[nagdu] How often

Valerie Gibson valandkayla at gmail.com
Sat Jun 27 15:07:53 UTC 2015


Hi,

I think it can be a bit of both. There's no doubt that dogs need exercise to help with weight control.  If it were not the case, we would not have so many overweight dogs in the country.

Also, Zion can be the same way in regards to working.  He has his torn ACL, and he'd rather work in pain than not work at all.  Of course he has to suffer with not working at all.  I believe having a job helps the dog understand his pecking order in the pack, so to speak.  And dogs love to be where the head of the pack is because it provides  safety; it's all about survival, and we humans tend to put a human trait to it.  This is not to say that dogs cannot, and do not love, so please don't misunderstand.  I've known dogs to display the same devotion to other dogs as they do to us. 

But I digress...

I believe that walking a dog would depend on so many factors: the dog's breed, age, activity level, food intake, behavioral problems, to name a few.

When Zion is terribly misbehaving, we will go for a walk.  I don't mean when he's crazy hyper. I mean when he's just having his stubborn streak, where everything i say is up for his decision.  Going for a walk reinforces that he is working, I am the leader here, and he's just a young pup.

So even if you do not take your dog for a walk every day, it is always good to reinforce training.  You can get your dog to sit, stay, lie down and come indoors, and it's still good for the dog mentally.  IF that gets too boring, teach your dog a new trick such as shake or high five.

Just my thoughts.


> On Jun 27, 2015, at 8:53 AM, Tracy Carcione via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Raven.
> 
> I don't think weight control is the reason schools recommend working a dog
> every day.  I think it's the "A tired dog is a good dog" principle.  These
> are intelligent, energetic animals, bred to work.  It's not the same as in
> the days when the majority of guides were shepherds, but retrievers and
> shepherds alike  still need things to do, or they will find things to do
> their human may not like.  And I think there's nothing my dog would rather
> do than get out and work with his human.  I've gotten a strong feeling from
> my dogs that they think I'm better off when they're with me.  "What do you
> mean you're going out without me!  That's not right!"  I wonder if they want
> to feel useful to their pack.  Though I'm not sure that usefulness is a dog
> concept.  I do know that Krokus and I both are better for getting out of the
> house and taking a walk, unless the weather is horrible.
> 
> Tracy
> 
> 
> 
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