Yesterday, we had some pretty nasty weather: wind, rain, cold - you know the kind of day I mean! And this was all day. So it got us thinking: Do you REALLY have to walk your dog every single day? 🤔🌧️ Short answer: no. Long answer: it’s a lot more nuanced than the internet would have you believe. We hear “dogs must be walked daily” so often it feels like a moral obligation. But if we’re honest, it doesn’t always line up with reality — especially on days like yesterday when it’s cold, wet, stormy and miserable. Here’s the thing: 🐺 In the wild, dogs’ ancestors absolutely conserved energy. In bad weather or tough conditions, they rested. They didn’t force themselves out for a “non-negotiable daily walk”. 🐕 Modern dogs aren’t wolves anyway. Many breeds were designed for short bursts of activity, companionship, or hanging around humans most of the day, not endurance hikes in sideways rain. 🚶‍♀️ Walks aren’t sacred: needs are. Walks are just one way to meet: - Physical exercise - Mental stimulation - Emotional wellbeing If those needs are met in other ways, skipping a walk now and then is completely fine. 🌧️ When it’s absolutely okay to skip a walk - The weather is grim or unsafe - Your dog is tired, older, sore, or unwell - You swap the walk for enrichment at home - Your dog is generally well exercised across the week Dogs don’t keep score. They don’t know it’s “day 173 of walking streaks.” They know whether they feel settled. 🏠 Great alternatives on miserable days - Sniff games & scatter feeding - Short training sessions (10 mins can exhaust a brain) - Tug, hide & seek, hallway fetch - Chews, lick mats, frozen Kongs - And yes… sleep (rest is biologically normal) 🐾 Breed, age & personality matter A working-line collie is different to a greyhound, which is different to a senior spaniel, which is different to a companion breed. Some dogs genuinely need daily physical outlets. Others are perfectly happy missing a day and snoozing through a storm.

... to all our US members - @Joyce Zampieri @Erica Pollack @Robert William @Inga Roth-Kennedy @Helen Todd Bram @Dawn Isley @Kamyx Pro @Gerry Rider @Victor Mariner @Joshua Magee @Apryl Hatcher @Robin Meder @Wendy Wiseman @Anita Lopez @Tamara Laine @Richard Lee @Jonas Heinrich @Ryan Pinto Souza @Jason Beghe @Mic Luwase @Michael Wright @Kenneth Bradford @Kenneth Bradford @Tiffany Perez @Christin Bowles (sorry if I've missed anyone) What are you and your pooches all doing today?

This is our daily check-in thread. Each day of the 7-Day Happier Dog Challenge: 1. Do today’s action in the Classroom 2. Post a comment here with: - 1 photo of your dog today - What you did (from today’s lesson) - 1 visible change (mood, body language, energy) 💡 Keep it short. Celebrate others (drop a like + a kind reply). Your likes give points — points level you up, unlock goodies, and keep the vibes strong. Stuck? Ask a question right in your comment — pros and experienced owners are watching. Let’s make tails wag, every day. 🐕✨

Hi, I'm Rick and these are my pups Max and Augi.

This is how Mochi sleeps and asks for tummy rubs