exercise

Posts Tagged exercise

When Life Hands You Lemons: Training on the Fly in Real Life

My dogs and I walk daily. Frequently, these walks take place in a cemetery close to my house. I have a self imposed rule on walks that my cell phone stays in a pocket unless I am taking a picture, which is only occasional. On a recent walk, I broke this rule. On the same walk, I also broke with tradition by simply depositing my car keys in the pocket of my rain jacket since it possessed deep pockets. Normally, I would attach my car keys to the ring on my handy dandy treat pouch that wraps around my waist, right along side the poop bag dispenser.

Image of Debby McMullen's three dogs, waiting by the car for AAA to retrieve the car keys locked inside.

Waiting for AAA.

Unfortunately for my sanity, said deep pocket had a hole in it. A hole that did not lead to the lining but instead, to the great outdoors. Because of my periodic distraction with my cell phone (I made one phone call and checked my email), I failed to notice that my car keys slipped through the hole that I didn’t know about.

We walked a longer route than usual in celebration of the milder weather that allowed for walking without teeth chattering. It was nice until the final approach to my car when I started fumbling for my keys and discovered nothing. My confusion turned to panic.

I got to my vehicle and accepted that my keys were indeed MIA. To add to my dilemma, I had just two days prior had to call AAA to unlock my vehicle with my keys inside, at the grocery store after a particularly grueling day. So because that had been the second keys in the car episode of the last two months, I threw my spare keys into my purse. Which was now locked hidden inside my car. I had been told at the last service call, that I had reached my limit for service until renewal in one month. Oh joy.

I first attempted to retrace my route to look for my keys but my dogs were not having it. They rebelled and made it clear that the walking was done for the day. I called several friends to see if anyone my dogs were comfortable with were available to hold onto them while I searched for my keys. Everyone was busy working though several tried to enlist help. I broke down and called AAA.

I explained to the dispatcher that I don’t allow interaction with strangers on walks in public. So I instructed her to convey information on how things would progress when the driver arrived. She assured me that she would relay this information. I hung up warily.

We waited. And waited. A car drove up and parked within ten feet away. Mourners visiting dearly departed loved ones. Mourners with crutches and already stressed guardian breed dogs wondering why they can’t get into their beloved car don’t mix. We moved behind my vehicle and practiced downs with hand targeting. All was now much more peaceful.

Mourners with crutches depart and AAA pulls up. The instructions given to the dispatcher evidently not passed on to the driver, he exits from his truck and strides purposely towards me. I gently halt him and give him instructions, thankfully before my dogs feel threatened by his direct approach. All is peaceful again. While he works on what they consider their very large crate, they practice Find It and more hand targeting as well as offered downs. This is the best game ever for them today.

Success at last! The car is open once again and we have keys. They cannot get in their big crate fast enough. Relaxation is upon them and all is well again. For those of you who are wondering, I retraced my route on foot alone again and no keys so I left my number with the office. I have high hopes that once the negative energy disperses for the day, they will turn up.

But back to the dogs. This could have been among my worst nightmares. Multiple large dogs, small owner, scary strangers and no known safety to access. But by staying as calm as possible and employing force free training cues that my crew was familiar with, this turned into an adventure that caused some heavy slumber later that day. And I got far more exercise than I had anticipated. Never a bad thing when you are trying to tone and firm for the upcoming season!

Training tip of the day, aside from don’t bother with checking Facebook while walking your crew, is prepare for the worst and make it the best. How have you turned bad into good with your crew? Tell me below.

Tags: behavior, crate, dog, exercise, force, household, keys, many, multiple, owner, phone, positive, relaxation, reward, social, train, unlock

Posted in: Projects

The Name Game: Addressing Your Dogs Individually During Group Training

My dogs enjoy group training sessions. I am too lazy most days to split up the training into individual sessions. Oh, don’t get me wrong. If I had something specific to work on, I would split it up. I use a baby gate to allow the others to watch. They take turns alone first and then we do a group session. But most days, we are just having fun so group training it is. I typically ask for different behaviors about half of the time from each dog. Each dog has their strengths and preferences for behaviors. Siri knows the widest variety and enjoys showing off. So I am mostly careful to address the dog in question by name when cueing a behavior.

Addressing each dog by name during training. But I am human, I forget. I forgot to say a dog’s name in yesterday’s training session. Instead I simply said “paw”. Siri delivered a right hook to Trent. Poor Trent took it well. They are often offering behaviors without being asked when one is asked. Thankfully, my dogs get along well with each other. So aside from the insulted look on Trent’s face that was there ever so briefly, it’s all good. And I got a fresh reminder that consistency is important on the part of the human.

After group training we move on to group play. They have an indoor playroom in my finished attic. This results in happy mentally and physically stimulated dogs. And that results in a happy dog mom.

The crew rests after training and play.

