'Dogs need walks': Man gets angry at partner for favoring younger pup and leaving their reactive dog at home, commenters come to help release relationship tension

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Mar 27, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Pawsonally, animal fam, we love taking our dogs on walks. Maybe we don't love it when it's pouring rain outside, but we love getting outside and exploring the city with our pups. They get to smell, we get to breathe some (mostly) fresh air, and we both get our steps in for the day. However, not everyone does (we're not sure why you got a dog if you don't like taking it on walks, but that's a whole different story), and they may or may not have their reasons.

Well, in the story below you'll find a pair of partners who are having some trouble walking their reactive dog. We get it. Reactive dogs are hard to deal with. The smallest thing can set them off, but without proper stimulation, the reaction usually gets worse. And on top of that, the doggy drama strated to cause some tension in their relationship. Luckily, kind commenters of the internet came to help not only their canine conundrum, but also their relationship. Read the full story below!

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  • 01
    Partner gets upset I only walk one of our dogs
    via 5500589

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Just looking for opinions on the situation. I have a hound and a shitzu. The hound loves her walks more than life itself. The shitzu seems on alert, barks/growls nonstop, and the kicker is he has a partially collapsed trachea, so usually ends up having multiple fits from overexertion later to pay for it.
    via u/1thatoneguy
  • 03
    I feel horrible enough because when he was younger he didn't seem to mind walks, but now at 8 years old, between his more ornery personality and his trachea I just feel that he doesn't "enjoy them", and so I usually leave him at home.
    via u/1thatoneguy
  • 04
    Can anyone share any insights or advice? Thanks everyone!
    via u/1thatoneguy
  • 05
    ZZBC What are you doing with him to take the place of the walks?
    via u/ZZBC
  • 06
    1thatoneguy OP • 10h ago I usually take him out for 10-20 minutes and throw his favorite ball giving him adequate rest between tosses. Not sure what else he could really handle. Maybe I can find something indoors.
    via u/1thatoneguy

  • But wait, that honestly sounds good. Maybe the dog doesn't need a long, huge walk like the younger pup does. We do still think it's important for their brain to go out and smell new things, but maybe find a few short routes around the block so they get to have new experiences, but without all the physical effort.

  • 07
    bleezybleeg How often does your partner walk the dogs? Has your partner seen how much the shih tzu struggles?
    via u/bleezybleeg
  • 08
    Illustrious-Map2674 · 10h ago Can you get a dog stroller and take the shitzu for a ride while you walk the hound?
    via u/Illustrious-Map2674
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10485192704
    via Brendan von Wahl

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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  • 10
    1thatoneguy OP • 10h ago Oh my gosh such a great idea I don't know why we haven't considered it. He's slightly on the larger side for a small breed approx 22 lbs but I bet I could find something. Should work perfect I think its a combo of heat and physical stress that bother him the most. Thank you so much!!
    via u/1thatoneguy
  • 11
    Dark--princess420 · 10h ago . Couldn't he have a little separate walk too? Even if it's 5-10 mins of him being able to have a break from the house. If he's too reactive then I get that would exert him but is there a place he can go where he's likely to be away from other dogs if that's the case? Even if he doesn't like walks he will like the quality time you spend together
    via u/Dark--princess420
  • 12
    CarsonNapierOfAmtor • 10h ago As far as the trachea issue, are you able to find a harness that doesn't put pressure on his neck? Or is it just the exertion that causes problems rather than neck pressure? Could you find a walking route that allows you to make a
    via u/CarsonNapierOfAmtor
  • 13
    loop so you can take the shih tzu with you on a short walk to get him a bit of physical activity, drop the shih tzu back at home, and continue your walk with the hound?
    via u/CarsonNapierOfAmtor
  • 14
    For the partner, what is their concern? Do they think the shih tzu wants/needs to get more walks than he's currently getting? Do they think the shih tzu feels left out? Do they have to deal with
    via u/CarsonNapierOfAmtor
  • 15
    behavioral issues from the shih tzu that they think would be better solved by more physical exercise? Without knowing why your partner gets upset, it's hard to give any advice on that front.
    via u/CarsonNapierOfAmtor
  • 16
    Cheezburger Image 10485192960
    via damedeeso

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • When one of our dogs entered his senior era, we carried him around in a cart while we walked the other dog. He just got to lay there and enjoy being pulled around while the other one got exercise. It was a challenge to do both things at the same time, but we made it work. The things we do for love!

  • 17
    . ampmz 10h ago I'm of the firm belief that dogs need walks, not just because of exercise but it's important stimulation, smells are super important for dogs.
    via u/ampmz
  • 18
    If your dog is struggling on walks the solution isn't to stop but them but instead to figure out what's causing her distress on walks. Have you tried walking her without the other dog?
    via u/ampmz
  • 19
    SubieGal9 10h ago . I've had several dogs and they weren't always on the same schedules or had the same needs.
    via u/SubieGal9
  • 20
    I think walking one dog is fine as long as the other dog gets his own special time or treat too.
    via u/SubieGal9
  • 21
    When I had an old dog and a young dog, I would walk the young dog for a couple of miles, and then come home and walk the old dog around the block, or vice versa.
    via u/SubieGal9
  • 22
    Those short walks could be a great time to treat train the reactive dog. If he/she knows that when the other dog gets back, it's time for treats and a walk, it may be better behaved (anticipating treats), even if training starts in the back yard and builds to walking.
    via u/SubieGal9
  • 23
    Some dogs don't want walked though. We have a small dog that doesn't like to leave his bed. Lol If you don't want to walk the other dog for whatever reason, maybe give it a special treat while you're gone so it doesn't get separation anxiety or something.
    via u/SubieGal9

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pups dogs comments walks reactive partners relationships tension angry animals relationship drama
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