What Makes a Dog Happy? Exercise

Live Holistically is a multi-author site.
This post was written by: Gailstrail

Jumping onto a blank page is like hiking somewhere I’ve never been before. Scary. Exciting. Adventurous. Knowing how long to stay, on what I hope will be a wordy trail, is a more difficult decision. Life calls out with loud voices. Pieper barks and whines for me to play or go for a walk. Aphrodite meows and paces in front of my monitor. And Lillie, a visiting friend, would like nothing better than me putting her in my lap.

It’s raining and I just got home from work. This is typical ‘just getting home from work’ behavior for most canines who have been cooped up all day. I feel the same way. I’ve been cooped up in an 8 X 8 foot cube for eight hours: We all need to stretch our legs or play a little…actually a lot. How much? I don’t know exactly, I do know that much of the behavioral problems in animals (me included) can be addressed though good, consistent exercise. I think I’ll head off to Cesar Millan and see what he has to say on the subject. I watch The Dog Whisperer and love his practical and soulful approach with canines.

After spending 30 minutes at Cesar’s site, nothing jumped out on how much exercise a dog needs. However, I did a search on the topic and Quality Dog Resources came up near the top of the Google list. The answer I was looking for was on the first page, I didn’t have to dig through various categories. I found good basic advise on how much exercise your canine needs. A great place to start. Definitely worth the visit.

Four Basic Steps to a Dog Getting the Exercise it Needs:

1. Chasing games
2. Walking and running
3. Swimming and
4. Brain exercise

While at it you might take a short trip over to Doggie Paradise, they’ve got detailed information on these Four Basic Steps.

Also, Diana L Guerrero, author, speaker, and animal behaviorist is hosting by telephone or webcast: Help, My Pet is Driving Me Crazy

Date: Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Time: 4:00pm until 5:00pm PST
From 5:00pm until 5:30pm

Speaking of exercise; I did take time to walk Pieper and Lillie in between paragraphs. It was drizzling when we left, so I took an umbrella, neither they nor I minded the rain. However, after about five blocks, the thunder and lightning became overbearing and the rain became huge pellets, dropping at the speed of light! The three of us huddled under my umbrella, I have a golf size one, for about five minutes. Interestingly enough, neither Pieper nor Lillie minded the thunder and lightning. There is a lot to be said for staying calm and assertive, thanks Cesar.

As I’ve mentioned to others, though thunder and lightning do not bother Pieper, she is terrified of the sound of trains; I avoid taking her near them. I’ll never forget her first experience with being near a train. Pieper had been swimming for about 45 minutes, all relaxed and happy; then a train came near the small lake we had hiked to,  and all that relaxation went out the window. Pieper took off. Ran as fast as she could in the opposite direction. I didn’t understand at first what was wrong…then I figured it out and of course was frightened and worried. I ran after her and when I reached her, she was shaking and terrified. We won’t be visiting that lake again.

Remember, when you are in a new place, it’s a good idea to keep your canine on a leash until you and he/she becomes familiar with the space! Pieper does good with voice command…but in an unfamiliar place, it’s difficult to predict what might happen.

Well, we made it back from our walk; a little damp, but no worse for the wet. Pieper and Lillie have been towel dried and are happily napping. Very good girls; and that’s my point. If you want your animals to be calm and relaxed…get off your duff and take them for a walk, or find an activity that will give them the exercise they need!

Happy Trails!