Do you believe, as I do that a dog needs at the very least one good walk a day - if not two or three? I know a dog who never gets a walk. He's loved well enough, but he doesn't get a walk and hasn't got a big garden to run round in. It worries me to be blunt. I've chosen not to have a dog because I haven't got time for walkies. Tell me I'm worrying about something there's nothing wrong with :(

I personally think it's wrong.
Dogs get far more than just exercise out of walks - they need the mental stimulation that a walk brings.

It doesn't matter how much a dog is loved, dogs don't crave love, they need attention and company but they don't crave love, they need to be treated like dogs - which includes regular exercise.

ive got two rottweilers and if they were not walked at least twice a day they would chew my house up, its as lotti says, they need to sniff trees, lamposts, poop and other doggies bums:D its a dawg thing:D

I dread to think about how Molly would be without lots and lots of exercise and mental stimulation.

As it is she's a sweetheart who's chilled and relaxed round the house and round the cats and children and grown ups she's about. How gentle and chilled she'd be if she wasn't tired enough to concentrate on training I dread to think.

I do know a few very small or elderly dogs that only go out in the garden, but even the small dogs benefit from the mental stimulation of being able to meet other people and dogs whilst out, and going to new places.

I have mentioed this before, a family round the corner took the litter mate of my dog. He never gets walked, some days he has gone without shade or water! He is left in a kennel all day and never never ever socialised!

I am fed up of phoning the RSPCA! They did come round one hot day but just told the people to ensure he had water, food and shade. Since then he has had this but still never gets walked or socialised!

My personal opinion is animal welfare need to change the policy! because to me not walking a dog, not socialising it is just as bad as mistreating an animal!

But as normal RSPCA dont give a rats ass!

we do dog walking for a living and ours gets taken out loads and loves being with other dogs , he now sulks if he hasn't a friend to walk with

It's not a little dog. The only exercise he gets is the door is opened and is allowed out to sniff round the drains at the back etc for a minute. It's now started to bark a lot too, and I've heard it crying for hours when it's been left alone indoors. I hope the next step isn't that it will start getting aggressive :(

Agree Tattybear- what is the point of owning a dog if one cannot even be bothered to walk it! I'm amazed the new Animal Welfare Act hasnt stopped some of this, really. It must be soul destroying to see a dog everyday n know it is not getting correct care.

No wonder so many develop psychological problems and end up in rescue- I know Ailsa goes mental if she misses the opportunity to go out for a walk- mind you, in her case, if it is seriously slinging down with rain she refuses point blank to go out- and has to be dragged out, or else sits n sulks all the time til she can eventaully get out.

Molly Moo is currently flaked out on the floor at my feet and even though I know that she must need a wee she's just refusing to get up and go out.

Does this mean that I've pushed her a little bit too hard with an hour of ball finding and an hour of sploshing about in the river today? Oooops.

aww i bet shes really happy any chance of piccie updates medusa?

As soon as my BF gets back off holiday- he's got the camera!

In my opinion if you can't make time to walk your dog and spend some quality time with them everyday then you shouldn't have one.

We have a jack russell border collie cross (Guinness) and he expects his walk first thing in the morning, its his faveourite time of the day, I often wake up to find him standing at the end of the bed starring at us wagging his tail because he looks forward to is soooo much. If we even think about having a cup of tea before we take him, theres trouble and he pesters us until we go.

We've recently moved house which has given us a longer commute into work everyday, but our top priority was Guinness, we had to work out if we would still be able to give the time he needs in the morning and then when we get home at night, and commute to work and if we couldn't have done it we wouldn't have moved. It means me setting off to work at 7am and my OH leaves later so he's not left for the shortest time possible on his own (most of which he spends sleeping off his walk), we also the OH's parents to go round during the day and let him out in his garden and play with him.

None of us mind though because at the end of the day we took him on and its our responsibility to make him happy.

Mathom - You really need to inform the appropriate authorities. The crying and barking is clearly related to the lack of attention and walks the dog gets and yes, many dogs do end up exhibiting aggressive behaviour when not properly stimulated. They may also one day wish to take this dog out and the chances are the lack of socialisation it's recieved will cause aggressive behaviour towards other dogs or people and possibly traffic.

Do you know if the dog was taken from a rescue centre? If so, the rescue centre (depending upon which one) would want to know about this.

The animal welfare laws have changed and whilst they're not ideal - they are slightly better so the RSPCA may be able to help with this - particularly if he's making noise.

Poor dog :( He's clearly suffering

If the dog is allowed out onto the street, you can inform the dog warden but they will only go round for a 'chat' about letting the dog roam.

My dad has two dogs here, they have a huge house and garden but they are BIG dogs.

