Resolutions!!

So, it is a New Year!! So many fun things the past few days, finally sitting still long enough, to ponder them. Lots & Lots of Driving!! Crazy vortex winds, heading south from Vermont through the White Mountains, last night-felt like a toy car, being tossed on the wind.

Annual New Year's day (when not entered in a trial) winter hike. Last year Quechee, this year, the Northeast Kingdom in VT-balmy, blue beautiful day in NH-mid 40's!!!!

Reached the VT border and it was winter :) Pups had a great time.

Haunt & Scream! officially seasoned travellers. I, closer to deciding on who stays/goes, after more morning stock exposure for chores...both are just so cool, so hard. Also, they have had intense socialization this past week+-hitting the road, covering multiple states! 


Just so good, to get them out and about...I go through the list of who at home has not as much recently, and they each get turns too, even if just out on errands.

So, one of the common resolutions for people at New Years is to vow to exercise more or lose weight..That should be on my list.

I often neglect what I should do for myself, if it means that will take away, from what the pups need. Some of my "hobbies" like hiking, woods-walking and agility are focused on motion, because of and with the dogs. But, I still think it is my responsibility and so important, to spend more time on their needs with a minimum of solid, hard running 1/2-1 hour daily. Making sure that my dogs get the aerobic exercise that they need to be able to relax and not bounce off the walls (or I should not have an active terrier or herding breed) is an integral part of my day.

Getting a dog out and about, also just is part of what is needed for general socialization for life...but for those that trial, how can we expect them to focus and filter out environment (which is a big part of what we ask of a performance dog), if they have no basis for getting used to or understanding unpredictable variety, or outlet for their energy, in their daily lives? I would get bored in the same place, day in day out...I would expect that a dog does too!

AS much as any dogs needs physical and mental exercise-an Aussie or BC, even moreso..they were developed to possess stamina in their jobs, so if not focused into appropriate outlets, how can they be at blame for being "hyper" or "out-of-control?"  Wired for sound, is not what I want to work with, in training...drivey, yes! But brain on this earth too. Yes!

Quechee is a perfect example of this....for the brain to settle & the synapses to slow down enough, for her to think, not just move at the speed of light, she needs a solid run, before training. I never worry about getting speed-as without accuracy and thinking, speed kills! I don't train to be "slow", but I also would rather have consistent and accurate, than uncontrolled flying...which happens with her, without exercise. Speed always increases with confidence anyway-at least with positive feedback methodology for training...but can also disappear in a dog who is told they are "wrong", repeatedly.

I couldn't imagine leaving a young, under-exercised dog free in my house...behavior issues like chewing & general destructiveness are often a by-product of a dog, who is not receiving enough exercise.

I would lose my mind, if I did not focus on their daily need to "run-it-off". It is so important to me, that I even have "agreement to daily aerobically exercise" written in my pup contract, as a requirement to make sure pup people understand their responsibility, as well-of course also not overdoing it with a young pup, in growth stages and keeping in mind their rubber band ligaments and joints.

To me training is the gravy, that relies upon the dog being in a relaxed enough physical and mental state, to take in the new information. They also need to be physically, up to the task...or how can we ask them not only to focus, but be able to handle what we ask of them in jumping, etc?

Picture a young child's energy after just eating candy...that to me is most dogs, especially if young. Even for me, if I had not gotten to run around, just ate a bag of chocolate and someone asked me to sit still & meditate, that would be awfully difficult. Blood sugar plays a big part in dogs too-where some who feed prey model go on the premise of a fasting day..my dogs eat twice a day, everyday! Before a trial or class, I may reduce the amount-but just because we control access to food, doesn't mean we should think our dogs are any less hungry or don't have highs and lows, thoughout the day, like we do. On days where they have really exerted themselves, they get more. If they were wild pariahs, yes they would be used to feast or famine...but they are our kitchen wolves, domestication relies upon schedule, as much as cooperation..feeding time is always a highlight of the day, for most dogs! 

In agility, I can always tell the dogs that never get to run full-out off leash, other than in a trial ring or at class...some get the zoomies, some just physically look out of condition and others don't know what to do with themselves in big, wide-open spaces.

Running contacts are surely great exercise for both dog & handler, yet cross-training is what all professional athletes do. So, when I think of the various activities my dogs are involved in, I think of ways to engage other muscle groups, to help prevent injury or one muscle group from becoming overused or overdeveloped, or the reverse. Woods walks, where they are running and vaulting over tree limbs are great for cross-training, as is swimming.

So...my resolution (one of many) is to continue to focus on my dog's exercise, but make my own , when not part of their routine...equally important!













Yup, lots of running contacts to work on...and hiking...and woods-walking..need to be able to keep up!! :) After all of the sugar and such, the past few weeks...really need to run-it-off!!!!

Footnote: Gotta eat better too!! Think I spend more time thinking about the dog's diet, than my own!! More resolutions to come.....