How do you exercise your dogs?

• 11-16-2009 6:34 PM

  In reply to Kim_MacMillan

  huskymom Joined on 09-10-2007 Dryden ON Posts 7,941 Points 605

  Re: How do you exercise your dogs? Reply Contact For those who have multiple dogs, how many do you exercise at once? Two most of the time.  For actual exercise, the tend to run more if they are together. Do you have to split your group up depending on the size/breed/temperament/etc? I do try and get them out singly at least once a week.  Especially Crusher since he has leash reactivity issues and they are harder to work on with Onyx there.  But that's not so much for exercise as for training. Do you have to do anything special to exercise certain dogs? they both need off leash time, but Crusher needs to be in a more secure area than Onyx would on her own. Do you use any special collars/halters/harnessses when you exercise your dogs (no flaming please!! Just for interest's sake)? They have prongs for leash walking.  Crusher is pretty good on leash provided no other dogs are around.  Onyx forgets her leash manners every day, and she just remembers easier if she has the prong on.  She has one of the ones with the triangle teeth though, so its not as harsh of a correction as Crusher's actual prong. They also have their harnesses.  They have Xbacks for when I hook them to a sleigh.  I don't have a dogsled, so its just the kids sleighs that they pull.  They also have distance harnesses for when I'm brave enough to use skis, and also for when we go biking. Do you do mostly on-leash, mostly off-leash, mixture? Mixture.  We do on leash during daylight hours.  After dark, when I don''t have the girls at home, we can go to the park and go offleash.  Its not really legal here, but I figure my dogs would be a bigger problem if they never got off leash.  So I just do my best to make sure we don't run into other people.  When we do run into other people, its usually people with the same idea as me, and both of my dogs are pretty good with other dogs off leash. Jezabel

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• 11-16-2009 9:44 PM

  In reply to huskymom

  BEVOLASVEGAS Joined on 07-11-2006 Texas Posts 9,181 Points 985

  Re: How do you exercise your dogs? Reply Contact For those who have multiple dogs, how many do you exercise at once? For runs, bike rides, hikes or running alongside the horses while we are riding on our property, I take everyone who can keep up.  Generally, this means that Chyna & Brutus stay home, as they both tire easily.  I usually take them for a shorter walk/jog after the other dogs are tired. Do you have to split your group up depending on the size/breed/temperament/etc? I don't have to split my group to do anything.  When we go on outings, I do put lots of thought into who I pair up though.  Usually, Bevo & Shooter go together, Brutus & Schatzi go together, Brinxx & Angel go together, & Chyna can tag along with any of the three groups.  I can interchange any of these pairs, though I do try to avoid pairing Schatzi & Brinxx together.  Schatzi is an insecure little dog, & she tries to push Brinxx around.  Brinxx ignores her, but it still annoys me. Do you have to do anything special to exercise certain dogs? During the warm months April-December, they swim on a very regular basis. (5-6 times a week)  I throw bumpers, balls, wubbas, sticks, ect. for them to retrieve.  Do you use any special collars/halters/harnessses when you exercise your dogs (no flaming please!! Just for interest's sake)? If we are biking, everyone wears a harness.  They all started out running alongside on a springer, so they know what the harness means.  Do you do mostly on-leash, mostly off-leash, mixture? Our exercise is done mostly off leash.  They can run, play, & explore that way.  On leash activities are more for training purposes. Amanda Tact is for people who aren't witty enough to use sarcasm. Seize hold of the moment and begin the journey, wherever you are on the path, however many times you have faltered, begin again. - Gurumayi Chidvilasananda

