Not long walks for anyone, but happy I got them all off the property. I do worry when we miss more than a couple of days walking, it's really not good to have lots of lazy days then madness. Ok, last week it couldn't be helped; it was just too hot, but this week there is no excuse. There are mental and physical risks from inappropriate exercise, and though I worry more about the oldies who need it to keep their joints mobile, it does apply to all.
When a dog is relatively quiet for days, their muscles lose tone, their tendons and ligaments tighten, and their cardiovascular fitness drops.
Suddenly asking an unconditioned body to do a workout is a recipe for disaster, with risks of paw injuries, muscle strains and sores and, more worryingly Cruciate Ligament tears.
Dogs don't just exercise to burn physical calories; they do it for mental stimulation. Going days with minimal activity and scent-work (sniffing) can lead to pent-up energy and anxiety. Then of course there's the weight problem. Consistent daily movement keeps a dog’s metabolism steady. When exercise is erratic, it is much harder to maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight puts even more stress on unconditioned joints when they do go for a run, creating a vicious cycle. So I believe a better approach is to follow "Consistency Over Intensity" and stick to the "20-Minute Rule." Even a brisk 20-minute walk, or in my case somedays, walking around the fields, keeps joints lubricated, muscles active, and provides crucial mental decompression for the gang. The last thing I want is for too many of my lazy days now to catch up with them later, well actually much earlier than later and more severely than it would be for a dog with a steady, daily routine. I do worry more if Sammi and Ross miss too many walks, I'll never forget Ken the vet telling me how important it was that Loki continue his daily walks, and Jill Hubbard said with Finlay, walk him as far as you think you should, then a little bit more. Of course, at the end of the day, it does me as much good as it does them, but I'm not obsessive about it, somedays the odd walk has to be missed. Sadly, sometimes life gets in the way of dog walking!
