Walking the Dogs

[Mavis]

When Chester first arrived here, he was the 3rd dog in and at that point, taking the dogs for a walk was very difficult. I could drive them to the off-leash dog park and let them run, but 3 large dogs in the back of my little car means little fights would often occur in the crowded back seat. So, luckily I have a large back yard and they would put quite a few miles racing around. Unfortunately, Chester never did learn to walk on leash this way though.

This year, we were down to 2 dogs and walks again became possible. Since Chester hadn't learned to walk on leash, my arms were getting sore from pulling him back and I finally got a halti for him. Suddenly walking became a pleasure again and the 3 of us go for a couple of long walks every day. We can also get out to the off-leash park again. Dakota is getting older and can't put too many miles on, so she normally stays pretty much beside me, but Chester is back & forth constantly and he covers 10x the distance that Dakota or I do in the same amount of time.

[Gene]

As someone who gets taken for a walk morning and night rain, sleet, or snow, I can appreciate the world of difference between juggling 2 and 3 leashes. I have a couple Flexi-Leash scars on my legs to prove it! In looking at all the great photos on this site, I realize I need to move from the middle of 4 million people and all this concrete and get a huge back yard for my dogs. That would also allow me to have more than 2-3 dogs as well. It is sad watching them grow old but I know that your walks are the highlight of Dakota's day!

[Mavis]

I have to admit that I'm lucky having a large back yard in the city, but its just not the same as going for a long walk or racing around at the off-leash park. Having a huge yard outside the city would sure be wonderful though.

[Susan Stone]

A different way of life... ?
Why not train the dogs to come when called and walk normally on the lead? An obedient dog has a lot more freedom and so do you! Limiting excercise to just one enclosed area must be terribly boring to the dogs...

[Mavis]

The dogs do come when called. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to take them to the off-leash park for a run.

[Susan Stone]

Sorry, I think I overreacted there. The word 'yard' for me is a small enclosed concrete area... but in american english it has a different meaning. I just worry about setters only being out in Flexi-leads or not at all....

[Gene]

Hi Susan - I would love to take my dogs off leash but there are several issues. First, there are municipal ordinances (look at these are soft laws) that prevent dog owners from removing their leashes in the city where I live. Second, even though I live in the city, there are a lot of trees and a pond that give us rabbits, squirrels, ducks, as well as other dogs. My dogs aren't disciplined enough yet to go off leash. There are two small dog parks in my neighborhood which we go to quite a bit. A dog park is a big fenced in area where you are not breaking any soft laws in letting the dogs run around. From your great photos, your dogs are so lucky to have a situation and a Mom like you! I hope to give my dogs a similar situation one day.

[Mavis]

Sounds like a great area you have Lydia. My yard is nowhere near that large, but you can see the area that they can play in the videos I've put up. Its not huge, but they can get a good run in between walks and the dog park.

[Susan Stone]

OK, I give in:-))
Lydia's 'yard' would probably even satisfy my spoilt team...