I got here on Wednesday and neither of them have been out for a walk yet. I would love to take them but Im not allowed as he thinks 'I cant handle them', despite us having had dogs all our lives.

yep lets all live in the ideal world where dogs get walked and everyone has the leisure time to stroll around 3 times aday.

i know lets report the dog owners, then they'll take the dog away to a situation far worse than the one it's currently in (kennels), with the fear of impending death.

now am i being stupid or is the occasional walk better than death.

(btw i have a neighbour with two working dogs that to my knowledge rarely get walked,however they get worked at the appropriate times along with his hawks) they bark and howl occasionally. but then again the cop, with his police dog doesn't do any differently either.

surely its a basic canine right to have daily exercise appropriate to its needs and not just as case of 'an ideal'.

i personally walk my dogs daily but we have a big garden and when we play with them in the garden they are shattered. i do agree that dogs do get more out of walks then just execise but i also agree with the person before in that a dog could be in a loving home and then someone reports them for not walking the dog and the they get taken off them and possibly put to sleep. just think what your actions can cause before you do anything. are you sure the dogs don't get walked???? for al you know the owner could walk them in the middle of the night if they work funny hours. you just can't be sure.

yep lets all live in the ideal world where dogs get walked and everyone has the leisure time to stroll around 3 times aday.

i know lets report the dog owners, then they'll take the dog away to a situation far worse than the one it's currently in (kennels), with the fear of impending death.

now am i being stupid or is the occasional walk better than death.

(btw i have a neighbour with two working dogs that to my knowledge rarely get walked,however they get worked at the appropriate times along with his hawks) they bark and howl occasionally. but then again the cop, with his police dog doesn't do any differently either.

How on Earth does a dog have a fear of impending death?
I'm sorry you'll probably think this is completely heartless but I don't think that a dog that's kept in all day with no mental or physical stimulation is a dog that's living - it's existing and dogs in kennels don't know anything about death. When they do get pts - that's what happens they go to sleep - they know nothing about it, they no longer need to suffer at the hands of those who 'love' them but don't understand them.

Dogs don't crave love - they don't even need love. They need companionship, attention, stimulation, boundaries and exercise.

As for the dogs that are worked - they are worked, they get their mental and physical stimulation. They leave the house regularly and see new things, they engage in natural behaviours.

Perhaps people need to stop thinking of 'I'd love a dog', 'I love my dog - that's all that matters' and start thinking about what a dog needs - the fact that the human loves it has nothing to do with it, if you can't give a dog what it needs then don't get one.

It's amazing how peoples' love of dogs is causing so much grief and unwarranted punishment to these wonderful creatures :(

We have a jack russell border collie cross (Guinness) and he expects his walk first thing in the morning, its his faveourite time of the day, I often wake up to find him standing at the end of the bed starring at us wagging his tail because he looks forward to is soooo much. If we even think about having a cup of tea before we take him, theres trouble and he pesters us until we go.




That is the opposite to my Jack Russell X. I leave him in bed in the morning (OH takes him out) When I take him for a walk in the morning at the weekend he is a right lazy sod. It isn't until later in the day when he is walked that he is a hyper little thing, running about like a nutter. He loves long walks though, and is full of energy. I can take him out for a couple of hours and get back and he still wants to play ball.
He just obviously isn't a morning doggy, bit like I'm not a morning person. :rolleyes:

It goes without saying that dogs need plenty of exercise and exploring time. I think the only exception to this would be a very old artheritic dog that would be fine with pottering about the garden.
I feel guilty if Oz hasn't had a real long run in the day (usually due to weather) but he gets plenty of interaction and exercise in the house to make up for it.

How on Earth does a dog have a fear of impending death?
I'm sorry you'll probably think this is completely heartless but I don't think that a dog that's kept in all day with no mental or physical stimulation is a dog that's living - it's existing and dogs in kennels don't know anything about death. When they do get pts - that's what happens they go to sleep - they know nothing about it, they no longer need to suffer at the hands of those who 'love' them but don't understand them.

Dogs don't crave love - they don't even need love. They need companionship, attention, stimulation, boundaries and exercise.

As for the dogs that are worked - they are worked, they get their mental and physical stimulation. They leave the house regularly and see new things, they engage in natural behaviours.

Perhaps people need to stop thinking of 'I'd love a dog', 'I love my dog - that's all that matters' and start thinking about what a dog needs - the fact that the human loves it has nothing to do with it, if you can't give a dog what it needs then don't get one.

It's amazing how peoples' love of dogs is causing so much grief and unwarranted punishment to these wonderful creatures :(


i don't think its heartless. i think it's your opinion, based on your experiences and preferences.
if a dog can't have sense of impending death -how can it feel any emotions about not having a walk.

I'm not saying it has emotions about missing it's walk particularly.

However, dogs need walks to exhibit their normal behaviour - missing out on that opportunity to expel energy and communicate with different surroundings so it affects it's behaviour which, as a consequence, makes the dog 'unhappy' and stressed.

