A Leg Up On Canine Exercise
by Colleen Paige
FUR. There it is, flying by, like a mystical UFO.
Someone is sure they knew what it was and most
are just left to FBI sketches. That’s my dog,
Tinna. She runs at the speed of light after her
bright red Planet Dog Orbee ball. A black wisp
in the sunlight, a soft dark blur of matter that
makes any strip of grass a NASA runway—Tinna, my black lab mix, will run after most
things that are thrown in the opposite direction
of her location. If without her Orbee, any item,
any shape will do, like a tire iron, a Q-Tip or an
eggplant, it doesn’t really matter . . . whatever
moves, she’s after it and bringing it safely home.
You’ll know that she’s there at the park. Just look
for a large field of grass, a huge crowd with exultant
smiles, some people clapping, others taking
photos and all of them just amazed at this
50-pound whirling dervish.
I was fortunate that Tinna had an innate
sense of retrieval, as many dogs will run happily,
bounding and bouncing after any ball or Frisbee
only to stop dead in their tracks when the movement
has ceased, looking at their owner as if to
ask “and you want me to do what now?” It can
take a fair amount of patience on the part of the
human to instill recall ability on the part of the
canine. Often dog owners will capitulate and
when they have had enough walking back and
forth to exercise the National Guard for a day,
the game ends and no one is the wiser. Just as
teaching your child takes patience and consistency,
so it goes for dogs as well. You must find
forbearance deep down inside to teach your dog
to retrieve and if you can’t muster the patience or
skill, try something else.
Exercise is as important to dogs as it is to us
and maybe even more so. Walking a dog rarely is
enough, as most dogs could walk all day long
and not wangle enough exercise to put a sloth to
sleep. Most dogs who suffer from a lack of daily
aerobic exercise are the dogs who engraft
thoughts into their owners that perhaps humans
are not the only ones who become demonically
possessed. These despairing people will find
themselves wondering if the local pet store carries
“Holy Water for Cujo.” Exercise, or a lack
thereof, represents 50 percent of your dog’s
behavior. When your dog has had the proper
release of energy, problems like jumping, digging,
barking, anxiety, destructive behavior and
aggression can often abate. Playing with your
dog for five minutes prior to walking on leash
can sometimes curtail pulling as well.
If throwing a ball or Frisbee leaves you
exhausted but not your dog, try a different route
like going to a dog park, taking your pal swimming,
partaking in agility classes or bicycling
with your dog. Some people find it hard to teach
the dog how to pedal and obey speed limit signs,
so perhaps it’s best to just have them on a leash
next to you smile. I often recommend a doggie
day care or dog walking service to my clients
who have no time to exercise their dog but have
the money to pay someone to do it for them. I’m
often surprised to find that many people have
never heard of such a service and are delighted to
know there is some RELIEF. One terrifically fun
place in Roy, Washington is called Ewetopia, a
10-acre farm owned by Joe Kapelos and Linda
Leeman. This is Camelot for dogs. If your dog
has a strong herding instinct, this is the kind of
place to dispatch it. Ewetopia is the canine
candy store of happy exhaustion.
When it comes to toys, it’s imperative that
you have safe and durable toys from well known
and respected manufacturers. When dogs play
tug of war, they need a toy that won’t rip, shred
or pop. I personally shop at www.planetdog.com
for all my dog’s toys. Planet Dog has some of the
most innovative and visually stimulating dog
and cat toys around. Ten percent of their profits
are donated to Planet Dog Philanthropy, their
non-profit, grant-making organization, which
awards grants in support of animal welfare, education
and the environment. What could be
better than that? The dog is happy, the environment
is happy and you feel good about your purchase.
Remember, a tired dog—is a good dog.
Colleen Paige is a nationally recognized animal
behaviorist, author, TV and radio personality. She
resides in Seattle with her husband, son and dog,
Tinna. Visit Colleen on the web at www.universitydog.com
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