We only have just under 3 acres but it's set back in the woods plus connects to the neighbor's woods and anyway, long story short, Gator, my dog, loves walking it. It only takes like half hour to an hour cause it's so small but it's basically a walk or even a hike to them. He doesn't go on many regular walks because he's getting older so can't go too far anymore plus he is occasionally reactive to some dogs and living in a neighborhood, there are a lot of dogs so we can't go much or would have to go at obscure times. So by doing the mini "patrols", he gets to go on a walk. Plus the woods have wayyy more interesting scents anyway.
Of course, for you guys it's probably an actual patrol/safety thing rather than just fun or exercise but still, dogs love it. Gator is leashed but if they run free, it's even more fun for them.
Gator is half Black Lab, half Great Pyrenees so it is also somewhat still "work" to him because he genuinely does like to make sure there are no threats, especially having chickens and a cat and having had foxes, raccoons, and hawks after the chickens and coyotes living here too. But it is mostly just fun and I'm sure even if he was full Lab he would love it. In fact, the Lab side likes to look for critters on the patrols. He's an expert varmint catcher too. Well, I wouldn't say expert... given that sometimes they run away right in front of him lol but he tries hard. He loves hunting chipmunks and mice. Almost never catches them because they can literally run away or out the other side and he won't notice. But at least he tries hard and gets enjoyment out of it. Lol
Sorry, now I'm just rambling. But point being, dogs love walking in the woods or patrolling property or anything like that
