Getting Out With Your Dog- not just to find the Trails!

Lately, I have been talking a lot about breaks. Some of our courses are pretty intense. Both dog and human need a break. A break does not mean you just hangout eating bon bons- although that can be a great thing to do on a rainy day with an old movie- a break just means you get away from the trails a bit. This also fits in to why I encourage people to do other things with their dogs in our foundation courses and if you have forgotten the "why", well this post should be a good reminder. 

First yes, our dogs need to learn to work with us under stress, yet they do not need to work with us when we are grumpy or overly tired. Laying a track maybe the last thing you want to do, so just go for a walk!

You must build your dog's stamina and your own- remember a mile trail maybe more than two in actual steps. Your physical stamina must be good enough to stay in it mentally! If we get tired we miss the signs our dogs are trying to give us. Your dog has to have the stamina to stay in it as well- physically and mentally and the nose! If they are out of shape it is not going to help them on the trail. Building this stamina with a hike is a great way to go!

If you are one that trains every day- you could be over training- yes, I think that is possible! I would train maximum 5 days on the actual find the trails! I think three days is sufficient. During foundation and a few other courses, I actually give you homework to just go for a walk.

Then there is just having that carefree time hiking with your dog. Yes, I believe trailing is a great way to build that bond, to become a tight strong team- but a big part of that bond happens just spending time together. Relaxing, smiling, enjoying the company of one another on a trail. I believe your dog needs to learn to work with you when you are stressed, yet they also need to feel you relaxed! I read once that a big part of a dog bonding to its owner is during sleep. Not necessarily lying and cuddling next to you- yet hearing, smelling, and feeling you in this relaxed state. Personally, a human snoring can drive me crazy-yet, Neo snoring lures me to sleep and I find it very relaxing. I imagine it is similar for them- maybe not the snoring part! Taking a walk, run, or hike with them with no agenda can increase the strength of the two of you in more ways than one.

Letting the two of you be together yet in your own thoughts, I think may possibly build the trust between you two as well. Yes, in trailing I talk about your response to your dog and building trust, but what about your response outside of trailing. If you two can learn to run beside each other just hanging out in your own thoughts isn't that building trust? If you are always worried about what the dog is doing- yelling "Leave it!" throughout your walk how much trust is there? Is the dog always worried about making a mistake, or do they understand what you want? Training for that carefree walk is very important in all your training because I believe it sets you up for success. It is a building block for trust. The clarity of what you are doing, what is expected, and that you trust your dog enough to daydream is huge! 

I talk a lot about walking their speed during a trail yet these jaunts also teach them how you walk. Your speed, your breathing, heart rate.

Yes, finding the trails are very important and you do have to commit to a whole lot of training, just remember the trails are not all the training. To be a successful strong team you gotta get the exercise in- you gotta! As your trails lengthen so must your strength and stamina. 

Beginning with a new pup I trail 3-4xs a week, and 3-5 days we exercise.  As a dog certified in the field I would train 2-3xs a week and make sure we covered 20 miles a week in run, hikes, or walks. And, we always took a day off!

The other great part of just going for a jaunt is you get to learn so much about your dog. Watching what they do naturally following a scent, the difference from working an odor and working the smell of the neighbor's dog. My trust that my dogs are in scent comes primarily from watching them do their own thing. I learn here what it looks and sounds like then I watch and listen for those behaviors when they are trailing.

Your dog has issues with distractions- deal with them first on a walk- or many walks! One client had a crazy squirrel chaser- so he went to our high dose squirrel park five times a week- till they could get through the park without a chase. This team just had their first find in a highly populated squirrel forest.

Need line work- take your dog on a walk- and let them do as they wish as you practice on the line.

Health and wellbeing can be found on a walk for both dog and handler. There are so many positive reasons to do it, and not one bad one. 

This week skip a training and just take an extra walk- just do it!