Oh how I wish my dog was that lazy…mine has to be walked for an hour and a half a day, or she goes mad!
My horse and cats are lazy though :p all three would prefer bed to anything else in the world :p

I don’t think of her as lazy but she does like to sleep. But what she doesn’t do in activity, my other two cats sure make up for!

Haha…I had the opposite “problem” with my black lab. He would have run his little heart out every second of the day if I had the time (and energy) to do that. 😉

Is Maggie into toys? Playing tug-of-war? Or learning new tricks (like an obstacle course that maybe involves a small treat like a cheerio at the end)?

Lovin’ your breakfast!!! 😀

🙂 Have you tried coaxing Maggie with treats to get her to walk? My dog goes through periods of this, but usually, I think it’s just that he likes to lie on the hot concrete after coming from a chilly air-conditioned house. Gosh, I love animals, though. They really do brighten up the day, don’t they?

Maybe by starting the walk off with a small treat to get her going and then rewarding her every few minutes? You could then taper the treats to longer intervals after a while.

Have a kid! LOL My dog used to be lazy and then once M started walking and chasing her on a daily basis, the mutt hasn’t been lazy since. Obviously I’m kidding for you, but I would also be sure that it isn’t a medical issue. My parents’ dog apparently had severe diabetes and the only symptom was that she laid around a ton. It was a sudden change from her normal behavior though.

Oooh. Toasted oatmeal. I am going to have to give that a try!

Both of my dogs have way too much energy! No lazy dogs around these parts!

Maybe this is my medical background coming out but… I agree a vet visit might help. It could be something as simple as anemia or a hypothyroid. She does look like a sweetie though!!

My dog (also named Maggie!) is the same way! Especially when its bad weather outside. Though (your) Maggie sounds like me on some days when I don’t want to get out of bed 🙂

Yum that toasted oatmeal looks so good. I always want to make granola but it is so time intense that I never do (although I don’t know if that statement is really true). But this really is the perfect balance. Thanks for the recipe!!

I used to have the most wonderful golden retriever named Scamp. When he was indoors he was so lazy, but in such a sweet way, he just wanted to snuggle. But as soon as he got outside his energy was boundless, we couldn’t keep him in one place. I miss my puppers.

I have a spunky 5 year old basset hound named JD, that up until now, has been able to keep up with me. But over the last couple of months, he refuses to go on long walks and just gives me the evil eye if I even attempt to get him moving. I think his hound is finally coming out in him too now, because it will take us 8 minutes or so just to walk one block due to his sniffer!

I absolutely want to meet Maggie! My mini-dachshund Dottie likes the occasional walk (30 min max), but otherwise she lays around the house ALL DAY and ALL NIGHT. She’ll play with a ball or another toy for about 10 min, and then she’d had enough. She likes sunbathing too and lays on our patio whenever she can! (That is if she’s not rolled up in a fleece blanket somewhere.)
Hope you figure out how to get Maggie moving at least a little again – maybe she’s just in a funk from the move & is still getting used to the new surroundings.

Good luck!

I wish I had advice for you, but really she is soooo cute! Can you really hold it against her?

Love that toasted oatmeal idea. Granola is usually higher calorie than I want (have to save up for lots of nut-butter instead!) but this might be a perfect compromise. I have been LOVING the raw oats though – I give you full credit. 🙂

Ha! Your dog needs to find her own healthy tipping point!

Oh how I have missed reading your blog! Your food always inspires me to eat more healthy. 🙂 Your little dog is too cute! I don’t have a lazy dog problem, but I do have one that refuses to walk on the leash. He just lays down and will not budge. Wish I had some encouragement!

In regards to Maggie, I think she is perfectly fine. 🙂
Not only is it very hot outside, but she is 6 years old. Dogs really like to just chill as they get a couple of years on them. My dogs are 12 this year, and they don’t do anything. 🙂
Also, the move from Florida to your current digs could have left her stressed and tired.
I wouldn’t force exercise on her. That could make the fatigue worse. Especially in this heat. And those little-bitty legs can only do so much. 🙂

She may be lazy but she is definitely photogenic! Her cute face and puppy dog eyes melt me! I had a beagle for a number of years. She was lazy too and would just plop down mid walk and refuse to budge. *sigh* I miss her.

