Why I break ALL the rules for dog walking!

Yes, I break all the rules for dog walking!  I'm sick of feeling just a little guilty that I'm not a good dog mom because not only does Otto walk ahead of me, I let him out of the door first!  I know all the latest trends in dog behavior say you have to let him know you are in charge all the time, but I strongly disagree!  (I also feed him human food, every day!)

23 hours a day, Otto is in obey mode.  He eats when I feed him, he gets up on the bed only after invited, he gets to run outside in his backyard when I open the door.

For one hour a day, Otto is King. 

His walk is his Big Adventure of the day.  He's almost 12 years old, yet he dances at the door when I tell him we're going, scampers out the door and prances down the sidewalk, tail wagging and ears flopping in merry motion.  He stops to sniff at all his "pee-mail" left by other dogs, trots back ahead and appears proud of his role as the leader of the fun, with head held high and a smile on his face.

Only when we are in a crowd do I shorten his long leash and expect him to walk next to me.  His whole demeanor changes and he becomes a solemn soldier, glancing up at me for direction, not pausing unless I pause.  (usually become someone just needs to pet him!).  At street corners, also, he solemnly waits until I tell him to "go ahead".

And I don't want the solemn soldier on a grim march.  For the length of his retractible leash, with the two exceptions I've named, he's the leader of the pack of adventurers!  It's a role he's great at!

And part of adventure is the tinge of the possibility of danger.  Who do you want there first, you or your dog?  Even my late, great Gussie, a tiny mutt terrier, was proud to be the first or second "on the scene" when something seemed irregular or amiss.

I don't want a dog who's natural tendency to run forward and investigate and protect is suppressed to totally being dependant on ME making their decisions for them 24/7.  When we walk down the cellar steps to go outside, Otto makes sure all is well for me.

Now, I did have to teach Otto not to pull and it took some time.  When he started to pull, I said "Uh, uh", tugged his leash, and stopped.  I made him sit and we just waited....  Next time he began to pull, same routine.  Early on, he did a lot of waiting!  Some days even now, he'll try and pull, but just a "uh, uh" reminds him that he will have to sit and wait and he lets up.

I also have no opinion on dogs with behavioral problems. 

There's a hundred ways to reinforce to your dog that you are boss of him.  I just don't think that the walk should be one of them.

I'm pet portrait artist Robin Zebley.  I love animals, collect and sell quirky and romantic vintage , and am restoring our 1922 bungalow that was built as a summer house outside of the Philadelphia.  I'm so glad you visited my blog, and hope you'll make it a habit! Robin
,

My New Cause - Walk Your Dog!

When we moved to a house with a big backyard several years ago, I didn't HAVE to walk the dogs anymore. The result is I got fatter and my dogs got sadder. Although Otto and Gussie (who since has passed over the bridge at the age of 16) enjoyed their yard, on the few occasions I'd get their leashes out...they went nuts!

I realized that "backyard" is pretty predictable for them. The squirrels Otto chases run right up the same tree every time. The bunnies through the same gap in the neighbors fence. Dogs know that walks are always an adventure..or the potential for one!

So I have become a giant proponent of dog walking. My doctor actually recommended it to me several months ago as a nice natural relaxant after a stressful day at work. But morning is the prime time for me and I found that after a week of walking Otto every morning before work, well, he expected it. Having a walking partner who nagged at me with those big, expectant brown eyes kept me on track. When it's raining um...cats and dogs...though, he is no more interested in going out in it than I am! Now that's a relief!

There are so many human benefits, too! I've lost 7 lbs., can ride my bike without effort, am sleeping way better, have met nice other dog people, saw a striped rose today and got to stop and smell it!

Otto has always been very fit (people have asked us if we do weight training with him, lol) and the only thing giving away his senior age is his white muzzle. But I have noticed that his leg that gave him trouble when he's overdone, doesn't bother him anymore. The consistent exercise has cured that lameness. And for dogs that are pudgy, you know the health benefits for them are even more pronounced.

I've also noticed that now that he is consistently walked, and walked for 20 minutes to and hour and a half a day, he finally stopped pulling on that leash, making the walk more pleasurable for both of us.

So, what are you waiting for? There's nothing he'd rather do with you today!

Robin and Otto
I am Animal and Pet Portrait Artist, Robin Zebley. For more about me and my art, visit my site at http://robinzebley.com