Tags: behavior, canine, Consistency, dog, dogs, exercise, group, household, lazy, many, multiple, name, offering, paw, positive, session, strength, train, training

Posted in: Projects

Would You Like Some Cheese With That Whine? Kenzo’s Impatience Problem

I have a 140# toddler. Those very words could cause alarm in many circles but in this case, I am referring to Kenzo. At the still very young age of not quite two, Kenzo is probably less toddler, more teenager. But the whining that occurs within both age groups is quite similar most of the time. The rebellion is less teenage than toddler so I am sticking with that age group for the explanation to the whining.

Kenzo whining as he waits.

So back to the whining. What prompts it? Anything that he can’t have as fast as he wants it. This could and does include dinner, heading downstairs to prepare for a walk, arriving at large dog social, attention from favorite people. Note that I excluded breakfast. That is because I don’t think Kenzo is a morning dog. He is far happier barking at the deadly porch outside my back door before he gets his breakfast than whining. Sort of like humans are cranky before their morning coffee.

So of course being the professional trainer than I am, I don’t ever reinforce this whining. But it doesn’t necessarily go away with the extinction approach either. For now, I will trust that with maturity, my big toddler will become more patient.

Tags: behavior, dinner, dog, dogs, exercise, force, household, multiple, puppy, rebellion, social, training, walk, whine, whining

Posted in: Projects

On the Road Again: Getting Out and About Makes for a Happier Crew

Environmental enrichment has been a buzzword in the animal shelter world for some time now. Programs designed to keep the dogs that are in shelters from going stir crazy from monotony are well respected by behavior professionals. Shelters whose staffs consider the facilities state of the art, are conscientious in practicing the proper enrichment protocols for animals in their care. Volunteers and staff are well trained to keep the animals engaged.

This is all wonderful news for the dogs searching for homes of their own. But what about the dogs already in their furever homes? Are their humans remembering that they also need their own environmental enrichment? Living in a wonderfully loving home does not in any way guarantee appropriate environmental enrichment. Surprising, right? Not really. If you are stuck on your own property for days on end, no matter how much you enjoy your property, are you satisfied or are you yearning for outings? I am guessing the latter. [Edited to add: Covid-19 has made us all painfully aware how stressful it can be to be forbidden our regular outings, am I right?]

Several weeks ago, I got stuck in my house for most of the day, literally. There was a water main break on the street that I park on and my car was encased in several inches of ice. In addition to that, my gate was iced closed and I was unable to free it for most of the day. When I was finally able to open my gate, I was still unable to leave because of the ice and then the large quantities of water rushing down the alley. It was almost the end of the day when it was declared safe to exit my house. I couldn’t leave fast enough, dogs in tow of course.

The dogs pause for a photo before heading out.

I suspect that this is how dogs feel when they are sentenced to life on their own property most of the time. It was immensely freeing to finally leave my house. Now don’t get me wrong, I love my house but I need to get out daily or I will lose my mind. Dogs need to get out too.

My dogs go somewhere every single day. It is rare that a day is missed and when it is, you can guarantee that it was because of an emergency or I because I am out of town and someone else is caring for them. I don’t allow others to walk my crew so they stay on my property when I am away, but that occurrence is so infrequent that it’s a non-issue to them.

Back to my dogs’ outings…even if I am sick, they go somewhere. Even if it is pouring down rain, we go somewhere. The dogs may only hop out of my SUV briefly in that case, but the fact remains that they still went somewhere that day and that helps their state of mind. It is enrichment. This insistence on my part hit home very much in the last month when so many things were going on in my life, that it was chaotic. Yet, despite the chaos, every single day, my crew had that part of their routine (among others) to rely upon. It’s that important to me that they have that. It should be that important to you too. Stress relief is as important to dogs as to people. Outings that involve smells that don’t occur on one’s home-plate are the dessert of your crew’s existence.

Now I am a realist. I understand that many people are not going to commit to getting a multiple dog household out and about daily. However, any outings are better than no outings, so start slow. If your crew can’t all walk together, then rotate who goes. Aim for a couple days a week, with a goal of a few more days a week. Start a routine. New routines takes repetition to become second nature. But once they become second nature, you will be surprised that you ever lived without it. Seeing the more relaxed look on your crew’s faces will be worth the effort. If you are an exerciser, you understand this more. If you want to become an exerciser, there is no better walking companion than your own crew.

Get out and enjoy the outdoors and see the difference that a change of scene makes! Feel free to use the spaces below to share how you give your own crew a change of scenery.

Tags: dogs, engaged, exercise, many, monotony, outing, rain, relax, routine, run, shelter, sick, walk, weather

Posted in: Projects

Peace and Good Will? ‘tis the Season for Stress

It happens to all of us, both canine and human, during the holidays. The hubbub and pace of all that needs done affects the humans. What affects the humans, affects the animals in the household. Stress is infectious. Oh, not via the usual contraction methods. But infectious it is. It’s a pay it forward type of infectious. It can affect how you act and cause changes in the daily routine.

Dogs love routines. Routines convey security and comfort. Routines are often very upended during the holiday season, potentially causing confusion and uncertainty. The humans in the household often have shorter fuses and tighter schedules, leaving less time for fun and frolic. Fun and frolic with the canines is important to them.