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• 11-16-2009 10:54 PM

  In reply to Kim_MacMillan

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Posts 10,584 Points 655

  Re: How do you exercise your dogs? Reply Contact For those who have multiple dogs, how many do you exercise at once? Most of their exercise is running and playing with each other.  They mostly play two-on-two (Nikon and Coke or Nikon and Kenya) but when I get home from work and they have a ton of energy, they play all together.  If someone goes jogging, it's just one dog.  If we go to the dog beach we take one at a time. Do you have to split your group up depending on the size/breed/temperament/etc? Nope, they co-exist fine. Do you have to do anything special to exercise certain dogs? Yes, Nikon requires more exercise than the other two combined.  Now that he is old enough (physically) he has started jogging with DH.  We also do a lot of fetch/retrieving. Do you use any special collars/halters/harnessses when you exercise your dogs (no flaming please!! Just for interest's sake)? Playing and fetch can be done naked.  I used to bike with Kenya and she wore a Ruffwear harness.  When Nikon starts (when I have a bike!) he will too.  Kenya wears a Martingale if she jogs with DH, just in case she gets spooked when I'm not there.  If Nikon is dock-diving or retrieving from shore he wears a prong with a tab and a long thin ASAT line (with no loops, handle, hardware, etc to get caught).  The long line is mainly b/c the dogs have to be "on lead" at the dog beach, or in case he sees something and tries to bolt.  It's a special line that does not get caught or tangled. Nikon wears a prong (on the dead ring) when jogging with DH and the lead is also attached to a Fursaver in case the prong opened.  Nikon's starting agility this spring and will probably wear a Puppia harness, at the recommendation from a very good agility trainer/competitor who competes with high drive GSDs and uses the same types of motivation and reward that I will (crazy fast dogs running for toys and tug, we want drive drive drive and don't want agility to be an obedience exercise so we'd rather have the dogs pulling on a simple, very close fitting harness than a collar on their neck). Do you do mostly on-leash, mostly off-leash, mixture? 95% off.  The jogging with DH is really the only thing besides running wild with each other and playing fetch that we do that isn't seasonal like dock-diving and biking.  Walks are laughable for my dogs, they just get them aroused and they come home even more hyper than before!  Hard running, chasing, fetching, and wrestling are really what they want and need.  I rarely walk my dogs because it's an impractical use of time.  They'd rather go to the baseball fields and have a hard run. *Kenya* UCH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop OB1 FO RA CL1-R CL1-F HIT TT TDI CGC *Coke* VPC's Coca-Cola HIT CGC *Nikon* SG UCH ptd Alta-Tollhaus Bono HIT CGC *Ana* Alta-Tollhaus Havanna

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• 11-17-2009 1:44 AM

  In reply to Kim_MacMillan

  RubyandStewiesmom Joined on 10-24-2009 Rockford, IL Posts 76 Points 45

  Re: How do you exercise your dogs? Reply Contact Every day we go for at least one walk.  Usually it's around our neighborhood, but other times it is at the park for about an hour or so. Ruby LOVES other dogs, so she can go to the dog park which we try to do about 3 times a week...Stewie is too young yet (not neutered yet), but he'll be able to go later this winter. Ruby pulls me on my Mountain bike. I'm saving up to get a dog powered scooter...but for now she pulls me on my mountain bike...Stewie runs alongside, but will soon be pulling like his sister I hope!  Right now we use a X back harness on both the dogs for running along the bike/pulling...and a bungee cord contraption to pull the bike with.  I don't like using harnesses just for walking, although this summer we might take up backpacking with a little bit of weight in it...they seemed to be somewhat interested in it when we tried on a pal's backpack! We spend a lot of time in our backyard.  Plans are in the works to get a fence put in next spring (can't wait!), but for now as long as I am outside with them, they are allowed to stay within our yard and run and romp.  Luckily we got them both young and trained them not to leave the yard unless on a leash. It's not 100% fail proof, but as long as we are with them I haven't had any problems. We also play Chuckit (tennis ball launcher), and do some frisbee...although they aren't much fans of it.  They like the Chuckit plastic balls, or the kong squeaker balls for fetch...although keeping 2 of them going is a bit of a challenge. That's about all we do here...I've been teaching them to "go find it"...I hide kongs around the yard with treats in them...and they love to go searching and looking for them. Surprisingly my Stewie (4.5mos old) is a better hunter/sniffer than my Ruby!  It's fun watching them! We also spend about one half hour to one hour a day training. Whether it be silly tricks or something like that.  It seems like if I keep their brain stimulated, it poops their bodies out too! I dare you to try and take my Pitties away! Say No to Breed Specific Legislation! Ruby: Red Nosed Pitbull DOB: 10/1/2008 Stewie: American Bulldog/Pitbull mix DOB: 7/4/2009 Louis: Snarky Black Cat DOB: 3/9/2004

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• 11-17-2009 7:43 AM

  In reply to RubyandStewiesmom

  PurplePets22 Joined on 04-01-2006 cold and snowy Posts 441 Points 0

  Re: How do you exercise your dogs? Reply Contact We do a variety of things.  I must admit to spending less time away from home this time of year.  Right now it's 6:30 am and still black outside.  When I get home from work it will be black outside.  Ventures abroad are limited to days off in the winter.  :(  We spend a lot of time in the fenced backyard.  He's got a 5" diameter Orbee soccor ball that he just LOVES.  He'll spend hours out there chasing it if you are willing to participate.  With the colder weather, he can last longer too. When it's light before work, we go for a walk.  Sometimes, it's a 30 minute walk with a 16' flexi.  He caught on really quickly just how much length he has to work with.  Sometimes, it's a 5 minute walk to the fenced football/soccor field nearby and I kick his ball.  He's off leash during this playtime.   Days off bring longer walks 60-90 minutes around a wetland area.  Evenings bring playtime in the living room with the "inside" toys. He's been known to go swimming, run along my bike, and use the treadmill. Animals, it is their world too!

