Recently, I had an epiphany...while my dogs do get exercise, they aren't getting enough exercise.
I used to walk the dogs for miles several days a week and then one of my dogs got sick and then another one got sick and it threw me off my game. I went from walking five miles on the Centennial Trail to walking around the property once or twice with the dogs and calling it good.
This was a mistake.
Our dogs need daily exercise because...
- it's great for their joint health
- it's a great way to bond with our dogs
- it keeps them at a healthy weight
- it builds their confidence as they experience new things
- it calms anxiety and tones down behavioral issues
- it gives me an opportunity to monitor poop consistency
And, as a bonus, regular exercise with my dogs keeps me at a healthy weight, calms my anxiety, and gets me outside for some much needed Vitamin D.
PRO TIP: If you're worried about encountering other dogs and their people on your walk, try walking at dawn or dusk. There are fewer people out and about and I've found that people who walk at those times don't want to engage with others either.
Variety is Important
While walking around the property is fun, only Scout and Apollo are getting exercise (they love fetch) while Rodrigo and Zoey walk around sniffing things or digging holes.
So, I grabbed the leashes and started walking the dogs.
I still walk the dogs around the property at the end of the day, but they have daily walks as well. This variety reduces the chance of injury and keeps the dogs engaged.
What About Reactive Dogs?
All of my dogs have some level of reactivity, but Rodrigo is the most challenging and I cannot walk him on the Centennial Trail. And walking around the property isn't enough for him.
Walking at dawn or dusk works sometimes, but if a cyclist is taking advantage of the empty trail, then Rodrigo is going to lose his mind. So we walk where there is more space and we're not being pushed off the trail by other using the same space.
I know that there are people who have issues with harnesses but I love them for my dogs and they walk well on a harness; especially when they have a regular walking schedule. Even Apollo, our husky/golden mix, has stopped dragging me down the trail.
I use braided leather leashes because I can keep ahold of multiple leashes and they don't cause leash burn if a dog jerks forward. And I've had success with the EzyDog harnesses...
