Here’s an irritant.
With the cold front finally sweeping through the city, it
is becoming somewhat difficult to motivate myself to leave my comfortable, cozy
nest of a home and venture out into the frigid wind. But all I need to do is look into Bear’s
eager face the second he sees me shift reluctantly in the direction of the door
and I can swallow my shivers for a little while. And honestly, once we’ve been outside for a
while it really isn’t all that difficult to acclimatize yourself to the cold
(for a little while at least).
In my rather humble opinion, taking the time out of your
day to walk your dog at least twice a day is one of the most important things
that you, as a good pet parent, can do.
Of course, there’s the necessary shelter, food and affection – but walking
provides a chance to strengthen your bond with your pet while simultaneously
stimulating his senses.
It bothers me to the point of anger when I hear my fellow
dog owners blather on about how cold it is, or how hot it is, or how they’re
much too busy to take their dogs out for a daily walk….and then they wonder why
their dogs goes nuts on the leash when they finally do manage to take him
out. It’s incredible to me that a person
would attach themselves to a dog and then not take the time to care for it
properly.
There is something
to be said for play and affection, but owners – especially city owners – need to
take their care a step further. Dogs
need to walk with their pet parent just as much as they need to play with them.
DOG OWNERS TAKE NOTICE!!!
Daily walks provide your dog with a chance to gain positive
attention from you and a chance to be with you doing something he loves. Dogs
do not self-entertain. If you put your dog outside in your fenced-in yard, he
will not exercise himself (unless there is another dog to play with). More
likely, he will resort to boredom barking, trying to escape the yard or do some
creative landscaping instead! As his pet parent, it is your job to provide your
dog with enough stimulation. If he spends 10 hours a day alone in the yard or
in a crate while you work, do not expect him to be a well-mannered member of
the family when you come home in the evening.
A dog, as an animal, is a walker/traveler by instinct.
Packs of dogs get up in the morning and walk. Simply having a large back yard
or taking your dog to the dog park is not going to satisfy this instinct in
your dog, not does it satisfy his need for exercise or his desire to be close
to you.
Walking your dog should be one of the joys of being an
owner – not a chore that makes you cringe and drag your feet.
Some points referenced from Seize the Leash
Keep your Tails Wagging
Bear's P4ws
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