I would also like to add that I don't agree that it's right to just put a dog to sleep unless its suffering, I'm just offering the viewpoint that they don't know about it and that, in my opinion, death (which dogs don't see the same as people) is better than a sad existence without the things a dog needs.

I also appreciate that different breeds need different amounts of exercise but I believe that all dogs need to go out daily and see and sniff things that they do.

I would also like to add that I don't agree that it's right to just put a dog to sleep unless its suffering, I'm just offering the viewpoint that they don't know about it and that, in my opinion, death (which dogs don't see the same as people) is better than a sad existence without the things a dog needs.

.

i personally agree, pts should be for suffering or ill dogs.
but i would never ever agree that not being walked is a sad existence and should result in death.

along with my rotties , i used to have a rescue greyhoung{now sadly deceased}, and it only needed a quick 2o min run twice a day, however, when i was ill or something and could not manage to get out as often, i noticed that all the dogs became more agitated, i think they just need a run out to see n smell somthing different, i know that if i was stuck in day after day it would drive me stir crazy. could the op not ask to walk the dog every so often? i know its not your responsibility but if you feel this strongly then maybe you would feel a little better knowing that at least the dog is having some freedom:)

i personally agree, pts should be for suffering or ill dogs.
but i would never ever agree that not being walked is a sad existence and should result in death.

That's slightly twisting my words!!

Whilst I do think that not being walked or stimulated and left to cry and bark all day is a sad existence, I wasn't saying put it to sleep because it's getting no walks.

By reporting someone, they will first be warned, so given the opportunity to learn that this isn't an appropriate way to keep a dog - perhaps it's a lack of education, and, in my opinion - because the dog would no nothing about a quick, painless death (lets face it, death isn't bad, it's the thought of death), I don't feel it's any worse (possibly even a release) than keeping a dog locked up, not providing it with the walks and stimulation it needs.

To anyone who feels dogs don't lose out from not going for walks, try telling that to my dog who is destroying my house, crying and barking at me because my mum, who's walking her for me while I recover from my operation hasn't taken her out this afternoon!

That's slightly twisting my words!!

Whilst I do think that not being walked or stimulated and left to cry and bark all day is a sad existence, I wasn't saying put it to sleep because it's getting no walks.

By reporting someone, they will first be warned, so given the opportunity to learn that this isn't an appropriate way to keep a dog - perhaps it's a lack of education, and, in my opinion - because the dog would no nothing about a quick, painless death (lets face it, death isn't bad, it's the thought of death), I don't feel it's any worse (possibly even a release) than keeping a dog locked up, not providing it with the walks and stimulation it needs.

To anyone who feels dogs don't lose out from not going for walks, try telling that to my dog who is destroying my house, crying and barking at me because my mum, who's walking her for me while I recover from my operation hasn't taken her out this afternoon!

i didnt twist your words, i commented on them as i interpreted them.

my point is that its the "viewers" interpretation of the dogs existence that could result in its death.
there is no law that states not walking a dog is inappropriate. it is a personal opinion held by some people who think dogs should be walked.
don't get me wrong i agree that dogs do enjoy it and ownerd should walk them - but thats my opinion and not one that should be forced on someone else.
(perhaps you now understand why some had a strange view over the pet forum)

no pet should be put to sleep unless it is suffering end of story imho.

i have a blind dog that has a walk once or perhaps twice a week - the others are walked daily. so if an observer sees tha 6 days i don't walk her , he could be calling to have her removed.

being blind doesn't stop her sniffing but it upsets her and disorientates her when she is on unfamiliar ground.

as for your dog, as you stated most dogs are different in their demands you obviously have one that likes a walk.
i can walk my cockers for miles, get home and 2 will retire to bed, number 3 will be willing to go again.if they don't get a walk they don't display any different signs of behaviour at all.

But if a dog will suffer from going for a walk then yes, I agree it's unfair to walk them.

However I believe that dogs (most dogs, those who are fit, healthy and able to go for walks - obviously not like your blind dog) do suffer from not going for a walk, hence my opinion on the pts thing.
If a dog is in kennels, not rehomable and stressed out of it's mind, losing hair, losing weight etc. then surely it's suffering? Yes - it's suffering can be ended in a way other than being put to sleep, but if nobody is willing to rehome the dog, then pts is the only option left, no?

I know I'm not making the point very well but what I'm trying to say is there are different types of suffering and if a dog has no clue that death is imminent, it can't be afraid of it. Dogs are put to sleep due to whatever reason every day and those that take their animals to be put to sleep, would rather do that because the dog knows nothing about it.

As for it being my opinion, what about all the behaviourists with PHDs who have studied it and found that dogs capable of going for a walk, suffer from not doing?
It's not just that they 'enjoy' it, they benefit physically and psychologically from it if they have the ability to go for a walk.

