As the handler of a working dog, I’ve got the side bonus of my dog’s job also making him a great pet. Over the years he’s learned that when we’re at home, he should rest up, because we’re probably about to go do something strenuous. Of course, he’s learned that because we do a lot of strenuous things. He’s also learned that he’s going to have to be in the “battery charger” (kennel) pretty often whether at home or in the car, and he’s learned to think of it as his own personal space and private den. When he is put in the car or the kennel or any other waiting-type place, he just goes to sleep, knowing that he’s going to have to work hard later.
I pay pretty close attention to Geardog’s activity level, making sure he’s fit without getting overworked or injured, and rested enough to work hard when he’s needed but not so much that he gets antsy or bored at home. It occurred to me today that there are a few little habits he has that usually indicate he’s getting just the right amount of exercise. One is that he gets up in the morning when I do, takes time to cuddle with me in bed for five minutes or so, does all his morning business, and has breakfast. After breakfast, he goes back to bed for a little while. He usually naps for another hour in his kennel on his own volition, and then he’s back up and ready to face the day with me. In the evening, he’s been known to go to bed when he’s ready – he usually only does this when we’re at home in Alaska, but still it’s pretty funny to see him climbing the stairs and heading to his kennel in the bedroom when he feels it’s time to get some shuteye.
Although most people’s dogs are just pets and not working dogs, it’s just as important to make sure their activity level is sufficient to meet their needs. Here are some indications you may use to gauge whether your dog needs more exercise:
1. Inappropriate behavior at home – chewing anything but his chew toys, barking, digging, pacing – all of these things are your dog telling you he needs more stimulation in the form of exercise.
2. Your dog goes absolutely nuts when you do take him somewhere – whining or barking in the car, dashing off when you let him out, overexcitement, compulsive behavior, and inability to contain himself are all things that should indicate to you that your dog is bursting with excess energy.
3. Being out of shape – if your dog gets tired quickly on walks or hikes, he’s not fit enough. Sure, you may think, having a fit dog just means you need to exercise him more, and this is true. However, your unfit dog gets tired so quickly that he’s unable to get the stimulation he needs to get out of exercise. He’ll be tired physically, but mentally still ready to get into mischief.
4. Aggression or overassertive behavior towards other dogs – “alpha dog” behavior isn’t always a function of personality. It can also result from lack of socialization and lack of exercise. Lack of training is a big part, too, but we’ll get into that later. For now, if your dog is constantly getting into scrapes and confrontations, this is a huge red flag to you that you need to pay more attention to your dog and get him more exercise. A happily tired dog is less likely to decide to beat up on or confront other dogs.
Perhaps you are thinking, “I take my dog somewhere every day and he still acts badly. How can exercise solve the problem – he gets plenty!” Well, what you think of is “plenty” is obviously not enough if your dog is telling you otherwise. One thing to consider is what counts as exercise for a dog.
Taking your dog to the crag to wander around on his own while you climb is NOT exercise to your dog. It’s just slightly more interesting “hanging out.” It’s giving your dog license to wander around unsupervised and get into trouble. He’s not going to go run laps while you climb, he’s going to get bored and try to entertain himself, usually by doing things you wouldn’t want him to do. Any outing in which your dog spends most of his time wandering aimlessly, sitting, or waiting is not “exercise” for your dog. You still owe him a real workout session.
Going to the dog park, city-style, is also not exercise for your dog. You know what I mean – you pull up to the dog park or trailhead, let your dogs out, and stand waiting, watching the dogs play. When they seem to have had enough, you leave. You didn’t truly exercise your dog, you merely stimulated his emotional side and got him to run around a little, getting him worked up. It’s not the same thing as good, focused, real exercise. If your dog is aggressive towards other dogs and this is the main way you exercise him, consider that this type of situation merely feeds aggression and anxiety about other dogs, as your dog isn’t getting any good workout time all to himself – he’s always got to share it with a bunch of dogs that are strangers to him. No wonder he’s acting out!
So what IS good, focused exercise for a dog? Geardog and I use a combination of mountain biking, trail running, and hiking. I’m careful to always go at Geardog speed, as appropriate, and to never exhaust him. I’ve trained him to run in front of me so I can monitor his exertion level, and if he slows significantly I give him a nice long break. I also plan my routes for regular stops at water holes. I do a lot of climbing on the mountain bike when I’m taking him out for a workout; this means I work really hard but don’t go too fast for him. I NEVER let him run behind me where I can’t see him and watch what he’s doing and how he’s feeling.
When he’s a little tired in general, like he was today (as I could tell from his tendency to stop more than usual to nose around, and his unwillingness to sprint to catch up like he usually enjoys doing) I just take it easy. Several obedience sessions every week (though really, every interaction with a dog is an obedience session – more on that later) help stimulate his mind, as do the commands I give him when we’re out on the trail. When we have a SAR training on the books, he gets a light day before hand so that his batteries will be fully charged for working.
And play is a part of Geardog’s exercise, too! However, he’s never allowed to just go crazy with other dogs. I practice calling him away from play sessions so that he still remembers that he should be paying attention to me and his main job, which is, of course, listening to me. I also don’t let the play get too crazy; when things start to get out of hand I make the dogs take a break. I rarely let Geardog play with more than one other dog at a time, and keep the play sessions short and fun. I also don’t let him meet or play with every single dog that we encounter; I usually keep it to about a 5:1 ration of passbys to meet-and-greets. This way he stays socialized, but never focuses on other dogs as a source of entertainment.
Hopefully these quick tips have given you some ideas for keeping your dog’s activity level appropriate to his needs. Although your dog may not have a real job, you can “give him a job” by teaching him that he’s expected to rest up when at home because when it’s time to go, he’ll have to work hard. Dogs like jobs, and even if your dog isn’t an avalanche dog or seeing eye dog, he will appreciate feeling like he has something to offer – and will be a better companion and a good canine citizen.
