I'm doing a little spring cleaning in the ole' groundwork department around my house. I let things get a little too loose 'round here. I've only had to make a few routine and habit changes, but am getting great results so far. Plus my ground work DVD is in the mail so I should have this house on lock down pretty soon. :laugh:

I've always done everything I can to keep my dog tired. AKA happy. One of my changes is regular, longer walks(I know, I know. Shoulda' been doing that all along) which cuts down on the amount of time I was playin' fetch or tug. Both of which I was doing too much of. Not that I think playing is bad, but minus structured exercise and regular training can be.

Anyway. What do ya'll consider good enough physical activity for your dogs? What is your physical activity? (walking, running, fetch, tug, etc.) What do ya'll do with your dogs when not interacting with them? (kong time, crate time, etc.)

I know every situation and dog is different, but am curious what everyone's routine is like.

I wanted to add on the forum that Michele McAtee has been a huge help. She gave me suggestions that really helped calmed things down around my house. Plus, really sold me on getting this DVD. Ed, give her a coupon or something!

I run my Pit on the bike for about a mile (probably a little less) and then we trot for another 2 or 3. the thing is, the more we excersise, the further he can go and the harder it is to get him tired, where does it end?!
Oh and because he has to be tied up or in a cage (escape artist) I go out and have a session or three of tug with a tire...
The shepherd, I excersise in a feild, offleash, using a tennis ball or we run over the furrows of a feild...we just explore, mainly.She also accompanies me everywhere so she *pretty* active during the day.
the other one, who is getting older, I just excersise at a trot on the bike for a couple of miles. she also excercises herself by hunting lizards in the yard...

Actually I only do this about 5 times a week due to night classes; its too hot to go out before 9:30 pm.

sometimes I feel like a kennel maid

8 miles on a bike still won't satisfy my dog.

When I take her out it is usually 1 to 2 hours of off leash time, playing fetch or just running around. If I don't take her to the park, I bike her for a couple miles. If I don't do either of those, I take her to my sister's house to play for HOURS with her "boyfriend" Lego

I don't do enough "structured" walking, either, and I've wondered if I'm a bad mom because I don't walk the dog religiously.

Walks, even off-leash, seem to aggravate my dog's HD in a way that chasing after a ball, or playing with the tug, does not.

We both have a lot of fun with the Chuckit. 2-4 30 minute sessions of fetch/OB seems to take the edge off and spare us the ants-in-the pants behavior that drives us up the wall. Today was unfortunately a "no exercise day" so we are going batty this evening.

Like Mary's shepherd, he also gets time to just explore with his nose and will wear himself out following every scent he can find.

Don't forget, exercise creates energy. Especially with dogs like working dogs, the more you give them the more they want. The key is it know when to tell the dog to stop and not over-exercise as many people do when they think their dog didn't get enough. Some dogs you can go on a 20 mile bike ride, they'll come home, collapse, then 30 minutes later they'll wanna do the whole thing over again. Obviously that wouldn't be good for the dog :p

This is why I have a treadmill

Exercise for Duke goes like this:

Mornings we play fetch for about 15-20 minutes, some focus work, then after that he is well warmed up and goes on the treadmill at low speed for a medium intensity/speed walk about 1-1.5 miles.

Early afternoon tug and flirtpole, then (outside not treadmill) for 1/2 mile warm up walking, jogging for 1 mile, walking/cool down another 1/2 mile with some minor OB occassionally worked in.

Evening/night some basic and energized/happy/possitive OB, flirtpole and then he goes back on the tread mill at a normal walk for about a mile.

The time and distance will increase as his fitness and stamina increases and he gets older. He is almost 11 months so he will be getting more exercise soon. I love treadmills...

I tailor physical exercise to the dog, but I try to keep them mentally stimulated which helps with keeping mischief levels down though it doesn't eradicate them. Frozen kongs get an A+ in my book, as do those tire toys (tire biters) for dogs, I fill the inside rim of the small one and freeze it like a kong. For bully breeds hangtime/springpole work. I use flirtpoles, hiding things around the house ("hide and seek" also)

I always make sure that if I have specific goals in mind such as an endurance test in the future to properly condition the dog. Start out low and work your way up don't just suddenly take a dog for a 5 mile jog one day because you think it has the energy for it.

Energy does not automatically = physically fit. Energy and drive override physical limitations.

Ah I should ammend, with the Tire Biter toys I meant "smaller" not the small size. I use the medium and large sizes. I also use the kong biscuit ball and stuff a ball and freeze a goodie mixture in them.

I use Innova EVO canned, or EVO 95% or Wellness 95% canned, canned fish, THK, water, and yogurt to fill and freeze. I use multiple items for the fill and freeze as the dog has to work at each of them a different way. I give one during daytime crate time between exercise when I am not home.

What is a good amount of work for a puppie?

Thanks!

Sounds like ya'll can probably hear your dogs buzzing when not in motion.:laugh:

Michelle pointed out the same thing Mike did. That is kinda what part of my problem was. It has helped tons that we are more on a schedule now. Even just a few days of it. He knows we walk at "X" times. Play or train at "X" times. Kong at "X" time. Leave me alone at "X" time.

I was lettin' him dictate alot of his exercise. Basically he was using me for all the time I had. I think Mike also said in another thread that dogs are selfish. Its how they survive.

Mike,

I think it all comes down to the individual dog and the type of environment you create for them during "down time". My female is easy, two or three good training sessions per week and a few walks along with going to club and she is an absolute couch potato in the house. She settles in very well. My male was raised in a kennel/crate environment without extensive daily interaction. When he was out of the crate, it was all about him. He is a very high drive, high energy and powerful dog who seemed to be very hectic when first got him. I have found that providing him with a calm consistent environment that only rewards him with affection and freedom for calm behavior has completely changed him. Ideally, he needs at least 20 minutes of intense exercise so he can "blow out" all that energy and get a few bites in.


Christi, a puppy will tell you how much is enough. No running for distance or anything, but retrieve/recall games to get the tongue wagging work wonders. If puppy lies down, he's had enough.