Why don’t people go for walks without dogs?

[Anonymous]

I’ve noticed this for 20 years. It seems like whenever I see someone walking around the neighborhood, out on a path, etc they are either clearly exercising, such as running or power walking, or walking with a dog. It seems like I never see anyone who is just going for a casual stroll without a dog in tow.
I just recently lost my dog, and one of the things I miss most is taking her out for walks. I’ve gone out for walks on my own, but I feel almost awkward doing so. Everyone else is either exercising or has a dog.

[Anonymous]

I love going for walks. You don’t need an excuse or a dog, just go.

[Anonymous]

? we go for walks, not power walks, and we don't have dogs.

[Anonymous]

We go for a walk with the kids. We don’t have a dog.

[Anonymous]

My wife and I walk a couple of miles almost every evening. Not as a workout, we just wander around.

[Anonymous]

I see people walking without dogs all the time. Put on some workout clothes and declare it exercise if that would make you feel better about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed this for 20 years. It seems like whenever I see someone walking around the neighborhood, out on a path, etc they are either clearly exercising, such as running or power walking, or walking with a dog. It seems like I never see anyone who is just going for a casual stroll without a dog in tow.
I just recently lost my dog, and one of the things I miss most is taking her out for walks. I’ve gone out for walks on my own, but I feel almost awkward doing so. Everyone else is either exercising or has a dog.

Sorry for your loss. I stopped going on walks for a while after my dog died because it made me sad! Now I’m back at it, and it’s great. It makes me smile to see all the happy dogs out on their walks.

[Anonymous]

I walk 4/7 days of the week. I run the other 3. My dog died last year, still walking.

[Anonymous]

People in our neighborhood walk all the time. Don’t overthink it, op.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:? we go for walks, not power walks, and we don't have dogs.

Do you go by yourself or do you usually have someone with you?

[Anonymous]

I’m so sorry for loss. I think you’re seeing what you want to see because people walk in my neighborhood without dogs probably slightly more than they do with dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My wife and I walk a couple of miles almost every evening. Not as a workout, we just wander around.

Do you live in the suburbs? I can imagine this being more common in an urban area, but I don’t see it in the suburbs.

[Anonymous]

Everybody walks around here. We don't have a dog, but we do need to get places, and we do enjoy an evening stroll.

[Anonymous]

You are noticing what you want to see. Like when you get a new car, and soon you see that EVERYONE is driving that same model. Observer bias or something like that.

There are more non-dog walkers than those that walk with dogs. Of course your location would affect the overall results (living near a dog park = more dog walkers for example).

[Anonymous]

Huh? Lots of people, myself included, go for walks without dogs all the time. I think you probably see the people with dogs people because they have to walk multiple times a day and when the weather is bad.

I will admit I enjoy walking with dogs more and volunteer with a rescue just to walk the dogs and take them out with me.