The Walk

Before the human came along and to this day, dogs walked for everything. They walked to find prey to hunt for food (then there was some running involved, of course) they walked to get to water, and! they walked to explore their environment (which helps to keep their brain moving forward) which helps to keep them balanced.

Now why some people think that dogs don't need to be walked is beyond me. Or they have a big back yard, so why should they walk the dog. Well almost any trainer will tell you. a back yard is nothing more than a larger kennel. And that does nothing to help the dog explore it's environment. Which is one reason so many dogs run like wild beast when they finally get out, or loose. While the owner stands there and wonders what's wrong with the dog. A dog that walks correctly and regularly with it's owner, doesn't feel the need to do that.

Think how you would feel if every day of your life as a human was this. Sleep all night, wake up, eat, go out for a break, and then be left in a emty house with only two magazines (the same two) all your life. Only to get a little play time of maybe a 15 minute walk. What about the other 23 hours and 45 minutes. And a dog can't constructively exercise itself, they need us...for constructive execise.

Why constructive exercise over play. Play is energy in the form of chaos, and chaos only breeds more chaos. That's the reason so many dogs who only get play as exercise, will continue to bounce off the walls, while the owner stands there scratching their head. Not that dogs don't need play, they do.

Plus, walking creates a bound between owner and dog.

How long of a walk does your dog need?

Well that depends on a couple of things, like breed and energy, short legs and long legs, ect.

What does energy have to do with it?

Simple. Example; in the same breed such as labs, you can have low enegry, medium, high, and very high. I have one with VERY high energy (oh lucky me lol). She requiers on average approx 2 hours a day, 5 to six times a week. and I even have an advantage over most, because she gets to go to work with me and do her job.

That being said though, I would never suggest someone do something I don't do. now i don't set me first appt for the day until about 10:00 am. And yet i still get up at 5:00 am to give her her walk. AND BELIEVE ME! I don't jump out of bed yelling Woohoo! 2 hour walk. I do it because if I don't full fill my dogs needs, is it fair to ask her to full fill mine. Some people look at the walk as a chore, some exercise, others, a awsome way to spend time and bond with their dogs.

Now to give CM credit where credit is due. I couldn't agree with him more about; one should not just look at a breed of dog when getting one, but it's enegry as well. And should match the energy to their own.

Wow! it feels good to get back to the business at hand.