On the other side of the coin, fun and frolic of the over-indulgent kind on the part of the humans, can cause even more stress on the canine household members. Hung-over pet parents are no fun! Your crew learns to lay low and wait for the storm to pass.

Then there are the added culinary temptations to deal with, many having dangers of their own. There are trees inside, another temptation, along with what lies beneath. Decorations around the house, adding to the ambience for the humans, are more temptations to resist. What is a canine to do!?

Even during the busy holiday season Bing and Tango take long walks everyday.

How can you help your crew at this time of year, to feel more normal and safe in their routine? Easy, with a few simple actions. Start with regular exercise and mental enrichment. Whatever your usual exercise routine is with your crew, do everything in your power to maintain it. I never miss a walk with my crew. I take them in the car somewhere every single day; rain, shine, sleet, snow, etc. They may only get out of the vehicle briefly in the worst weather, to sniff something different than they can sniff in their own yard, but they get out and that is the important part. A minimum outing is about a half an hour. This helps us all. Sanity returns.

Mealtimes are another important consideration. Try to stick with your usual routines for meals. Adding rich treats to their diet at this time may be what they want but minimize the unhealthy additions. Real food that is healthy for them is fine but do know what is and isn’t healthy for them before you indulge them.

The most important routine stabilizer is attention from the humans that they love. Be fully in the moment with them at least once a day. Don’t brush them off because you are short on time. Make a love connection. Notice when they need your attention even if you can only offer a moment or two. Truly connecting with your crew will help them handle the hustle and bustle of the holidays much easier than having to stay out of the way of grumpy humans. It can also change a grumpy human to a less grumpy human. Lower blood pressure is a happy result!

Feel free to share your dealing with the holidays with your crew. Please post your secrets below. And have a safe and happy holiday!

Tags: blood pressure, comfort, decorations, dog, exercise, grumpy, Holiday, multiple, routine, safe, season, too many, unhealthy

Posted in: Projects

Too Many Dogs? How Many IS Too Many?

The answer to that question lies in the eye of the beholder, so to speak. Two is too many for some households, ten is too few for others. My own personal best number feels happiest at four. I cannot tell you why I feel that way. That is just when solid peace and contentment fully seem to set in. (at this time of editing, I only have two but one is 160# so he counts for more!) But truthfully, that is only because I am the sole human in residence at the moment. There is only so much one person can do, in my opinion. There would be more if I had more help!

I used to think I was the oddball when having four dogs raised so many eyebrows. Having run a rescue for thirteen odd years, four was the fewest residence most of the time. I once had nine here, five of them being puppies. That was a hectic time! I have had eight adult dogs at once, with four being either boarders or temporary fosters on their way somewhere else. Again, hectic!

Not too many dogs for this home. Photo courtesy of Katharine Weber.

Not being a fan of hectic, I have since learned to pace myself. Someday, when I have more room, both inside and outside and possibly another human to assist, I want more dogs as the status quo, but until that day comes, I will stick with a maximum of four permanent canine residents.

The reasons for this will shortly become clear. I have a check-list of minimum requirements for a multiple dog household. My own personal check list includes the basics, of course, such as appropriate affectionate attention to all, exercise (both physical and mental) sufficient to maintain canine (and human!) sanity, extra curricular dog activities when appropriate and cash flow sufficient to properly feed and vet all. Vetting, for me, also includes a monthly pet insurance payment, which actually makes the actual sickness and illness vetting process much easier. Peace of mind does have a price after all!

Your mileage may vary. But my own preferences aside, providing for physical and mental needs is important. Remember, your crew must trust that you can take care of their baseline needs in order to FULLY trust you, so this forms the basis of that trust. Do not take that need lightly.

Space is important as far as how many dogs you actually have room for in your home. Indoor space is important, but breed types can determine how important your indoor and outdoor space is. For example, if you have multiple Great Danes, although large, in general, they are not in need of a lot of exercise and running room so a large yard is not necessary. They are also known for liking to lounge around the house so again, as long as you have the space to accommodate such lounging, your house need not be large.

On the other side of the equation, having multiple true to type herding breeds such as Border Collies, will make you wish that you not only have a large fenced yard but a few sheep to herd as well! Know your breed preference requirements when deciding on a happy number for your household!

Multiples mean more work such as laundry, vacuuming, poop scooping, training, walking but also more fun, more laughs, more kisses and love. You have to decide what your own limit it.

One other caveat that is of vital importance: everyone should get along. No one should have to live with permanent barriers between dogs who get along so badly that that there are safety concerns. Mistakes WILL happen. Eventually. So if there’s no fixing the problem, consider re-homing the most recently added crew member who is part of the problem.

Now that I have covered all the high points of how many is appropriate, take the time to tell me in the spaces below, what your crew consists of and why if there is a why? Join me in celebrating a household of multiples!

Tags: can, collies, danes, dogs, exercise, four, have, hectic, how, i, many, maximum, needs, nine, outside, poop, rescue, space, training

Posted in: Projects