The dog in question is barking and crying so whether dogs in general need the walks or not, it's clear this dog is in need of more stimulation and is suffering as a result.

Can I just say - I'm not saying this dog should be put to sleep!! I hate to hear of dogs being put to sleep for convenience.
The owners should first be educated, if that fails, then the dog taken off them and rehomed it's only if that fails that the dog gets put to sleep...

My point is - this dog needs regular walks.

I've been asking this because I just know what would happen in I rang the RSPCA...and I don't like the thought of it... and despite the dog not getting walks, I can hear from the fuss made of it that it's a well-loved dog. I'm just not sure if my opinion on dog walking is just that, an opinion! I had a dog when I was a youngster and he got at least two walks a day and also had an acre of land to run around on freely - but this dog has no walks and has about a two-metre square patch on concrete to cr@p on. It's not a working dog either (I know they don't get 'walkies' - grew up in the countryside!). It does upset me that it's started crying when left alone in the house though.

We take our dog 3 times a day for a long walk, being a lurcher he needs the exercise! Usually we let him off the lead and my OH runs ahead and then the dog chases after him (he's caught up with my OH in 2 seconds flat :hihi: ). Ideally we wouldn't have time to take him beacuse of two young children, work etc etc but we make the time. My youngest child particularly loves it because he giggles at the dog running and when we are on our way home, the dog walks next to his pushchair where my son can give him a stroke lol.
I agree with the OP though that if you don't have time to take a dog for a walk then you shouldn't have one. Every dog, no matter what breed, needs the exercise, fresh air etc.

Mathom -

I'm going to phrase this as best I can but bear with me because I'm making very little sense today.
Is it possible that this dog is taken out at very quiet times? Perhaps there's a reason (nervousness or a health problem) that means he can't or won't go out at normal times.
Could it be that you've just missed him going out?

If you contact the RSPCA, they will visit and find out why the dog doesn't go for walks (if that's actually the case). If there's no good reason, they will talk to the the owners about why the dog should be going for a walk and check back some time in the future to see if things are any better. If things aren't better then the dog will be taken for rehoming - and yes, many dogs are put to sleep in kennels - but I think we forget the numbers that are rehomed.

The chances are, the RSPCA will go round and as long as the dog is happy and healthy they will leave it be anyway, but at least you know it's been checked out.

Perhaps another idea would be to inform the owners that he's crying. If they're out they won't know about it, and if it's the beginning of separation anxiety, then they need to know asap to prevent it getting worse.

That's all I'm going to say on the matter because I don't want to be misunderstood if I state my opinion!

my dogs cry when left - but they get walked.

why not report me then lets add 3 more to the dog pounds.

willman - if there is question that the dog gets walked then why not make sure all is well? Or do you think just because you are a responsible owner, everyone is?!

My comment about informing the owner of the crying was because I would like to know if my dogs cried when left because it's stressful for the dog and can be treated :loopy:

willman - if there is question that the dog gets walked then why not make sure all is well? Or do you think just because you are a responsible owner, everyone is?!

My comment about informing the owner of the crying was because I would like to know if my dogs cried when left because it's stressful for the dog and can be treated :loopy:

Well said Lotti!

Anyone who gets a dog and then shoves it in the yard all day to make it's own entertainment rather than making sure it gets regular exercise ought to be ashamed of themselves and stick to a more sedentary pet such as a goldfish or a stick insect! Granted, older or sick dogs dont need same level of exercise but all benefit from the minimum trot around the park or neighbourhood and no good comes from being confined.

Dogs are meant to be exercised and a tired dog is more likely to be a contented dog that won't cry all day and won't annoy the neighbours -crying persistently is a classic separation anxiety symptom and should be addressed to ease the dog's distress and deter others from making that complaint to the rspca and council in the first place.

Willman- are you being deliberately arguementative because it certainly sounds that way- this forum is meant to help people to deal with pet problems, not perpetuate them - and ignoring a dog's basic needs (including the need for regular exercise) is not helping it one bit.

Thanks Katkin - I was beginning to think I must be being unreasonable...

perhaps I should add that there are several cavvies or similar breed ( I cant see them from where we live) in an outdoor run just across from us that yowl and howl all day and night and I sometimes wonder why they bothered getting them if they only wanted to shove them in a yard 24/7.

Well said Lotti!



Willman- are you being deliberately arguementative because it certainly sounds that way- this forum is meant to help people to deal with pet problems, not perpetuate them - and ignoring a dog's basic needs (including the need for regular exercise) is not helping it one bit.

i'm saying that anyone with the attitude that a dog is better off in a pound or dead than not being walked needs to get a grip on life.
it's meant to help, not ram down peoples throats the opinions that not being walked(if thats the case) is apparently some major crime.then you wonder why people don't partake on the pet forum.

talk about living in the dark ages.... YOU know nothing about the conditions or background to the dog in question , yet you all want to report it.
then the upshot of that could be dog pound and PTS. however fortunately for the majority of dog owners the RSPCA don't think in that vain.

its nice to know though that at least two of you have dogs that never cry,bark or howl when you're not home to hear them.

talk about living in the dark ages.... YOU know nothing about the conditions or background to the dog in question , yet you all want to report it.
then the upshot of that could be dog pound and PTS. however fortunately for the majority of dog owners the RSPCA don't think in that vain.