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• 11-17-2009 9:40 AM

  In reply to PurplePets22

  Luvntzus Joined on 05-09-2006 Posts 4,216 Points 105	Re: How do you exercise your dogs? Reply Contact I'll admit that most of my dogs' exercise comes from playing with each other and running around the apartment.
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• 11-18-2009 9:37 AM

  In reply to jennie_c_d

  griffinej5 Joined on 09-10-2007 Pa Posts 3,205 Points 60	Re: How do you exercise your dogs? Reply Contact  Luke, most days, we walk about a mile around the neighborhood at night. Also some days, I throw a ball around the house for him. He could do that for  a half hour easily. Pigeon isn't as nutso as Luke, so sometimes she walks with us, but she doesn't really need the amount of exercise that he does. Emperor of the Markie Fan Club
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• 11-18-2009 2:48 PM

  In reply to Kim_MacMillan

  Spazzy Joined on 04-22-2006 Connecticut Posts 1,193 Points 50

  Re: How do you exercise your dogs? Reply Contact For those who have multiple dogs, how many do you exercise at once? Bailey is an "only child" at the moment. So most of the time its just the 2 of us. But, i do exercise my dads dog, and my neighbors dog often. I usually walk when i have more than 1 dog, each with their own leash. I have had Bailey and my dads dog run with the bike at the same time but he ruined his dog, Jack used to behave pretty well now he is just a spazz so i dont take him anymore because he jumps all over Bailey and gets tangled up. Do you have to split your group up depending on the size/breed/temperament/etc? Only one dog, so no not at the moment. When i have more dogs i guess if there is an activity that one cant do/doesnt like to do then i would split them up, but most of the time id do something they can both enjoy. Like, if i ever have a dog that likes to go swimming, Bailey wouldnt be part of that. He hates water so i wouldnt force him to come swimming with the other dog, but he could still come along if there was a safe place he could stay (tied to something, fenced area, etc) while the other dog was swimming. Do you have to do anything special to exercise certain dogs? Back yard agility. Id love to do actual competitions.. but i dont have enough money to go to a training class, and i have no way of getting to any events.. so we just do it for fun. He really likes it. We also do a little weight pull, which he likes less than agility but loves to pull when we go for a walk. He knows his reward for pulling, is that he gets to snif around at the park, which makes him work hard and tires him out. I usually only use that when i need to give him a good work out but dont have time for a long walk. We also have 2 "types" of walks we do. One where he wears a collar and he walks next to me. He is not allowed to sniff around or go ahead. He knows that collar means he needs to behave, and no pulling is allowed. The other type, is when he wears a padded harness, and he is in front of me. He is allowed to pull all he wants, and sniff around. He still has to listen to some degree (Like, he isnt allowed to just drag me across the street, and i still choose which general direction we go in) but he has more freedom. Do you use any special collars/halters/harnessses when you exercise your dogs (no flaming please!! Just for interest's sake)? He has a couple collars, he wears one of them with his tags when we go for a regular walk to the park. For a walk when he is on a harness and is allowed to pull, he wears this. Its custom made to his size, and is padded around the neck. And this is his weight pull harness. Its similar to Chucks, but i dont think they were made by the same person. This is what he wears when i have him pull a light drag weight on a walk. Do you do mostly on-leash, mostly off-leash, mixture? Bailey has to get off leash exercise daily. If he doesnt have a chance to get a good off leash run, he gets a little nuts. But we go for walks, runs with the bike, and pulling, so i'd say we do a good mixture of both. Chelsea

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• 11-18-2009 10:56 PM

  In reply to Spazzy

  tiffy Joined on 09-10-2007 Tacoma, Wa. Posts 2,815 Points 260	Re: How do you exercise your dogs? Reply Contact  On weekdays, its one 30 minute ON LEASH walk. Weekends, its OFF LEASH time for an hour. I throw the ball or she explores. Its all for her, so theres no rules on what she wants to do.
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• 11-19-2009 8:21 AM

  In reply to Kim_MacMillan

  marynh Joined on 09-10-2007 Gateway to NH White Mtns. Posts 1,493 Points 50

  Re: How do you exercise your dogs? Reply Contact  having only one dog it's easier for me but now that I'm not working, weather permitting, I'm able to get Molly out everyday for a walk. Yesterday I took her to a place where she could go off leash for a bit. When we walk it's usually around 3 miles - and I'm happy to report I'm losing some weight too!!  Now that hunting season is upon us I don't dare go on some of the access roads where she can be off leash. With her upturned tail and it being white underneath it scares me. I don't allow her to run off into the woods but with some of the hunting yahoos we get that wouldn't matter. I know a guy who once got shot in the arm sitting in his truck at a gas station!!!

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• 11-19-2009 9:53 AM

  In reply to marynh

  Kim_MacMillan Joined on 11-21-2006 Eastern Canada Posts 1,900 Points 200

  Re: How do you exercise your dogs? Reply Contact I know how you feel about fears of this time of year. For us, it's trapping season, and one of my neighbours is an openly known trapper...he uses wire snares. So we don't do any offleash hikes this time of year without taking a pair of wire cutters on the walk with us. It's unfortunate, but you do what you have to do to remain safe. Zipper, 6 yo. Gaci, 5 yo. Shimmer, 2.5 yo.

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