60% Exercise, 30% Discipline, 10% Affection

FWIW, I believe most dogs are really under-excercised.  I never knew anything about Chihuahuas and did a bit of research when I adopted my two.  Everything said they'd be good apartment dogs and didn't require much excercise.  Ummm....not my two.  They REQUIRE as much of a walk as I can provide (minimum 45 minutes per day and more usually 2 hours on the weekends if the weather is good), in addition to regular play time in the yard (playing ball, etc.)   These excercise times are vital for their mental well-being in my opinion.  I don't do the walk behind on the leash however.  They walk out in front of me with regular stops for sniffing/investigating squirrel holes. 

I know people on this forum are really involved with their dogs and I am sure most here provide adequate excercise, but I am not sure most dog owners do.  Around here I see dog after dog living it's life within the constrains of it's backyard.  The lucky ones get a quick walk around the block.

FourIsCompany

Boy, the OP really caused a stir with the numbers, huh? LOL

I REALLY think the title and opening post was to get people talking about these 3 concepts, not so much to nail down the numbers, which is CLEARLY impossible to do!

Exactly so!

That is why I left the numbers as a metaphor and explained in one of the early messages not to take them literally. I also did not indicate percentages of specifically what, time? quality? importance? Most people assumed time right off the bat, which is perfectly normal.

I put the numbers there for attention grabbers. And that, they did. Xerxes caught on to it, as did you FourIC

I am more interested in the discussion. But to be honest, I do believe that importance relative to what a dog truly needs is a truer reflection of the percentage values than time is.

Carry on and to all those who insist the percentages still reflect time.... tssssssst!

houndlove

"Discipline" is a set of rules, not an activity. Exercise is an activity, giving affection is an activity.

Rules themselves are not an activity.

However, I see that enforcement of these rules is an activity whether the enforcement be a reward or a correction.

If ones dogs are always in compliance of the rules and boundaries that one has established, then there is not a need to make any corrections and offer rewards but could it be possible that when a dog is out, say, on a structured walk and being compliant, that the dogs knowledge of what it has to do might still fall into this category somewhat (a vague idea at most?)

So who here believs that a structured leash walk where the dogs are in perfect compliance of the rules still offers the dog "discipline" on top of limited exercise?

If the dog is in compliance, does the act of the reinforcement of the structure found on a leash walk still fall into the discipline category. That is to say, is the disciplined walk (or even a structured agility course) offer discipline through routine?

Or is it just a simple act of remembering what to do in order to comply?

 I personally think the "structured leash walk" is a total waste of time for dog and owner. Exercise requires the dog to move fast enough to get his heart rate up. Best way to physically exercise your dog on leash is to get the dog moving at a steady trot for at least 30 minutes. This may require you to actually move fast enough to get some exercise benefit yourself. People who train the most solid, beautiful heels don't practice it daily for thirty to sixty minutes in mostly straight lines, that just bores the dog and ruins the "drive" people want to see, so marching your dog around in heel for long periods of time doesn't do much for training either.

Still puzzled as to what "discipline" means in regards to dogs, or why they need it. Do you mean basic training? housebreaking, manners? generally people finish with that before the dog is even physically mature- surely the dog doesn't require "discipline" throughout the dog's life once he's learned the rules of the household?

I agree with you mudpuppy on the structured leash walk.  And I can't imagine that it does much to tire a dog mentally.  Mine are smart enough to knw that if I want absolute attention on me that I'm doing all the thinking FOR them....so I guess I'd be the one getting mentally tired out....surely not them...all they need to do is play dumb and walk along at a pace suitable to mine.

mudpuppy

I personally think the "structured leash walk" is a total waste of time for dog and owner. Exercise requires the dog to move fast enough to get his heart rate up. Best way to physically exercise your dog on leash is to get the dog moving at a steady trot for at least 30 minutes. This may require you to actually move fast enough to get some exercise benefit yourself. People who train the most solid, beautiful heels don't practice it daily for thirty to sixty minutes in mostly straight lines, that just bores the dog and ruins the "drive" people want to see, so marching your dog around in heel for long periods of time doesn't do much for training either.

espencer

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. 

Thats why the walk can tire a dog out, the mental exercise of not to jump on anything that moves wears some of his energy. Also a treadmill its a good friend of the dog

How do you exercise your dogs Mudpuppy? 

I have walked Shadow in a hard pull for a mile or two, played fetch in the yard, and he would still do his zoomies.