If the dog's not suffering it won't be taken away! That's the point! How many times need I say it?!

I don't know the conditions or background - if the RSPCA visit and find the conditions and background to be acceptable then the dog will be left with them.

If they're not acceptable then the dog may be removed but more likely the owner will get a fine that will make them think twice about with holding a dog's right to it's basic needs.

Willman - YOU were the one who brought up the put to sleep thing - that was not my intention at all. What I said was that if the dog was suffering then it wouldn't be any worse off for knowing nothing about it. I don't condone putting any animal to sleep for convenience reasons.

I do feel that you are just picking arguments now, I can appreciate that you disagree with the pts thing and I only mentioned it because you brought it up. I don't believe the dog should be put to sleep, my argument was purely that the dog doesn't fear it.

You may be interested in this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6521765.stm
Note the quote by RSPCA vet, David Grant: Animals need appropriate food and water, shelter and exercise

It appears it's not just an opinion - I can't see how anyone can argue that a dog of all creatures doesn't need exercise! (and yes, I know there are dogs like your blind dog that don't go out very often because it's distressing but they are extenuating circumstances)

As for the barking when left, I would like to know if my dogs were acting up when left because it signals that the dog is distressed, unless someone told me, I wouldn't be any the wiser and I wouldn't be able to treat it and therefore prevent my dog suffering any further.

Am I talking gibberish because this seems like a no brainer to me?!

[QUOTE=Lotti;2456274]I'm sorry you'll probably think this is completely heartless but I don't think that a dog that's kept in all day with no mental or physical stimulation is a dog that's living - it's existing and dogs in kennels don't know anything about death. When they do get pts - that's what happens they go to sleep - they know nothing about it, they no longer need to suffer at the hands of those who 'love' them but don't understand them.

QUOTE]

i mentioned dogs going to a pound with fear of impending death - i mean the rescues always say that the dogs in pounds are in fear of death - you made the above correlation as to a dog wihtout exercise isn't living not me.

the rspca's vet state - appropriate exercise. it doesn't say who it has to be appropriate to.
neither does it say it HAS to have it states NEEDS.
it's like me saying that all dogs have to be fed the appropriate amount - appropriate to who or what.

as for suffering i think if you re-read some of the posts from people who think dog walking the most important thing you'l see that most of them referred to the dogs suffering or simiar if they weren't exercised or stimulated.

i think dogs should be walked(which we all agree on) - i just think it's inappropriate to report someone to the rspca for not walking it.which was the opinion of some of the pet group members.

But willman - why not?!

What is wrong with someone from the RSPCA going round and checking the dog is ok?
'Report someone' sounds worse than the reality - which is the RSPCA will go round, have a chat and make sure that the dog is ok.

Edit - I said a dog without mental or physical stimulation - not a dog without exercise, and I hold that opinion. When Takara was unspayed and in season for 3 weeks, she was kept in for some of it but always kept mentally and physically stimulated. There's a difference. If the dog is getting that, then the RSPCA will see that if they visit.

Sorry - that will be my last word on it because I actually have a real headache from metaphorically banging my head against a brick wall.

I hope someone can at least see what I'm going on about because I think willman's completely missed my point altogether :(

I refer back to post 31 http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=2458674&postcount=31 if mathom wants my opinion on what he could do.

I would rather report and incident and it be ok'd by RSPCA than not to and something happening :)

I would rather report and incident and it be ok'd by RSPCA than not to and something happening :)

but just remember how upsetting it was for you when someone reported you for having too many piggies or whatever the reason was - you knew everything was ok, but there's always a risk that the person visiting doesn't approve.

I struggle to comprehend the arrogance of some people.

If an owner doesn't have the time, energy or ability to stimulate or walk a dog at least two or three times a week minimum then they don't deserve to be a dog owner in the first place. Get a fish tank.

Anyone who disagrees with me is welcome to be locked in their house and/or garden for the rest of their lives and to have no contact whatsoever with the outside world.

i'm saying that anyone with the attitude that a dog is better off in a pound or dead than not being walked needs to get a grip on life.
it's meant to help, not ram down peoples throats the opinions that not being walked(if thats the case) is apparently some major crime.then you wonder why people don't partake on the pet forum.

talk about living in the dark ages.... YOU know nothing about the conditions or background to the dog in question , yet you all want to report it.
then the upshot of that could be dog pound and PTS. however fortunately for the majority of dog owners the RSPCA don't think in that vain.

its nice to know though that at least two of you have dogs that never cry,bark or howl when you're not home to hear them.

scuse me but I have neighbours either side of me who would tell me if my dog ever howled- because I have specifically asked them to, on account of us once having a neighbour who hated dogs and we were terrified he would report ours if it ever whined -so YOU know nothing about my circs either - Im not the one needs to get a grip and I'm not the one deliberately provoking heated discussion.

