognizes the pee of dogs he has met and had a positive interaction with, and his behavior when he's smelling their pee doesn't seem anxious at all. In fact, it seems interested, engaged, but relaxed. The only time he ever seems anxious is when he is smelling the pee of one particular dog who always barks aggressively at us. In that case, he gives it one quick sniff and then he always wants to cover it up right away with his own scent. I don't know how that would fit into your theory, it's just my experience.

 

This worked for Shelby. In the beginning, I allowed her to stop and scent mark via urine on spots along the bike path. Every day the same spots. Over the course of the following months, i started noticing anxiety creeping up on her as we were headed to the bike path. As soon as my truck turned the corner to the opening of the path, she would start to shake violently (after 2 months of it progressing). I couldn't understand why she was developing anxiety over walking at her favorite place with her favorite smells (or so it seemed). The anxiety got so bad, she started whining in the truck in the 3 minute drive to the path. Nothing else in her life changed, I just made the decision that it had to do with "checking pee-mail". She also was pulling on the leash and trying to drag me to the next spot to sniff when she had never done that before. She was trying to communicate to me why she was acting that way but i did not see the signs (as some people sometimes don't with their own dogs) but when i realized what was causing her problem, i took that territory away from her and within a week of daily walks, her behavior stopped. I've noticed that she doesn't care about pee-mail anymore because it isn't her "job" to patrol that area. Even off leash, she no longer does it.

 

My mother's pom went through the same ordeal. She had anxiety her entire 11 years. She wouldn't eat, never mind anything that crunches (like kibble), she would have a stress induced seizure if a fly was in the house (and i'm not kidding with that one). If the mood was bad in the house and there was stress, she would have a stress induced seizure, too. This went on for most of her life. She also stopped listening to any verbal commands and would completely ignore you if you were walking and you were trying to call her to you. it was like you weren't even there. One day i told my mom to stop walking her off leash and put a leash on her and take away her ability to patrol "her territory". She was absolutely NOT capable of being in charge of anything. If you knew the dog you would say the same thing. She used to be scared of a lamp my mom had. If you walked by the lamp and it vibrated from the foot steps, the shadow on the wall would cause her to seize. She actually did walk her on the leash and when she got home from that ONE walk, the dog ate dry food and hasn't stopped eating crunchy food since. She asks for it and tells you exactly what she wants (dry cereal, kibble, cookies) A once stress seizure dog hasn't had a single seizure since and that was over 6 months ago (her seizure frequency was once a week until this day). She is active, she listens, she eats, she loves her walks, she now plays and never did before....

 

I can give you atleast 25 examples of HOW this has made a tremendous difference in dogs that I have worked with. These are 2 examples that are near and dear to my heart. I have personally witnessed the benefits of structured walks and am a believer in how beneficial they are for humans and dogs, especially for the bonding of the canine/human bond.

 

Most people don’t know that "the walk" is the most important bonding moment a dog can have with their owner. It tells your dog all about you. They learn how confident you are, what type of leader you can be and if you can handle anything that comes your way. This knowledge is applied to every other aspect of your relationship with your dog. This i believe because I have witnessed the change in dynamic between dogs and their families by changing this one simple thing.

 

I have been working with dogs for 16 years on a behavioral standpoint and over the years, this theory has always proven true to improve a relationship, not destroy one or cause damage to a dog.

 

I hope that helps

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest ArtysPeople]

I can give you atleast 25 examples of HOW this has made a tremendous difference in dogs that I have worked with. These are 2 examples that are near and dear to my heart. I have personally witnessed the benefits of structured walks and am a believer in how beneficial they are for humans and dogs, especially for the bonding of the canine/human bond.

 

Most people don’t know that "the walk" is the most important bonding moment a dog can have with their owner. It tells your dog all about you. They learn how confident you are, what type of leader you can be and if you can handle anything that comes your way. This knowledge is applied to every other aspect of your relationship with your dog. This i believe because I have witnessed the change in dynamic between dogs and their families by changing this one simple thing.

 

I have been working with dogs for 16 years on a behavioral standpoint and over the years, this theory has always proven true to improve a relationship, not destroy one or cause damage to a dog.

 

I hope that helps

 

I never said it didn't work, just that I suspected it would hold less true for ex-racers than for "regular" dogs. Nor did I ever mean to suggest that it destroyed relationships or caused damage. That having been said, I appreciate you sharing more details of your experience. I like hearing these things, then watching the dogs I know to see if or how I feel they apply.

[Guest Che_mar_Cody]

I walked Cody a lot more when he was younger then I do now. We have 3 kinds of walks: When DS takes him, it's full run, both come back tired. When I take him it's either a sniff fest for him or a structured walk with us practicing commands the whole time. It's complex and I love how Cody looks at me during this.

I can't say I walk my dog everyday, but I'm in tune with him and his needs.

 

I think you hit the nail on the head there. Every dog is different. What some need others don't and vice/versa. The key is to make sure they are well socialized and mentally stimulated. Exactly how this is achieved can vary by dog and activity.

 

ETA and of course, exercise . .

 

Nicely put

[Guest Dillymom]

I don't have a fenced yard so I leash walk 4-5 times a day. They get a 30-40min walk in the morning and again in the evening. The other times are just quick potty breaks. I had foot surgery in Dec and it made it impossible for me to walk my girls for about 6wks but either had a neighbor walk them or I took them to the dog park every day so they were never cooped up in the house with no stimulation. On dog park days we would spend 2 hrs there while they ran and socialized with other dogs. But now we're back to our normal schedule and they only go to the dog park on Sat and Sun mornings.

 

I agree that it strengthens our bond as a pack as well as providing them with mental stimulation.

[Guest fastdogs]

Only thing not covered in the poll was our weekly Greyhound Adventures walk.

