Quote: Peter Marek

In those cases where the human can no longer keep up with or want to keep up with the exercise for the day, maybe a walk on a treadmill would be in order ?

Naaaah, I just read a way better way to exercise your dog on another forum....

Have it drag you on your back across a room by a rope!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!

I'm not a fan of treadmills, unless the owner is incapacitated in someway, but that's just me.

 Quote: jennifer mullen

... Naaaah, I just read a way better way to exercise your dog on another forum....

Have it drag you on your back across a room by a rope!!!!!! ....

AH! I have a vivid mind-picture of my "team" all hitched up, real dogs in the lead and Pugs on the sides, chanting "heave go" in dog-speak ..... Maybe to drag me right outside and prop me up in the "fetch" lawn-chair!

Or they could drag me for a walk.

THAT would be a sight to see....especially pugs huffing and puffing and snorting and maybe howling? and I did have my dogs (I was little skinny thing) drag me around the house (hard wood floors) with a towel in their mouths -- and me hanging on for dear life.

I can not even fathom the energy that an actual working line husky or sled dog would have. Loki is an absolute couch potato, he is truly happy with an outside play time every day and a mile or two walk several times a week. He is also not the sharpest tool in the shed, but his basic obedience is good and he is extremely well mannered. This was the case even when he was a puppy.

Yote is the opposite and is go go go, then let's go some more!!
He requires several miles a day plus fetch plus soccer plus some kind of training to keep his mind busy. If he doesn't get enough outlet for his energy he either paces like a caged lion or starts shredding paper/getting into things etc.

I knew this going in though and also knew he would be extra motivation for me to get out and walk/jog everyday.

I have thought about a treadmill for him when it gets really hot in July and August but I think for now we will stick to swimming on the really hot days.

Edited by Jennifer Lee (06/04/2009 12:29 PM)
Edit reason: typos

 Quote: michael_wise

Given the chance I know that Turbo would readily exercise or play the entire day and into the night. Still, I'm the boss. I know that he gets to have a life outside of sleeping in the house. I don't go on walks for him, ride my bike for him, throw the frisbee for him.....he goes on walks with me, goes on runs with me, brings the frisbee to me when I throw it.

I realize that the last paragraph might be a part of people's lives they have to change. Where I bought a high energy dog because I wanted to do stuff, other people might not have known what they were getting into and had to change their lifestyle a little to accomodate their surprise crazy dog that they did not expect. "My last lab slept in the front yard, off leash, and barely moved!!! What the hell is wrong with this one!!!"

 Quote: connie sutherland

In the instances I was thinking about, there were no outdoor owner-activities for the dog to join.

Not talking about those dogs or owners. Obviously, if they want to keep those dogs, they have to change their life style.

I'm talking about owners that ARE active people. People that walk or run in the morning and evening. Play fetch and give their dog multiple training opportunities throughout the day. Yet they HAVE to do more for the dog.

Take Turbo for example. 4 mile bike ride in the morning. 3-4 mile walk when I get off work. Out in the yard with me and the family playing fetch for 30 minutes to 2 hours.(Every day is different on the play time.) 2 days a week my wife is home so there is another 2-3 mile walk and more outside time with *some* fetch on those days.

I think we are a pretty active family. Everything that we do, he could still take more.

Since he still has energy to burn, is it wrong to say "Enough."?

For me personally, I know the answer. Like Kacie, I know I did enough. I'm the boss. Lay down and leave me alone.

It seems like some would take his leftover energy as reason to take more time out of their life to accomodate that energy.

I don't think so.

Are there dog's that are SO high energy, that my way of thinking is unreasonable?

 Quote: Michael Wise

Take Turbo for example. 4 mile bike ride in the morning. 3-4 mile walk when I get off work. Out in the yard with me and the family playing fetch for 30 minutes to 2 hours.(Every day is different on the play time.) 2 days a week my wife is home so there is another 2-3 mile walk and more outside time with *some* fetch on those days.

Keep in mind this is a dog with 6 inch long legs. I would probably go a little farther for a long-legged doggie.

NO. Because, and God help me I am going to compare a dog with a wolf...

Because in the wild, NO animal would be on the go alllll the time. No way! Joints would wear out, flesh would fail, etc.

It is up to you to stop your dog sometimes. There is no problem with saying enough. Self discipline is taught, not born.

If you had a dog whose exercise needs were not being met, you'd know it. It would come out somewhere, in some unwanted behavior .... and there are many, as we all know from this board.

How often do we say "Increase the structured exercise" first when a problem has been presented?

So ... you'd know it. JMO.

 Quote: michael_wise

Since he still has energy to burn, is it wrong to say "Enough."?

For me personally, I know the answer. Like Kacie, I know I did enough. I'm the boss. Lay down and leave me alone.

I don't think it's wrong in this case to say "Enough".