End of.

How on Earth does a dog have a fear of impending death?
I'm sorry you'll probably think this is completely heartless but I don't think that a dog that's kept in all day with no mental or physical stimulation is a dog that's living - it's existing and dogs in kennels don't know anything about death. When they do get pts - that's what happens they go to sleep - they know nothing about it, they no longer need to suffer at the hands of those who 'love' them but don't understand them.

Dogs don't crave love - they don't even need love. They need companionship, attention, stimulation, boundaries and exercise.

As for the dogs that are worked - they are worked, they get their mental and physical stimulation. They leave the house regularly and see new things, they engage in natural behaviours.

Perhaps people need to stop thinking of 'I'd love a dog', 'I love my dog - that's all that matters' and start thinking about what a dog needs - the fact that the human loves it has nothing to do with it, if you can't give a dog what it needs then don't get one.

It's amazing how peoples' love of dogs is causing so much grief and unwarranted punishment to these wonderful creatures :(

i think your being very harsh there lotti!!!

i think your being very harsh there lotti!!!

I don't think she's being harsh at all - I think she's spot on - but that's the wonderful thing about opinions - we can all have them.

Some people agree with you, some don't - it's all part of being an individual and having our own belief systems, value bases and moral codes.

I get what you mean Lotti! :thumbsup:

TBH I think that if someone has made the choice to have a dog they have to fulfill all the dogs needs for being healthy and happy! Those requirements are appropriate food and water for the dog, a sheltered warm dry place to sleep, appropriate exercise and stimulation for the dog. That's just the basics. The 'appropriate amount' as you commented on earlier is to the needs and requirements of each individual dog. It's no good feeding a yorkie the amount you'de feed a great dane. As for the exercise, again you wouldn't need to take some breeds out for hours and hours (lap dogs, etc) but others, working dogs etc, would need loads of walking and stimulation to make it happy and content. Calling the RSPCA because a dog is not being walked is a good step towards educating the owners about this. Just by notifying the RSPCA does not nesseceraly mean the dog will be taken away and pts. If the environment the dog is being kept in is unsatisfactory, ie, unsanitary conditions, unsafe environment, no access to water, inapropriate shelter for the dog. Just because they are called doesn't mean another dog automatically going to the pound or pts. :thumbsup:

well said geerarffe, thank-you! (but don't hold your breath this will be the last of it)

If you contact the RSPCA, they will visit and find out why the dog doesn't go for walks (if that's actually the case). If there's no good reason, they will talk to the the owners about why the dog should be going for a walk and check back some time in the future to see if things are any better. If things aren't better then the dog will be taken for rehoming

Unfortunately Lotti this doesnt actually happen, as with the case I have explained. This dog in particular I mentioned still doesnt get walked or socialized but as he is fed, watered and sheltered the RSPCA wont do anything. Thats the reality of it! :(

I struggle to comprehend the arrogance of some people.



me too.

the operative word in your post being stimulate - you can stimulate a dog and keep it happy without walking it.
andf yet again we have the opinions of someone stating that peope don't deserve because they don't fulfill your criteria for being a dog owner.
you don't fulfill my criteria for being a tolerant human being so why am i surprised you'd rather the dog be dead or in a pound.

scuse me but I have neighbours either side of me who would tell me if my dog ever howled- because I have specifically asked them to, on account of us once having a neighbour who hated dogs and we were terrified he would report ours if it ever whined -so YOU know nothing about my circs either - Im not the one needs to get a grip and I'm not the one deliberately provoking heated discussion.

End of.

i never mentioned you or your conditions of which i dont really care.

the dog owner could be house bound, it could be a recent incident that the dog isn't being walked.but lets report them anyway.
i've just had 6 weeks unable to walk due to accident,what should i have done rehomed my dogs or had them pts.

i can understand your worry about being reported though, you think every ones like you.

Oh dear heavens it's back :rolleyes:

I'm not arguing the point again - some things will never get through...

me too.

the operative word in your post being stimulate - you can stimulate a dog and keep it happy without walking it.
andf yet again we have the opinions of someone stating that peope don't deserve because they don't fulfill your criteria for being a dog owner.
you don't fulfill my criteria for being a tolerant human being so why am i surprised you'd rather the dog be dead or in a pound.