And sometimes, I will walk him in heel, especially in close quarters in a store. Dogs are going to get there exercise somehow, when they need it. Also, I disagree with the notion that dogs are migratory creatures. Opportunistic scavengers, yes. But they don't walk for miles unless they have to or in the company of their human, want to. And for people with time constraints, you can always do the one thing I can agree with CM on. And that is add a backpack with bottled water in it, to make the walk more of a job. But that's just providing a physical drain. And not all pets have the same energy output. I've heard of other breeds that are content to be couch potatos.

One of our members has Huskies and she doesn't spend 3 hours a day in a sled or cart. She goes to the off-leash park and they run at 30 to 40 mph until they've had enough. Now, just because she didn't maked them walk for 45 minutes at the heel position doesn't mean they didn't get the right kind of exercise or discipline. The discipline or rules of engagement, as it were, come from training.

I agree with others who state that we all believe in caring for our dogs as best we can and that it encompasses training, play or work, and the bonding activities we have. In which case, contrived percentages are moot and only did serve to "create a response" as not many of us will achieve those percentages every day, all the time. I know I can't. I work for a living. Outside of the house. About 28 miles away. And I work at least 8 hours. And when I get home, we do things all out of order, according to CM and not in the percentages given in this thread, not even the fractionals that are meant to be more "sciency". Shadow will hardly nibble by himself. He only eats a full portion, about a 1.5 to 2 cups when I am present. And the food has been out there since DW left for work. So, he eats when I get home. Then he rests from the meal. Then we might get into play, though sometimes he will cue me for training. Which involves treats. And then maybe some more play. Not to mention the other times where he sits in my lap with his head on my chest or on his back in my lap so that he can look at me.

So, I'd have to say that the percentages given and the order in which they are given are useless to me as they don't fit the logistics of our life.

But the op certainly did create something of a thread, si mon?

How I give my dogs physical exercise: jogging on leash, running around off leash while I jog or hike, pulling a scooter or skateboard, and playing fetch. Walking on leash isn't viewed as "exercise" by either me or my dogs.

Hmm. you know, if you think about it, the skill of loose-leash walking is much more mentally taxing than "ordinary" walking in heel position- it's certainly much more difficult to teach to dogs. All the dog has to do to stay in heel position (not talking about competition quality heel) is keep his shoulder next to your leg. Not too demanding. Loose-leash walking: Dog has to know exactly how long the leash is, and keep constant track of moving owner's position relative to a moving dog. Much more demanding and more "disciplined". So we again come to my puzzlement as to why people claim "structured walk" tires out dogs more than loose-leash walking? 

mudpuppy

So we again come to my puzzlement as to why people claim "structured walk" tires out dogs more than loose-leash walking? 

I missed that. Can you show me where people said that?

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?

hahahahaha the solution is NOT that!!! idk what type of dog this person owns but it sure isn't a Pomeranian!!!

Kayla = 20% exercise, 30% Discipline, 50% Affection... oh and most of all 100% LOVE

If it was not for the amount of affection I gave my dog she would be an obnoxious ankle biter. No thanks!

I'll leave the 60% exercise to the active breeds...

Hi mudpuppy.

I think you should re-read the post you refer to, specifically, mine.

I did not say that a structured least walk gives lots of exercise.

I did say that a structured leash walk gives limited exercise.

I was also using the structured walk in context of teaching some discipline. Now if you wish to believe that a structured leash walk is a waste of time, that is fine with me. I prefer off leash walks myself and most of my walks are like that time-wise.

There are some people out there, quite a lot of people actually, that can not do much in terms of loose leash walks if they live within city limits that have leash laws. Maybe you live out in the country where you can let your dogs out the back door and go a runnin on a few hundred acres of property? Or maybe you have access to off leash areas outside of the city limits where your dogs can run their hearts out. But like I said, lots of people who do live in the city out there do not have that luxury.

espencer claims it all the time- he claims a 20-minute "structured walk" will tire out any dog. 

"So we again come to my puzzlement as to why people claim "structured walk" tires out dogs more than loose-leash walking?"

I have missed this as well.

Mudpuppy, can you show me where this was stated?

mudpuppy

espencer claims it all the time- he claims a 20-minute "structured walk" will tire out any dog.

That has nothing to do with my question. Where did someone say:

mudpuppy

So we again come to my puzzlement as to why people claim "structured walk" tires out dogs more than loose-leash walking?