Typist: Bethany
Everything in life is a balancing act. Constantly adjusting the balance of how I spend time with my pets sometimes feels overwhelming. When the dogs, cat and cockatoo are not interested in training, I wonder if they are getting enough exercise. When Wilhelm, Brychwyn, Huxley, Amelia and Leo are not focused when we are on pet friendly adventures, I wonder if we have been doing enough training. I want my pets to lead enriched, happy lives so mentally and physically stimulating them is extremely important to me. But finding the time and balancing the schedule to get the right amount of training and exercise plus making it all exciting and fun feels like a full time job.
Everything in life is a balancing act. Constantly adjusting the balance of how I spend time with my pets sometimes feels overwhelming. When the dogs, cat and cockatoo are not interested in training, I wonder if they are getting enough exercise. When Wilhelm, Brychwyn, Huxley, Amelia and Leo are not focused when we are on pet friendly adventures, I wonder if we have been doing enough training. I want my pets to lead enriched, happy lives so mentally and physically stimulating them is extremely important to me. But finding the time and balancing the schedule to get the right amount of training and exercise plus making it all exciting and fun feels like a full time job.
Exercise...
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... training.
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Training is Exercise
Of course, training is often exercise. Dog sports like agility, Flyball and herding involve a lot of running. Leo gets a lot of exercise practicing tricks that involve flapping his wings and walking. Even Amelia gets a work out when I attempt to put cues to jumping or we simply practice her recall. Yet no matter how active and fun the pets positive reinforcement training sessions, it is still work. My job as a Pilates instructor is often great exercise but it's my job. I want to get my heart rate up when I don't have to think. I like the pets to have the same relaxed exercise time. All work and no play would make my pets and I dull!
Of course, training is often exercise. Dog sports like agility, Flyball and herding involve a lot of running. Leo gets a lot of exercise practicing tricks that involve flapping his wings and walking. Even Amelia gets a work out when I attempt to put cues to jumping or we simply practice her recall. Yet no matter how active and fun the pets positive reinforcement training sessions, it is still work. My job as a Pilates instructor is often great exercise but it's my job. I want to get my heart rate up when I don't have to think. I like the pets to have the same relaxed exercise time. All work and no play would make my pets and I dull!
Exercise is Training
Walking is the activity all of the pets most enjoy as leisurely exercise. But every walk is a training walk. The rules of society apply no matter where we walk. It is work for the dogs to not bark at, well, everything. I have to make sure we follow traffic rules. Leo and Amelia have to keep their leashes and harnesses comfortably loose. Even playtime in the yard or house has rules to follow. We often practice "quiet," "give" and "take" cues at playtime as well. After all, it is important that all the pets are always learning and staying fit. And both mental and physical stimulation activities should always be fun.
Walking is the activity all of the pets most enjoy as leisurely exercise. But every walk is a training walk. The rules of society apply no matter where we walk. It is work for the dogs to not bark at, well, everything. I have to make sure we follow traffic rules. Leo and Amelia have to keep their leashes and harnesses comfortably loose. Even playtime in the yard or house has rules to follow. We often practice "quiet," "give" and "take" cues at playtime as well. After all, it is important that all the pets are always learning and staying fit. And both mental and physical stimulation activities should always be fun.
Fun?
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Fun!
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Timing Is Everything
My experience has been that some dogs and other pets are more open to training after or during exercise while others consider exercise a training reward. Since sharing both physical and mental stimulation time with pets increases the human-animal bond, it doesn't take long to figure out what kind of exercise and training timing makes the most sense for each individual pet. Wilhelm focuses better on cues before exercise. Brychwyn pays better attention when he is tired. Huxley needs training and exercise time evenly mixed together as he considers moving a reward. It is always best to catch both Amelia and Leo right after a nap to get some training mixed with exercise in with them. Then I get back to balancing how much training and/or exercise we do in he time we have together.
My experience has been that some dogs and other pets are more open to training after or during exercise while others consider exercise a training reward. Since sharing both physical and mental stimulation time with pets increases the human-animal bond, it doesn't take long to figure out what kind of exercise and training timing makes the most sense for each individual pet. Wilhelm focuses better on cues before exercise. Brychwyn pays better attention when he is tired. Huxley needs training and exercise time evenly mixed together as he considers moving a reward. It is always best to catch both Amelia and Leo right after a nap to get some training mixed with exercise in with them. Then I get back to balancing how much training and/or exercise we do in he time we have together.
Is there a perfect balance of challenging mental and fulfilling physical stimulation for my pets? I haven't yet found this balance for myself! I regularly remind myself that there are plenty of pets in the world not getting daily exercise or any sort of mental stimulation through training. So it's okay that I may not get my pets the perfect amount of training and exercise. As long as we have fun while I try my best to fulfill their needs, our bond grows deeper. And that bond is what matters most.
An AMPT Animal monitor protype in gold on the collar of miniature dachshund Wilhelm. This activity monitor plus wireless clicker will make balancing fun exercise and training time simpler.
A dog activity monitor with a wireless on-collar clicker can help dogs get enough exercise and have fun training too. The AMPT Animal monitor is coming soon!
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Cascadian Nomads have been offered a free AMPT Animal monitor and no other compensation to spread the word about AMPT Animal. AMPT Animal is not responsible for post content.
How do you balance exercise and training time with your pets?
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This is Positive Reinforcement Pet Training Week, November 2 - 8, where we are learning and sharing about exercise and training. As always, any and all posts and comments about positive reinforcement training methods for pets of all kinds are welcome. Positive Reinforcement Pet Training Week always begins on the first Monday of the month so our next event will start December 7th. Our goal is to build a community of bloggers and readers committed to positive reinforcement training methods and every month we share with, learn from and support each other. Enjoy!
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