NO ONE IS SAYING THAT!! :rant:

Are you actually taking in what people are saying or are you just arguing and stirring for the hell of it? :huh:

me too.

the operative word in your post being stimulate - you can stimulate a dog and keep it happy without walking it.
andf yet again we have the opinions of someone stating that peope don't deserve because they don't fulfill your criteria for being a dog owner.
you don't fulfill my criteria for being a tolerant human being so why am i surprised you'd rather the dog be dead or in a pound.


NO ONE IS SAYING THAT!! :rant:

Are you actually taking in what people are saying or are you just arguing and stirring for the hell of it? :huh:


so you haven't read the whole thread then.

Yes I have actually! No where does it say that anyone would anyone rather the dog be pts or go to the pound simply because the owner doesn't walk it!

Oh dear heavens it's back :rolleyes:

I'm not arguing the point again - some things will never get through...

this isn't an argument - it's a debate on a forum.

you thinks it's correct to report people for almost anything at all.
regardless of the consequences.
i don't , i'm just trying to enlighten people why.

report could = removal= pts. i didn't say it would,but you said that you thought that was acceptable without enlightening anyone as to why.

Yes I have actually! No where does it say that anyone would anyone rather the dog be pts or go to the pound simply because the owner doesn't walk it!

read post 19 - that states that a dog who isn't stimulated or walked isn't living, and that dogs in the pound don't fear death or similar. or rather that was my interpretaion of the post.

i never mentioned you or your conditions of which i dont really care.

the dog owner could be house bound, it could be a recent incident that the dog isn't being walked.but lets report them anyway.
i've just had 6 weeks unable to walk due to accident,what should i have done rehomed my dogs or had them pts.

i can understand your worry about being reported though, you think every ones like you.


since when have I said I go around reporting all the time? I've done no such thing. If I genuinely thought an animal was being neglected, I would though - and if I thought ana animal was not being exercised because the owner was housebound or unwell enough to do so, I would at least volunteer to help by offering to walk the animal myself rather than see it stuck in the house and or garden all the time - dogs should be exercised.

By the way, there is a difference between debate and winding people up simply because you seem to enjoy doing it - and I'm sure you will be delighte to hear that this is the last time Im going to respond because you are beginning to sound like a spoilt child always wanting to get the last word in and taking the contrary view for the sheer hell of it - I do debate, I dont do childish arguing.

By the way, there is a difference between debate and winding people up simply because you seem to enjoy doing it -

debate is where you dicsuss alternate points of view - not legalities.

all you've done is reiterate that dogs must be walked,must be stimulated or else. that isn't debate.

debate is saying ," i taught my dog to lift her paw to help gether harness on,so i don't think it's a circus trick" which can't be countered is disagreed with.
saying a dog should be walked or it isn't living isn't debate its an opinion.

willman - if you have really read the entire thread, you will have seen my reason for reporting. When an animal is reported to the RSPCA, they go round to educate the owner if they find that they need educating (I rang them as you requested on another thread).

I stand by my point that dogs do not fear being put to sleep because how can they? They do not understand English, they don't even know what the needle means - you are simply crediting the dog with human qualities, which dogs don't need because they're fantastic as dogs.

Katkin, I can't agree more with your post - hence my choice not to debate on this thread anymore - willman appears to be simply reading what he wants to see and not actually taking any notice of what people are really saying. Sorry willman - but that's how it appears.

Edit: Before I leave again I'm going to try and make one last statement that might get noted...

If I have been misunderstood hopefully this will clear it up. In my opinion - a dog that is not getting walked or stimulated in any way and is therefore bored could be barking constantly, self mutilating (yes they do) or maybe chewing which causes significant risk to the dog itself. I also think it's a huge injustice to any dog, if you locked a human up with nothing to do and nobody to talk to 24/7 they'd go mad - dogs are the same, they are a social species and suffer from being lonely and under stimulated.
Therefore - a dog in this state, is, in my opinion, existing not living a life.

If a dog is simply existing in it's current state, then I think the owners should be educated to know that it's not good enough for the dog (hence reporting the owner so that the RSPCA can talk to them), if the dog is subsequently taken away, it is for good reason and I think that dog deserves a chance to a better quality of life than that it was taken away from.
Yes, we know dogs are pts, but we also know dogs are rehomed and if the dog has a chance at being rehomed then I think it deserves that.

I don't believe that a dog deserves to die because of lazy owners, I'm not saying a dog is better off dead - I'm saying if the worst comes to the worst, it doesn't know anything about it, but if it has a chance at a better home, then it deserves that.

If someone reported me to the RSPCA and the RSPCA came for a chat, they would find nothing wrong and would leave my dogs with me. However, I'd be quite pleased that someone cared enough to make that call. What if I couldn't cope? What if I didn't know what was best for my dogs? The RSPCA could have come round and helped me to know how to take care of my dogs and my dogs would be happier. The chances are, I would be too because my dogs would be better behaved.