My older dog, Baby, has always been a little less active than the younger one, Katie. This summer, however, Katie has taken to going outside, digging a dirt hole like a piggie and laying in it all day, not even bothering to come in and eat (her favorite activity!). My parents had to put a water bowl out in the yard just for her. Granted, she’s 16 years old now… poor old pup! It might just be the heat for Maggie, because I think that’s partly why my Katie’s gotten so lazy.

Hey Caitiln! I’ve been a lurker for about 2 years now…yours was the first food blog I ever stumbled upon, back when it was “See Bride Run!” Anyway, I’ve been reading your blog religiously every day, and you’re probably the one who inspired me to start my own. Just wanted to “de-lurk” and say congrats on the release of your book and your upcoming appearance on the Today show (which I also watch religiously)…best of luck to you! Hope to meet you at the HLS in August!

My dogs find the shade and just sit to enjoy the heat but not the sun. On cooler days they want to walk all over town. She just looks comfortable. Just keep an eye on her that laziness doesn’t turn into being sick.

well at least you don’t have to worry about her running away, right?? That’s a big issue in our house!

being an owner of a doxie that had back surgery, if this laziness is new or if she ever yelps when you move her… have her back checked.
but if this isn’t new, then heck, maybe she’s just lazy and knows how to enjoy the good life! haha i say let her be, and enjoy the cuddles (nothing beats doxie cuddles)!! just make sure she doesn’t gain weight b/c that’s the worst thing for doxies.

Haha I loved this post! I’m on a train and I literally laughed out loud when I read “help my lazy wiener!”

I just adopted a dog Monday, and I get to pick him up today from the pound (they had to keep him so he could get neutered). I hope he’s not lazy, I want to take him for lots of runs and walks and for play dates at the dog park near my house!

P.S. I live in NC too and it’s pretty hot and humid. I’m not sure if that’s the case in Charlotte, but perhaps you can try early mornings or a time in the day when it’s less hot to motivate her to walk? Perhaps the summer heat is just making her lethargic.

How ironic / what a shame that Maggie is soo lazy when her owners are extremely healthy. You have to carry her out just to do her business?? Caitlin, with the healthy lifestyle you live I’m really surprised you tolerate this from your dog!! She doesn’t appear to be overweight, but the principle of the matter would have me really concerned. Afterall, I doubt you would accept this kind of behavior from a family member or friend, right? You said it’s most likely a laziness issue rather than a medical issue. And that’s probably true. I see so many dogs at the park who are overweight or can’t even make it into the backseat without their owners picking them up or having a step ladder. I think you really need to start her on some kind of boot camp. Stand your ground, her “sweetness” aside.

aw, sweet Maggie! I need to add her to my DOXIE page on my blog… 🙂

Is this laziness new – like with your move, possibly? Maybe she’s just adjusting and will be back to her less lazy self soon?

I wish I could come walk with Maggie + my dachshund, Basil – who LOVES to run with me AND make friends… I know Maggie is kinda anti social, though, right? 🙂

My golden retriever Heidi is a sun-bather, though not quite lazy for a dog her age (she’s 11 and still goes on mile-long walks and plays fetch for about 2 hours a day). She gets so angry if she’s lounging in the sun and I make her come inside. She comes when she’s called… she just does so very grudgingly, grumbling with every step.

Haha, I definitely have a lazy dog. Chester, my lab mix is such a lazy sack of bones–he does nothing all day but eat, yet he is still a skinny pooch. Jealous!

i would actually check to make sure there is nothing wrong with maggie. my dog missy – a golden/lab mix – was about 5 when we noticed she stopped being so energetic on walks, she just laid down and refused to go further, etc… at first we didn’t think anything of it, but eventually her checked out and she had addison’s disease, which affects the adrenal glands and thyroids and is pretty devastating. i am NOT saying you have anything to worry about or that it’s the case with maggie but i’d still check!