60% Exercise, 30% Discipline, 10% Affection

"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."

*giggles*

"sciency" would have been if I had stated it like this:

63.24% Exercise, 29.87% Discipline, 6.89% Affection

Cassidys Mom

 Is this another CM thread?

Looks like it *runs away, screaming....* 

Edit to add: JK!

I am not going to share my personal percentages, as I would probably be strung up and shot.  And they would differ depending on who I was talking to and what their version of  "discipline" meant.  I mean, if you count P+ as discipline then there's very little of that.  If you count managing the dog and the environment to get the result you want, then there is a reasonable amount of that. It also depends what you class as "affection" as well.  I mean, allowing the dog to snuggle against you or talking to him could be classed as affection, in which case many people do those things with the dog pretty much constantly.

Is this how much the dog needs each one?  Or how much he needs OF each?  Or what order he should receive them in?

For instance, I have an older dog who doesn't *need* so much excerise.  Nor does he need huge amounts of affection.  But he does need a fair amount of boundaries and direction, despite his age.  I also have a very people-dog who can manage without a walk now and again... it doesn't make her totally fizzy.  But deprive her of discipline (ie. guidance, direction) and she would be problematic.  Deprive her of human affection and she would pine away and die, I think.

tssst

"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.

HMMMM...most agility training includes alot of affection.  I don't think it should be considered overlap, but that the three cannot be weeded out from each other.  I also don't have a problem with petting a dog as frequently as it asks for it, really!  It doesn't CAUSE problem dogs.  Finally, we are humans and we can't help but give "human" affection.  The up side to this is that we have been breeding dogs for centuries to respond well to "human" affection

Mine are all different. And they overlap. The older girls (especially Cara) don't require much exercise. Jaia LOVES his exercise (which a lot of the time involves playing with me - - affection). He and B'asia both need a lot of exercise.  They all have the same rules, boundaries and limitations, so their discipline is pretty even across the board. And I PILE on affection pretty much whenever I can. If they want it, if I want it, I'm ready. 10% affection would never make it in this household!

houndlove

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.

And you can get both with a good walk and the dog walking next to you, the simple dog having to learn auto-control is a physical-mental exercise. 

Hi Espencer,

I think you would happen to be correct in stating that it is about priority and that it is also flexible. As I have indicated in a reply to DPU, I was not being literal with the numbers or "scientific" as houndlove cited as perhaps, a feeling. The more astute readers would note that in the percentages that I had given that I did not indicate exactly percentage of what. I think most people think that it simply means time, but if that was the case, then the 60/30/10 numbers I presented (which total up to 100%) do not account for the time the dog sleeps which might be on the order of 30-50% of a 24 hour day!

Exercise indeed, should be top priority.

"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."

Hi spiritdogs,

I never compared American dogs with dogs in any other country.

I simply stated "With the proportions being completely off balance, it's no wonder why so many American dogs are neurotic, destructive, or aggressive." because I live in America and this is what I see in the shelters, along city sidewalks, and in dog parks to name a few.

"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."

I think it might be more accurate to say that most people are too busy working long hours at the office or sitting in front of a television set instead of spending time needed to give their dogs what they need. I think that many Americans just assume that you can get a dog and take it for granted that the dog will take care of itself. well, the dog will take care of itself, whether the owner likes what he gets or not - LOL

"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."

Thank you but I must let you know that I do not emulate any dog trainer or behaviorist. I do watch TV however, and chose the screen name "tssst" as just that, a catchy handle that some people will go off and make assumptions about. I do agree with you that to create a well balanced dog, you must have a means of communicating with the dog that the dog understands.... however, that is not all that is required to create a well balanced dog. Communication is merely a means of "connection" but does not mean that the dog will have balance.

Tssst.... an attention interruptor. Indeed, just like it is here perhaps.

Ummmmm, ok.

I disagree not only with the percentages, but with the fact that exercise should be the number one priority.  Sometimes, maybe even often, but certainly not in all cases with all dogs.

DPU

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.

Great post Dave!

I also would like to know where your numbers come from.  To me it sounds like they were drawn from a hat.  Exercise and discipline and affection can all be achieved in less than a second.  The dog doesn't know the percentages.  As far as the solution goes, I'm with DPU, each dog's needs should be addressed individually. 

"Exercise and discipline and affection can all be achieved in less than a second."

This is true. But let's give a dog this one second every day over a one year period and totally ignore the dog for the other 23 hrs, 59 mins, and 59 secs fort each day. How would the dog turn out?

Once again, I'm not speaking about quantitative time here - but would that 1 second of time (and let's say that it was an exceptional one second qualitatively speaking) be enough quality to last even a day?

glenmar

I disagree not only with the percentages, but with the fact that exercise should be the number one priority. 

You know... a dog that doesn't get enough exercise will eat your Lazy-Boy...

SORRY! I couldn't resist! LOL  

They were still pups, smarty pants!  And lordie, I had NO clue after cockers just how much exercise the little buggers needed!

I do watch TV however, and chose the screen name "tssst" as just that, a catchy handle that some people will go off and make assumptions about.

Well, since the name and the quotes come directly from that source, why wouldn't they?  I think that Cassidy is right, so I'll see ya on some of the other threads and bow out of this one - it does get boring after a while discussing the same things.  Welcome to idog, though - enjoy your stay. 

spiritdogs

it does get boring after a while discussing the same things. 

LOL Are you sure about that?

Actually I don't recall a thread addressing how much exercise and discipline dogs should get or routinely get. And since the numbers were not meant to be literal, I think this is a pretty interesting topic. I know what you mean, though. Some subjects get boring to me, too.  

tssst

Most dog owners would not think that exercise means affection to a dog.

I found this statement interesting and is kind of in line with my thinking that about social rewards being the primary reinforcer from the dog's perspective, not the human.  Affection is always present in the human-dog relationship so I don't think of it on the same plain as exercise and discipline, which represents to me as social activity and training, respectfully.