As I said before, I had someone from the PDSA come to me, to check my cat was ok and to let me know that they would cut the lumps out of her fur if needed - I explained she is groomed regularly but still goes out and gets matted (not anymore thankfully) and thanked her for her concern. I might not have known that, I might not have been able to cope and not known where to go.

I really can't see what the big thing is with reporting someone, all your doing is giving them, and their dog a chance by making sure they know what their dog needs. If the RSPCA find that the dog is in such a bad way and the owners don't care then doesn't that dog deserve a chance with a family who will give it what it needs?

Look I've done it again... I should really just bog off because I know this will get as much notice as the rest of my posts - apart from the one that has been misinterpreted and now displaying me as some cold hearted dog killer of course :rolleyes:

So you think its perfectly alright to have a dog and give it no stimulation or exercise what so ever cos that's how it sound! With regard to post 19 a dog who isn't exercised or stimulated isn't really living! It's getting no new experiences, not being challenged or exercised! Simply giving a dog a toy and a fuss every now and then is not stimulation or exercise and just letting out on the garden to do it's business isn't either. How would you feel if you were stuck in the house most of the day with just a book to keep you busy then let out on to the garden for a bit for your exercise? A dog needs exercise otherwise they get fat and become unhealthy and develop problems. Not only is it cruel to not exercise your dog incoprehendable why people wouldn't. I understand that sometimes injuries preveny people from doing it but if you're fit and healthy there is no real reason not to! A tired dog is a happy dog. What Lotti was getting at in post 19 was if a dog is recieving neither exercise or stimulation and simply being left to its own devices it's not being allowed to live a full life! It's not being allowed to meet other dogs and 'sniff their behinds', sniff and mark trees/lamp posts/ bushes, run full speed after a tennis ball, interaction with other dogs, new surroundings, learn obedience, use it's brain. No dog deserves a life like that. No one knows all the facts but I for one would rather make sure that the dog is provided for in other ways. The dog would not be taken away unless, as I've said before, to conditions which the dog is being kept are unsuitable. If the RSPCA feel that this is the case would you prefere the dog was left to suffer a poor existance or be taken to be rehomed?

fianl post (I promise) an elderly cocker might not mind being denied regular exercise but a boxer dog certainly would - sugest you bear that in mind if still considering getting one

And dogs in kennels do not have a fear of impending death. No more than any other dog who goes to the vets or lives outside! If you visit a rescue centre 99% of the dogs are happy and don't really care where they are as long as they get fed and walked. 1% do get stessed in kennels but that is due to the dog not being used to the surroundings or it's scared.

Ok so lets try again............

regarding the walking.
my dog has terminal MCT she is in good condition but gets so tired so easy now bless her. gone are the days we would walk for miles and stay out for hours, now it is really more of five mins max then she stops looks at me and sits down i know this is because of her illness, but if you didnt know me or my dog would you asume she never gets walked and is been left in the house for hours. we even have days when we walk to my mums which is about 200 yards away and i have to phone my oh to come in the car to get her has she just cant make it home. i miss those days but this is ruby now and we love her so much so this is our life until the awful day comes when she goes to rainbow bridge.

helibish - that's so sad and by the way, I don't know what you think to them, but there are now some pretty nifty gadgets around that allow you to take an ill dog like this for a walk without it having to walk (so it can still get the sights and smells of the day) - pm me if you want info.
But yes - some people may assume that... however, if you were visited by the RSPCA and explained this, then that would be that - at least you know someone cares enough to make sure everything's ok.

If a neighbour visited and you explained this to them, they may still not understand and argue the point - in this case I'd rather an RSPCA inspector came out to make sure everything was ok because they, working with animals, would understand your situation far better than a neighbour simply concerned for the dog's welfare.

There are people unlike you who don't take their dogs for a walk just because they can't be bothered. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt BUT your case isn't that common in comparison and if it means one or two people in your situation being questioned for every 10 that really needed questioning, I think it's worthwhile...

regarding the walking.
my dog has terminal MCT she is in good condition but gets so tired so easy now bless her. gone are the days we would walk for miles and stay out for hours, now it is really more of five mins max then she stops looks at me and sits down i know this is because of her illness, but if you didnt know me or my dog would you asume she never gets walked and is been left in the house for hours. we even have days when we walk to my mums which is about 200 yards away and i have to phone my oh to come in the car to get her has she just cant make it home. i miss those days but this is ruby now and we love her so much so this is our life until the awful day comes when she goes to rainbow bridge.

I LOVE RUBY SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!

thanx lotti.
i understand what you are saying and fully agree, i have never been visited by anyone regarding my ruby thank god. for me it is still too hard to discuss ruby's condition i still cant beleive this is happening to us and we have no control over her awful illnes. she see's the vet every week and loves the car more than the walks lol we took her to ladybower on sunday she loved it but had to be carried back to the car where she layed on the seat and snored like a little piggy all the way home.