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My vet in Boise said to cut walks to 15 minutes, and I think she was wrong
Everyone keeps saying longer walks are always better for a dog, but my vet told me last month that my 9 year old lab should do two short 15 minute walks instead of one long one. I pushed back at first, but his hips stopped limping within 2 weeks and he still sleeps fine at night. The old idea that a tired dog needs miles on pavement just does not fit every dog. Has anyone else switched to shorter walks for an older pup and seen a real change?
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the_xena23h ago
Did you happen to read that piece going around about how short sniff walks tire dogs out more than long marches? I saw something on a dog training blog about that a while back, and it said letting a dog stop and smell everything for 15 minutes can wear them out as much as a 45 minute trot around the block. That stuck with me because it kind of backs up what your vet told you. In my experience older labs will tell you pretty quick when they have had enough, and two short walks give them a chance to rest in between. Your mileage may vary since every dog is built different, but I would trust the guy who actually looked at your dog's hips over internet rules any day.
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