Re: More people should get a dog

I read an article the other day that around 7 out of 10 dogs don't get taken for a walk at all. Sadly, I'm not surprised at this statistic !!

Re: More people should get a dog

Meg, you are right the allegiance to a dog and to walk it as early as you can is also right. I know as we get older in the winter months find it harder, but when we love our furry friends then we owe it to them to walk them as soon as I is light!

Re: More people should get a dog

Diamond Lady, I hope to God in Heaven that you are so wrong, I believe most people In the Uk love their dogs enough to walk them regularly!

Re: More people should get a dog

sadly that's not the case, I personally know quite a few who never take their dogs out, some treat them like babies and don't believe they need to go out for a walk but would rather sit beside them and watch tv, others should never have dogs because they don't take care of them and their needs,makes my blood boil!

Re: More people should get a dog

I wish it was wrong Moyra. I've been involved in rescue dogs for many years and it's a myth that we are a nation of animal lovers. We only have to see the thousands abandoned each. Makes me very sad.

Re: More people should get a dog

It's not just the exercise that does you good when you walk a dog, it's the companionship and the friendships you build with other dog owners, conversations with non dog owners who would probably pass you by if they didn't find your dog irresistible!

Re: More people should get a dog

Before judging everyone some dogs do not do well being walked personally I have had one rescue who was allergic to grass and it was only by increasing his steroids that he could go out at all and the steroids decreased his life length dramatically, another was agoraphobic and just refused to go out at all.

Most of my dogs have been happy walking and have been great to own and obviously not everyone has had dogs like the two I mentioned but find out first why a dog isn't walked before assuming it's neglect.

Elsie is just back out now after a month of no walks she was in season and we could only keep her safe from males by keeping her in. Another reason some dogs may be unwalked at times.

Re: More people should get a dog

I remember my time in the homeless unit when the junkie upstairs used to just let his dog out into the back garden. Never thought to take it for a walk. Never thought to pick up after it either. A lovely big dog. Apparently he's sold it on. Hopefully to a much better owner. Some folk don't deserve to have dogs.

Re: More people should get a dog

We're talking about the obviously neglected ones Julie, not the ones who can't go out for whatever reason.

Unfortunately my Collie/whippet can be quite reactive particularly with small white dogs and Jack Russells, so we don't get to chat with anyone much on our walks.

Re: More people should get a dog

Julie, I don't judge everyone, I speak from personal experience, an old lady who I used to visit wanted a lap dog that she could cuddle and kiss, feed it on human food only so the poor little Jack Russell piled on the pounds until she could hardly walk. I tried to tell her to feed her dog food but she wouldn't, poor thing never went out but was imprisoned 24/7 all because the woman was selfish of her own needs and not the dog's.

Another case in point, a guy had his dogs tied up outside almost all the time, he wouldn't feed them regularly, it was heartbreaking, they would scratch their paws until they bled trying to get attention.
When it was brought to my mum's attention she reported him and the RSPCA came and took the dogs away, there are many similar cases and some even worse that I couldn't describe