Cesar Milan, The Pack Walk, and Real Life !

Cesar Milan has provided such a wealth of information through his books, DVDs, and, of course, his highly successful show "The Dog Whisperer". He took the dog world by storm, so much so that a number of his key phrases are now a part of our common vernacular ! Although his methods and observations are not necessarily appreciated by every canine behaviorist / trainer, it is likely that we can all agree upon the value of walking one's dog on a regular basis, something Cesar calls a Pack Walk. Walking, or migrating, is one of the primary canid drives. In nature, wild dog packs migrate in search of food. Domestically speaking, we provide food for our dogs, so they have no need to migrate - or do they ?

It is my belief that indeed they do ! Walking your dog is one of the fundamental responsibilities incumbent upon a dog owner. At Calm K9, we always go for a long, vigorous, structured walk in the morning, after which time the dogs are fed in their crates. They are then allowed to rest in their crates before our next work session.

We are lucky that right down the street, there are many trails that criss-cross the green rolling hills surrounding Port Costa. In addition, because our lives have gone to the dogs (!) our schedule allows us to go on two to three lengthy walks every day. However, our dogs are not allowed to run willy nilly and meander the trails according to their whims and wiles. Instead, we view every walk we take as a training opportunity, and as such, we call this particular activity a Structured Walk. In addition to burning physical energy and fulfilling the migratory drive, we also challenge our dogs mentally during a Structured Walk, thus insuring that when we return home, our dogs will be ready to eat and rest.

It can be very challenging for dog owners to find the time to take their dogs for a 30 to 60 minute walk even once a day. We always work with our clients to create programs that fit their lifestyle while at the same time, providing their dogs with everything they need to live a fulfilled, happy life. By all means, find the time to walk your dog as often as possible. Keep in mind, though, that there are many other interactive activities you can do with your dog that will engage him both physically and mentally ! Don't feel bad if you can't strap on those roller blades like Cesar does and spend 1 1/2 - 2 hours a day walking your dog. Playing fetch in the back yard can be a great training opportunity - especially if you focus your dog and make him wait...wait...wait...FETCH ! The waiting burns that mental energy, and a properly tired dog is a happy dog ! Perhaps some more advanced obedience commands could be taught ! You can also practice things you have been working on with your dog in an area of higher distraction !

When you are working with your dog mentally, 15 to 20 minutes at most is the recommended time frame. Any more than that, and the lesson can take a turn for the worse - and you always want to conclude a training session on a good note. So you see, one good walk a day plus various other activities could make for a pretty happy household ! On the other hand, if you do have the time and inclination, more than one walk a day would be terrific ! The bottom line is it's got to work for both you and your dog !