We've all been there - feeling guilty because we couldn't take our best friend out for his/her regular walk. But what if I told you that skipping a day of walking might actually be good for your pup? Contrary to popular belief, giving your dog a day off from walks is not a crime – and it certainly doesn’t have to mean he/she will tear up your house in frustration. In fact, it could be exactly what your canine companion needs (not to mention you!).
So, let’s take a look why rest days are genuinely great for your dog's well-being – and how to build them into your routine sensibly and naturally.
Physical rest
Just like humans, dogs need rest days to allow their bodies to recover from physical exertion. Continuous, day-on-day walking can put strain on their muscles and joints, leading to fatigue and potential injuries. For spaniels, this is particularly true. Imagine running a half-marathon every single day: your knees would soon start complaining! Sure, dogs are physically hard-wired to be on-the-go more than us humans are – but over-exertion is still a very real concern, particularly in very young/old dogs; dogs in recuperation from illness or surgery; or in warmer weather (you’d be surprised by how a seemingly mild spring day can become ‘hot’ for your dog, if he/she is haring around at 100mph). By giving your dog a day off from walks, you're allowing them to rest and recuperate, and to rebuild muscle and tissue.
Mental relaxation
Walking is not only physically demanding for dogs: it is also a real mental workout. Even if you walk in same/similar places regularly, your pup will encounter new sights, smells, and sounds every single time they go there. They're a heck of a lot more observant than we are! Fear, prey-drive, mating-drive and basic curiosity will have their brains whirring away like billy-o. As a result, too much stimulation without adequate rest can lead to stress and anxiety in some dogs. Unlike us humans, the mental “reset” switch in a dog (in particular, workers like spaniels) is harder to flick. Think it it like this: if we were to go for a long walk or run, we’d come back stimulated and a bit knackered. We would probably have a cuppa, maybe a short nap, and probably a relaxing evening. Our dogs get none of this! Their mental “spike” stays with them for most of the day – they’re on alert right until they go to bed (or start to drop off in the evening). So, a day off from walks provides them with the opportunity to unwind, relax, and recharge their mental batteries.
Mental stimulation
Don’t worry, I’m not contradicting myself here: stimulation is completely separate from relaxation, and both can be achieved very effectively at the same time. When your spaniel is out and about in the woods and fields, he/she is largely on ‘hunting’ mode. The sniffing, scampering and darting around all harks back to their original drive to flush out prey, and ‘capture’ it. Even if you don’t field-train your dog, this drive will be lurking there at the base of their needs. At home, however, you can tap into an entirely different part of their brain. Puzzles, chew-toys and other stimuli are fantastic for exercising completely different parts of your dog’s brain. Many decent pet-toy manufacturers have developed some real brain-twister devices into which you can secrete some chicken, ham, sprats, or anything your dog enjoys. Their challenge: to fiddle with the toy enough to get the food out. Brilliantly, many of these enable you the owner to get actively involved. And DO get involved – it’s amazing for bonding, whatever the age of your dog.
Then there's the age-old game of “find-it”! Give me a rainy day and a packet of sprats… get my dogs to ‘wait’ in a corner of the house whilst I lay the trail… and then let them loose (having removed trip-hazards and breakables, of course!). This is also a super addition to gundog training or Search & Rescue, as it actively encourages them to use their nose. The last time I did this with 18-month-old Cassie, we did 3 full rounds and then she took herself off to her bed for a couple of hours!
Bonding time
While walks are undoubtedly a great way to bond with your dog, it's essential to remember that quality time together doesn't always have to involve physical activity. Taking a day off from walks allows you to focus on other forms of bonding, such as cuddling, playing indoor games (see above), or simply lounging together on the sofa. In fair weather, they can even “help” you in the garden – sure, by snuffling around your new plants or scaring the robins, but if that’s what makes them happy…! It’s all new stuff, new sounds and smells to them. Plus, they’re close to you: the one living being they love most in the world.
Adjusting to changing needs:
Just like humans, dogs' exercise needs can vary depending on factors such as age, health, and breed. As your dog grows older or if they have certain health conditions, they may not be able to handle the same level of physical activity as before. Giving them regular rest days allows you to adjust their exercise routine accordingly and cater to their changing needs.
How to build rest-days into your schedule
Diarising your pup’s rest-days is honestly not rocket-science, and it should fit in with your own schedule as much as with theirs’. Remember: if your dog is going to have a day off, he or she will need to spend quality time with you doing ‘other stuff’, so there’s little point having a home-day if you’re going to be swamped with work calls, or if you have to be out on errands most of the day. Identify a day when you’re likely to have a mix of on- and off-duty things going on, so you can intersperse some dedicated dog-time with your other duties. Or wait for a rainy day – so long as you can definitely build in some doggy-fun-time.
It goes without saying, if your pup is having an off-day – acting tired, a little limping, maybe off his/her food, runny poos etc – that is naturally going to be your stay-home day for him/her, as it's in their best interests to recuperate from whatever their body is fighting.
If you have kids or grandchildren, an at-home day could coincide with when they’re over to visit - again, 'new experiences' don't always have to involve physical exertion.
Sometimes, a change is as good as a rest
The other important thing to mention about non-walkies days is that they don’t have to preclude all walking. If I’m giving one of our three a day off, we might potter down to a café where they can sit outside with me and watch the world go by. We might duck into a dog-friendly shop, or pick out a new puzzle game at a local pet store. We might pop over to a friend's house for a change of scenery. The important thing to remember is that non-walking days simply have to be different, physically neutral, and should forge bonding.
Happy walking
Happy hunting
Hail Be Thou x
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