[nagdu] How often does a dog have to work?

[Lisa]

Hello everyone!

Thanks so much for your replies! That really helped me.
Nicole, I meant actual guide work. Taylor quickly showed me that if not
guiding, exercise is a necessary part of the day. :-)

I think I currently do things similar to alot of you: Since Taylor is new
with me and also incredibly energetic, I try to work with him every day. In
the beginning, I was concerned when there was a Sunday I just felt like
relaxing because training was exhausting and everything. But by now, when
there is a day I don't feel like being guided we do obedience or work on
smaller issues inside the house and of course play a lot. This way, Taylor
seems to be fine afterwards. If we wouldn't do anything, so neither guiding
nor another activity that involves him, he would probably destroy everything
in here ;-) As I said, he can be wild like a puppy.

Oh, and Becky, what you said is also true for me. I enjoy doing guide work
in our area even if we have no appointment or something to do because I'm
still learning new things every day.

Thanks again for all your opinions.
Lisa
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "d m gina" <dmgina at samobile.net>

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "debby phillips" <semisweetdebby at gmail.com>
To: "Nicole Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>; 
<semisweetdebby at gmail.com>; <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; <dreamymarmot93 at yahoo.de>
Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2014 3:16 AM
Subject: RE: [nagdu] How often does a dog have to work?


> Hi Nicole, I think that giving the dogs a day when they don't have to work 
> is good for them mentally.  I can't always do it, but I notice when I do 
> that the next day my dogs have always seemed refreshed and rested. 
> Physically, especially when they're young I don't think it matters.  But 
> mentally it might.  I was able to do this with my first three dogs, but my 
> fourth got sick and it didn't matter so much.  When he was on all his 
> allergy meds and stuff, he would just plod along.  Cleo loved to work, or 
> not, it didn't matter.  Lamar was the same.  Neena loves to work, but 
> there are times I can tell that she's stressed, especially if we have had 
> a really busy busy week and have not had any time off.  My husband, who is 
> sighted and knows dogs probably better than I do, will even tell me, She 
> looks tired.  It's not a physical thing, though.  Maybe it's just me, and 
> she needs time away from me.  Lol.  No, not really.  She follows me 
> practically everywhere now.  (Big smile).    Debby and Neena