60% Exercise, 30% Discipline, 10% Affection

tssst

With the proportions being completely off balance, it's no wonder why so many American dogs are neurotic, destructive, or aggressive.

So what is the solution here?

I think it is interesting that you did not consider the emotional state of the dog in establishing your proportions.  I find with my dogs the proportion changes with the needs defined by the dogs.  Sometimes the requirements are higher or more level or the opposite of the proportions you state in your Subject Line.  The solution is to be in tune with your pack, that is be observant of their behavior that communicates to you what their needs are.

*eyeroll*

Because dogs are never individuals with individual needs. 

houndlove

*eyeroll*

Because dogs are never individuals with individual needs. 

But houndlove! Statistics are math, and math is science. Don't hate. 

Dog_ma

houndlove

*eyeroll*

Because dogs are never individuals with individual needs. 

 

But houndlove! Statistics are math, and math is science. Don't hate. 

Dogma, I really did not understand Houndlove's post.  You seem to have an interpretation that also confused me.  Can you explain what you mean?

Dog_ma was just being cute

This 60/30/10 ratio is just random numbers pulled from thin air but it seems "sciency" and that's why some people get sucked in by it. 

 Is this another CM thread?

While I agree that most dogs do not get enough exercise, I have no idea how you can break down your interactions with your dog into percentages of certain things like exercise, discipline and affection.  On a walk I will be affectionate and provide direction (discipline?) when needed.  Do I quantify any of that?  Nope, it is all part of walking with my dogs.  The only thing I do quantify is that I give my pups at least 2 1/2 hours of off-leash walk-time and I like to give my pups at least nine "good dog" to one "no." 

tssst

Yes!

That's the recipe for a well balanced and happy dog.

Most dog owners would not think that exercise means affection to a dog. They tend to think in terms of human-to-human interactions and equate affection to things like petting or giving a dog a good belly rub. But to a dog, a good hard walk is as satisfying as a good belly rub and the walk gives the dog time to burn it's energy reserves.

Most American dog owners typically have jobs and their dogs are sedentary for most of the day while they work. With this kind of schedule, these dogs typically see 20% exercise, 10% discipline, and 70% affection. With the proportions being completely off balance, it's no wonder why so many American dogs are neurotic, destructive, or aggressive.

So what is the solution here?

There is no scientific evidence that your percent breakdown is accurate for all breeds or all dogs.  Dogs like exercise, unless they have physical pain (which is also something that humans often don't recognize in their dogs, dogs being stoic creatures in general), but there is no evidence that a walk with a human is even a "good hard walk" to a dog.  Chasing a deer for a couple of miles at a run with a couple of other dogs might be more the natural scenario for doggy exercise that they crave.  But, a walk is not the only way that humans can have a well exercised dog.  In fact, most dogs get more tired (and I agree that, often, a tired dog is a good dog) by playing off lead with other dogs. 

I don't know where you live, but I resent being told that American dogs are neurotic, destructive or aggressive in any greater or lesser proportion than they are in any other developed country.  

I think the solution is for more people to attend classes that can show them how to apply positive training, socialization and management techniques that create a behaviorally healthy dog.  There are techniques that they can use, even if they have a busy schedule, to create an enriched environment, exercise, and stimulation for their dogs.  Unfortunately, most people are too busy believing in pop science, or the way their grandfather used to train his live-outside-tied-to-a-tree-dog to pay much attention to how things have really changed in the dog training world. 

And, while I appreciate that your screen name is an obvious indication of who you wish to emulate, I would suggest also that "tsst" is not a command, it's only an interruptor.  To create a well balanced dog, you must have a means of communicating with the dog that the dog understands.  Check out the "Mary Ray" thread and see what you can do to have fun and exercise your dog both physically and mentally.  Don't those dogs look like they are having more fun than just walking???

For my dogs it goes more like this: 50% exercise, 50% training and I won't put a number on affection.

My dogs are very balanced and get equal amounts of exercise and training. You don't need discipline in the traditional sense if you have a well trained dog. In fact, I don't know when I've ever disciplined my aussie. Unless you consider a "leave it" or a "No" discipline.

All that said, every single dog is different and requires different amounts of exercise, training and affection. some dogs are stand offish and independant and all they require is someone to feed them plus exercise. Other dogs are very velcro and would wilt without human affection. 

To wrap it up in to a neat little statistic like 60/30/10 is an injustice to most dogs. 

Jewlieee

You don't need discipline in the traditional sense if you have a well trained dog.

Ack! Just jumping in here to say that discipline (in this context) is just rules, boundaries and limitations. Not punishment. Peeing outside is discipline. A walk every day is discipline. Mealtime at a certain hour is discipline.

Carry on.  

I would say is not so much about the percentage but about which need must be satisfied FIRST

For example, with a bull dog, you dont need to exercise a bulldog as much as you need to exercise a Jack Russell, i think for a bull dog you will need to spend more time on the "discipline" part because what's their average temperament 

Also the "discipline" amount for a dog could depend if the dog is just doing what he wants around the house or because your dog already knows who the leader, provider, owner, etc (whatever you want to call it), you dont need the same amount of "discipline" for both

For me the priority is correct:

1.-Exercise

2.-Discipline

THEN

3.-Affection

I think about satisfy my dog's needs first before satisfy my own need to offer affection (and i dont mean chronologically speaking) 

You could spend 2 hours exercising your dog and if your dog already listens to everything you say THEN you can spend the rest 12 hours of the day giving affection, his needs are already satisfied. Or you only spent 30 minutes exercising a "couch potato" (which is everything he needs) but he spends the rest of the day growling at his owner and doing whatever he wants, then clearly he needs more percentage of "discipline"

The percentage on each one depends on other factors like breed, temperament, age, behavior, etc

My dogs get about 50% affection, 20% exercise and 30% discipline and they are not destructive, hyperactive or unruly.  My family and friends always comment on how well behaved my dogs are.  I wish they got more exercise but they are all 7+ years old and are just not high energy dogs like a border collie or jack russell.

"The solution is to be in tune with your pack, that is be observant of their behavior that communicates to you what their needs are."

I agree DPU. The numbers that I had used are not to be taken asliteral. The numbers are there as an attention getter *wink-wink*

I believe there is some overlap too. For example, in something like agility training (or any training for that matter) the dog is getting both exercise and discipline. From the dogs viewpoint, this may as well be considered affection (the stuff that dogs love to do) although we humans would consider it to be training, exercise, etc.

I think that in American culture especially, many people just put too much emphasis and time in the "human" affection department and smother their dogs with petting whenever the dog wants it. This sets the stage for problem dogs.

many people just put too much emphasis and time in the "human" affection department and smother their dogs with petting whenever the dog wants it. This sets the stage for problem dogs.

You'll get no argument from me there, but if you watch the BBC series "It's Me or the Dog" you'll see that it isn't just America. Caring for a dog means assessing the individual needs of the dog and I don't like to separate so much out into "categories" how I help them fulfill their needs. And I think the "exercise" it needs to be made clear can and should also include "mental" exercise. Many dogs are way more tired out after working their brains than working their bodies.