Williams: Spice up your dog's life

6 a.m. – Wake Up
6:15 a.m. – Go outside; eat breakfast
7 a.m. – Stay out of my family’s way while they get ready for school, work
7:30 a.m. – Say goodbye to my family while they leave for school, work
7:40 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Sleep
5 p.m. – Greet my family when they return
5:15 p.m. – Go outside; eat dinner
6 to 8 p.m. - Stay out of my family’s way while they do homework, watch TV
9 p.m. – Go to sleep

How closely does the above schedule resemble your dog’s daily routine? Doesn’t look so good when we put it down on paper, does it? Dogs were meant to lead active, productive lives. When you take into account that wolves and dogs in the wild spend most of their days trying to find where their next meal is coming from, it might seem like our domestic dogs have it easy by getting all their meals provided for them for free. However, originally dogs were bred to work and assist man in some capacity from hunting, farming, protection, and companionship, and frankly, most love to work, especially when payment by way of food, praise, play and attention is involved. Not having a job or sense of purpose is not only boring, but the lack of exercise can lead to undesirable behavior, weight problems and ultimately health issues.

When alone, regardless of how many toys we leave behind or if an outside dog has free reign to endless acreage, most will sleep all day. Then when we return home, tired, with a list of nightly duties to take care of, there’s still no time left for Fido. That’s when the temptation to pacify them with food and treats takes over. We reinforce and pay them to leave us alone. Naturally we can’t quit our jobs, especially in this economy, but there are things we can do to enrich and spice up our dog’s life:

▪ Take him to dog daycare. Just like humans, dogs really are social animals and most enjoy spending time with other dogs. Dog daycare can provide opportunities for healthy socialization and mental and physical exercise and stimulation. Be sure to select a dog daycare where the dogs receive proper supervision and the environment is kept clean and safe. Ask for client references, and be sure to get recommendations from your veterinarian, neighbors and friends.
▪ Hire a dog walker. A long, intense midday walk can do wonders for a dog that is alone all day. It can provide not only exercise, but a little human companionship as well. But, just like dog daycares, be sure to do some research and select a qualified pet sitter with experience, insurance and plenty of client references.

▪ Schedule lunch dates with your dog. If you live close enough to your workplace, consider going home to spend your lunch hour with your dog. It will not only make your dog’s day, but is guaranteed to make your day too!

▪ Form a doggie co-op. If you have friends or family members who don’t work during the day, ask if they’d be willing to visit your dog while you’re at work. On your day off, you can do the same for them. This can be a win/win situation for all!

▪ Enroll him in a reward-based training program. When altering your dog’s day isn’t a possibility, at least give him something to look forward to when you come home. You’ll not only challenge his mind while he learns new skills, but you’ll enhance your relationship along the way.

▪ Got a competitive edge? Try a dog sport. Currently there are more dog sports and activities you can do with your dog than ever before such as agility, competition obedience, rally, flyball, musical freestyle (dancing with your dog), lure coursing, disc dog, tracking, herding, weight pulling and carting, etc. Be advised most dog sports require advance obedience training.

Even though it can be difficult to work quality time with our dog into our hectic daily routine, we owe it to them. Besides, keeping them happy will make them much easier to live with which makes up happier too.

For more information on dog sports:
Association of Pet Dog Trainers: apdt.com
American Kennel Club: akc.org
United Kennel Club: ukcdogs.com
Flyball: flyball.org
Agility: usdaa.com; k9tdaa.com; nadac.com
Musical Freestyle: canine-freestyle.org; worldcaninefreestyle.org
The International Disc Dog Handlers Association: iddha.com
The American Herding Breed Association: ahba-herding.org

Laurie Williams is a Stafford resident and certified professional dog trainer. She appeared last year on the program, “Greatest American Dog.”