The Canine Ledger

When the Vet Says Walk Your Dog Less: Why Owners Struggle With It

In a survey of 1,098 owners, 85% would cut walks for arthritis, but only 63% would for a dog's fear or aggression. What the study found, and why.

Written by thecanineledger

Most dog owners believe walks are good for their dogs. So when a vet advises fewer or shorter walks, many find it hard to follow. In an international survey, 85% of owners said they would walk less if their dog had arthritis. Only 63% said they would walk less if their dog showed aggression from fear of something met on walks (Bollaert et al., Animals 2026).

While walks matter to most dogs and owners, for some fearful dogs a walk is a daily dose of the thing they fear. That is why the advice exists.

→ Reading Your Dog’s Stress Signals

1. The study

The owners. 1,098 dog owners answered an online survey. Most lived in the USA (37.8%), Australia (25.1%) or the UK (20.9%). 93.0% were women.

The scenarios. Owners were given four imagined situations. In each, the vet advised walking more or less, for a medical or a behavioural reason. Owners rated how likely they were to follow the advice.

Funding. The research received no external funding. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

2. What owners said

Vet’s adviceOwners who agreed they would comply
Walk less, for arthritis85%
Walk more, for overweight82%
Walk more, for mental well-being79%
Walk less, for fear-related aggression63%

What predicted reluctance. Four beliefs explained much of the gap between the arthritis and the fear scenarios. One was not feeling that their vet expected them to walk the dog. The others were believing walks matter for the dog’s physical health, valuing walks as “quality time” in nature, and whether walks matter for the dog’s contact with people.

Our note: The paper doesn’t say in which direction each belief pushed owners.

3. Why a vet might advise fewer walks

Avoiding the trigger. For dogs that react badly on a lead, or that struggle around people or other dogs, the authors explain that “avoiding situations of high stress and reducing the risk of rehearsal of problem behaviours are fundamental aspects of a treatment plan.” Rehearsal means the dog practising the reaction again and again.

It isn’t forever. This is usually part of a plan, not a permanent ban.

Our note: The paper doesn’t say how long reduced walks usually last or what replaces them.

→ Leash Pulling: What Works · → Choosing a Trainer or Behaviourist: What the Titles Mean

4. Why the advice is hard to follow

Owners’ own needs. Some owners got a dog partly to walk more. Others walk for their own health. Advice to walk less can clash with both.

Toilet and outdoor time. For some dogs, walks are the only chance to toilet or get outside.

Vets and behaviour. The paper cites a study in which 80% of general-practice vets felt their education prepared them poorly or extremely poorly for behaviour problems. Advice may not always come with a clear reason.

Our note: Asking for the reason and a written plan is our suggestion, not the paper’s.

5. What the study can’t tell you

Imagined, not real. Owners rated imagined advice. What they would actually do may differ.

Who answered. The authors note the risk of “participation, self-selection and response biases”. Most respondents were women, and most dogs were large.

Few non-walkers. Only 8% of respondents didn’t currently walk their dogs.

Our note: This study measured owners’ intentions, not whether reducing walks helps.

→ Reward-Based or Aversive Training: What the Studies Found

6. What we could not verify

Commonly saidWhat we found
“Every dog needs a daily walk”Not tested here. The study didn’t measure what dogs need.
“A tired dog is a well-behaved dog”Not shown. For fearful dogs, the authors explain why fewer walks can be part of treatment.
“Owners always follow vet advice”No. 63% to 85% said they would, depending on the advice.

Sources

Always confirm with your vet before acting on anything on this page.