How much excercise is enough. - Page 1

Just a question... I have a 6 year old GSD - female.  She is 84 lbs.  I walk  her every day weather permitting that is  It is a mile walk and really does not seem to be enough.  She still is very active afterwards and will have us throw her inside toys for quit a while in the evening.   How much should I actually be walking her?

 Several walks a day of a mile or much more, off leash - i dont know how tall or over sized etc big boned she is but she is 20lbs over the standard requirements.   She is in the prime of her life, you can fix this by upping it from 1 to 2 miles to 2 times a day, play tug with her while walking,  and then increase to 2 miles, 3 times a day.   but for you a 1 mile walkie is nothing for her.  

Mine get to RUN RACE PLAY CHASE HUNT throughout the day running around with a pack so they look like they should, lean and muscular.   And they are dogs of all ages.   

"The housebound dog leads a stressed existence. It cannot express its natural behaviors: stalking, chasing, exploring, investigating."
(From: The Dog's Mind, by Bruce Fogle)

well, she is large for a female.  I am 5-1 and when she stands next to me she comes about 2 inches above my knee.  I can go 2 miles, however with my work schedule.. I can only do that once a day.  I just want to make sure she gets what she needs in exercise.  The vet said she is perfect the weight that she is.. Just not any more.    Thank you for the input.  I appreciate it.

you could trot her with a bicycle.

its much quicker to get a few miles in. 2 of my dogs just love it, 2 very much dislike it.

there is a device you can attach to the seat post that is much safer then holding her leash.

start slow, maybe a 1/2 mile and add a 1/2 mile a week until your dog is slim.

I try to keep my dogs at a trot and use a flat collar.


There is also fetch. We have a chuck-it and one of our dogs will play fetch for 20 hours a day if we let him.

Also you can find a closeby dog training facility and enroll your dog into a rally class or an agility class.

 I walk mine 10 km every day (irrespective of weather unless I'm really sick), and run him for 30-40 minutes (which works out to 2-2.5 hours of time daily, though not all at once).  We also train for at least an hour or more daily, but it's not a set hour -- five minutes here, two there, that sort of thing.  Keeping the dog mentally challenged is as important as physical exercise.  Attending a training class can help with both, but so can doing trick training at home for fun.  Playing with other dogs is also a great source of exercise and fun if your dog likes other dogs -- you might want to investigate "doggy daycares" in your area.

My guys usually walk 10 miles with me each day, sometimes we go biking.........then again mine are mostly Huskies, and could go even longer......which I am going to start doing a min of 7 or 8 biking, and finishing with a walk.     I also play fetch at times, and get "prey toys" like ducks or some type of stuffed animal, attach a leash to it, and have them chase the toy on the ground.  Just different things to drain.  Your dog can do more than 1 mile, but make sure you don't try to build endurance too fast.

Physical excercise is not enough, she needs to excercise her mind! Do you train her? At 7 and 8 my girls still love to get out and do stuff!

I am going to get the trainers back after the first of the year.  I am still having problems with her and the door.  She door lunges and it's hard to open the door when somebody comes.  Once they are in.. she is fine.  I have been trying to find an agility class for her and have not been successful.   I just walk her 1 mile a day and play fetch in the house.  My working hours are 1:30 to 10 pm.    I like the bike idea.  I think I am going to get one after the frist of the year.  Where can I find that special leash for the bike.    She's not overweight,   she is just still very active.  I guess I thought that they always say when a dog turns 7.. that is is geratic?   She is 6, so I just thought that she would slow down a bit.  I am glad that she still is active and very healthy.   I will have to ask the trainers  where I can take her for agility.   That would be great for her.  Thanks everybody for the advice.   Hope everybody had a wonderful Holiday.

 For lunging at the door do you have a restraint you can use that's away from the door?  Either train the dog to go into a back room or crate when the doorbell  rings, or use a restraint -- for my guy I use a leash on the bottom stair newel.  He can see what's happening at the door, but not reach.  He's sufficiently trained by now that someone coming to the door means he goes to the leash to be hooked up.  If whoever the visitor is doesn't come in he lies quietly, but he still fusses if it's someone he knows (and wants to greet) when they come in.  Eventually we're working up to a down-stay by the door,  but it takes practice! Greetings are fun and exciting, and it's easy for the dog to forget their manners.

where do you go to take your dogs for multiple mile off leash walks? Id love to take my dogs for long off leash walks but in my area it seems impossible. I live in a Chicago suburb where everyone things dogs should be kept on leashes.