[Guest LindsaySF]

My dogs have a large fenced yard to play in. I think they enjoy that more than leash walks. (Pictures in this thread). But we do walk occasionally, maybe once a week.

 

I agree that dogs need exercise and mental stimulation, but I'm not so sure I buy the "migration" theory. Wild canids don't migrate, they aren't geese. They pick a territory and they stay in it, most will defend it fiercely. The only roaming they do is in search of food. If there is an adequate food source in their territory, they rarely leave it.

 

 

 

~Lindsay~

 

[Guest LindsaySF]

This worked for Shelby. In the beginning, I allowed her to stop and scent mark via urine on spots along the bike path. Every day the same spots. Over the course of the following months, i started noticing anxiety creeping up on her as we were headed to the bike path. As soon as my truck turned the corner to the opening of the path, she would start to shake violently (after 2 months of it progressing). I couldn't understand why she was developing anxiety over walking at her favorite place with her favorite smells (or so it seemed). The anxiety got so bad, she started whining in the truck in the 3 minute drive to the path. Nothing else in her life changed, I just made the decision that it had to do with "checking pee-mail". She also was pulling on the leash and trying to drag me to the next spot to sniff when she had never done that before. She was trying to communicate to me why she was acting that way but i did not see the signs (as some people sometimes don't with their own dogs) but when i realized what was causing her problem, i took that territory away from her and within a week of daily walks, her behavior stopped. I've noticed that she doesn't care about pee-mail anymore because it isn't her "job" to patrol that area. Even off leash, she no longer does it.

That doesn't sound like anxiety to me. Sounds like she really enjoyed walking on the bike path and sniffing pee-mail, and she couldn't wait to get there!

 

 

Teagan LOVES pee-mail. It doesn't matter where we walk, as long as he has lots of trees to pee on. Honey on the other hand likes visual stimulation and to trot at a faster pace. I walk slower for Teagan's sake, and then speed up at times for Honey's sake.

 

People need to tailor the walk to the individual dog. There's nothing I hate more than seeing someone power-walking down the street, forcing the dog to heel with its head raised, not letting them stop to sniff, etc. At that point the walk is more for the person than it is for the dog, I doubt the dog is having any fun.

 

 

 

~Lindsay~

[Guest SoulsMom]

Very good point Lindsay! Wolves do travel in packs most of the day, but they travel within their own territory and the travel has a purpose: To find food. Since this need is already fufilled, I'd say that "pack" bonding then takes place in many other ways.

[AngelWhispers]

I'm really having a hard time with this migrating theory and how it can be reconstructed by a human on a walk. Are you letting the dog set up it's territory on the city streets...ie fighting with the dog next door to defend or establish it's territory, or are you letting your dog drag you down the street to catch the bunny for dinner, and then taking it back to the next door neighbors porch because your dog as already let the neighbor dog know it's now his territory and he's going to eat his meals there from now on. I know that sounds ridiculous but is that what the OP is implying?

 

If a human is in control of a dog on a leash how is that in any way, shape or form the same as wild dogs migrating from one region to another to look for food, shelter, and territory? I'm not getting this whole thread at all and I keep checking to see if it will eventually make sense.

[Guest SoulsMom]

I'm really having a hard time with this migrating theory and how it can be reconstructed by a human on a walk. Are you letting the dog set up it's territory on the city streets...ie fighting with the dog next door to defend or establish it's territory, or are you letting your dog drag you down the street to catch the bunny for dinner, and then taking it back to the next door neighbors porch because your dog as already let the neighbor dog know it's now his territory and he's going to eat his meals there from now on. I know that sounds ridiculous but is that what the OP is implying?

 

If a human is in control of a dog on a leash how is that in any way, shape or form the same as wild dogs migrating from one region to another to look for food, shelter, and territory? I'm not getting this whole thread at all and I keep checking to see if it will eventually make sense.

 

I agree, I don't understand the purported and profound psychological effect of leash walking on our dogs

[Guest ArtysPeople]

People need to tailor the walk to the individual dog. There's nothing I hate more than seeing someone power-walking down the street, forcing the dog to heel with its head raised, not letting them stop to sniff, etc. At that point the walk is more for the person than it is for the dog, I doubt the dog is having any fun.

 

I want to respond to this with my personal experience. I'm not saying it's what is always going on when you see people and dogs interacting in this way, but it was our experience, and if thinking of us helps you feel more forgiving toward people you see IRL, well, then, I've succeeded.

 

The very first time we met Arty and took him outside on a lead, he quite literally tried to run from sniff-spot to sniff-spot without any heed to the human on the end of the lead, other than to pull as hard as he could to get us to move faster. We almost didn't adopt him because of it. As it turned out, this behavior was evidence of his overall personality, which is very exuberant and wonderful, but also very boundary-testing and, at times, downright pushy. Those first few months, we spent a lot of time working with him to get him to walk well on a leash, but we also instituted NILIF. I've mentioned before that he also had mild to moderate SA issues, which, in retrospect, I think was related -- he wanted what he wanted (us to come home and be around him all the time) and he got very upset when he didn't get what he wanted. Gradually, we have been able to reduce the strictness without having relapses of what would have otherwise been intolerable behavior. This has included allowing him more freedom during walks. However, for at least the first six months to a year, we had to be pretty darn strict with him. One or two days of not making him "sit" before he got his leash put on, or letting him sniff whenever he wanted, and his other poor behavior started right up again, especially not behaving well while we were gone. So I'm quite sure that had you seen us during that time, we would have looked like, as you put it "someone power-walking down the street, forcing the dog to heel with its head raised, not letting them stop to sniff, etc." We may still look like that on certain parts of the walk. But we do it because it works for us and works for our dog, and because sometimes setting limits and saying "no" is the best thing you can do.