Canine Recreational Activities
A very small subset of dog owners is aware that all over America, every
weekend, there are countless activities that people can try with their dogs that
will get them out having fun, healthier from increased activity, and along the
way will develop a much stronger relationship between them and their dog!
For
those in the know there is a world of fun and games to play with man’s best
friend. Every weekend there are
hundreds of events for people and their dogs to get together and have fun.
Most
people get dogs as companions and friends.
They hope that they will develop a deep and lasting relationship with
their pet. But this relationship
does not just happen! It develops
as the owner and dog work together to understand and communicate with one
another.
Can
your dog participate?
Most
dogs can participate in most of the activities discussed in this tape.
Of course some dogs will be better at some things than others, so you
cannot expect your dog to excel at every activity that you might decide to try.
And of couse common sense must be applied!
Health
considerations
Before
undertaking a new activity with your dog, it is always wise to visit the vet for
a thorough checkup and make certain that your dog is physically up to the
challenges of this new undertaking. A
few areas to make sure and check are:
Weight
– an obese dog cannot be expected to perform significant exercise and you will
need to diet and condition your dog if this is his situation
Movement
– your dog needs to have good movement and not be limping. Particularly
important are hips and cruciate ligaments
Vision
– your dog needs to be able to see properly.
Size considerations
There
are many wonderful activities that are available to dog of any size, but always
keep your dog's safety and well being in mind. Tiny
dogs cannot be asked to effectively do some of the tasks their larger cousins
can, and large dogs may have trouble jumping and may deteriorate if pushed too
hard
Drive
considerations
This is a challenging area to consider. On the one hand, any dog can be motivated to do just about anything. On the other hand, it is just not reasonable to spend the time and effort trying to get a dog to do something that is not interesting to the dog. So if you want to herd, but have a dog that is not interested in livestock at all, consider looking around for a different activity, or stick with that activity, but set your expectations accordingly and do not be frustrated with your dog!!