The quality of the walk makes a big difference too. Dogs get tired a lot faster if they're using their brains so 1hr of off lead running around a wood chasing scents or doing recall training etc is worth far more than 2hrs on lead walking round the same roads they go on every day.

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I count in minutes not miles too.
1 hr in the mornings (not all walking as my puppy is only 7 months and don't want to overdo it) which involves a good half hour off lead in fields.
anything between 10 mins to 30 mins at lunch, off-lead in dog park, on lead around block...it really varies.
1-1.5 hours off lead in the afternoon (not all walking).
Half an hour at night on lead in my area (unless I'm feeling like I'm brave and we go to the fields for off-lead).
SO total of about 2-3 hours for me.
My puppy is only 5kg and wont grow much more. I think this will be the way we do it permanently - maybe adding more actual walking timw as she matures into an adult.
It is true though, the more you give dogs the more they will want, so I will always stick to 3 hours a day or less...unless we're having an outing or something.
We do lots of training, playing, socialising etc which is JUST as important as walks in my opinion. I'm sure you are doing plenty with your dog too

Thats true but I dont agree completely with your example;

Lead walking is usually as or more tiring (more mentally stimulating - if done properly of course!) than off lead unless the off lead is composed mostly of exercises/training etc.
A lot of people allow "uncontrolled" off lead, which really does not do a lot for the dog.
I personally believe that lead walking is an important part of a dog's life, it reinforces the bond with the owner...much more than dropping the dog in a field and letting it be for whatever length of time (which I see lots of people doing in my area...)... But of course off lead can also be used very beneficially, doing recall, retrieving, searching etc!

Your dogs sound as if they get plenty - as long as they are not pups - if so that would be too much.

I don't know any dog owner who measures distance - most of my dog owner friends talk in time.

FYI average human walking speed is 3 mph - so 12 miles a day is 4 hours of constant walking with no stops, gates, stiles or hills to slow them down - this is a lot of time everyday! sounds a little made up to me!

In my experience talking distance figures is usually an exaggeration - e.g. do you know any runners? if you ask them how far they ran yesterday they would say - oh I was out for about half an hour - not state a distance

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Ian

Sylvestris Kennels - Pedigree Labrador Breeders
Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
www.sylvestriskennels.co.uk

Strangely Oblada on this one I disagree

Managed off lead walking for a dog, well my dogs, has always been more tiring than the same time spent on the lead. In my opinion it is only more tiring for the owner on lead! especially if it's a pup!

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Ian

Sylvestris Kennels - Pedigree Labrador Breeders
Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
www.sylvestriskennels.co.uk

Lol I suppose it really depends what you do: I see so many people dropping their dogs in the doggy park and sitting there lol and going to the field and just walking mindlessly with the dog sniffing around... well this is not exercise to me!

On lead the dogs are focused, the pavement can be good exercise for the joints (and too much can be bad of course), the dogs follow their owners, they are in the walking/concentration mode; they exercise their body and mind.
But of course properly articulated off lead can be great and can be more tiring: when my dogs are off lead we do training, retrieving etc and therefore the dogs are also focused and concentrated...

The idea I suppose is that exercising the mind of a dog is the best way to get him tired generally whilst exercising the body only can take a long time to achieve the same result...so on lead or off lead the main idea is to exercise both body and mind

Indeed

and

Indeed

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Ian

Sylvestris Kennels - Pedigree Labrador Breeders
Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
www.sylvestriskennels.co.uk

I do think it depends on the breed mine would go mad lead walking around the street 3 hours lead walking or 30mins in a wood and fields do them much more good they dont half cover some ground/ miles in 30 mins,mine are out for around 45mins in the morning and around an hour at night, much longer at weekends.

Yes I see what you mean. Round here I usually see on lead dogs on pavements being dragged along with no chance to sniff etc while off lead dogs usually get much more interaction but I can see that it could also be the other way round depending on the owner.

I think we all agree that the best solution is for the dog's walk to include interaction and interest as well as pure physical exercise, as you said, exercising body and mind.

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