Why fulfilling your dog is actually important and not just an instagram trend
Last year I read the book The Forever Dog by Rodney Habib and Dr Karen Shaw Becker and while some of it was incredibly scientific, and went right over my head there was also a lot of really good information and lessons in the book.
One if the lessons was what they call LIFE which stands for (L)ifestyle, (I)deal Micobiome, (F)ood and (E)nvironment and Stress. And recently I have seen how they really can effect your pup. If you’ve been following along you probably know that I brought home a miniature long hair black and cream 10 week old dachshund back in April. And while I have had dogs before, this is the first one I paid for and honestly the first one I've got raise since they were a puppy. I have tried to be intentional about following this idea, of ensuring she is exploring and seeing new things, that I'm supporting her gut health, I've been very intentional about how much she eats and what she eats, and I’m working on reducing her environment and stress because honestly aren’t most of us.
Well with the holidays and recently starting a new job walking dogs, and doing drop ins checking on dogs letting them out to go to the bathroom and checking they have water. I have learned a few things and here’s my field notes from the last couple. weeks.
Routines absolutely effect our dogs, from their energy levels and behaviors to sometimes how much they eat.
A dog that is being fulfilled is a much nicer dog to be around. (I’ll explain more on that one)
The bond you have with a dog does matter, because I have a bond with Essie she is the easiest dog I walk. Not because she is 8 lbs either but because she wants to be with me, and will check in with me when she is off leash on adventures.
What you feed your dog does matter (I know a lot of people don’t like this one, buts its a hill I'll die on)
Quality of life matters.
When things change, that means it’s times to reevaluate and change with it sometimes.
Dog react to cookies the same way kids do
Not every kids needs to pet your dog
Dogs don’t care what your doing they just want to participate 9 times out of 10
I understand why some people are frustrated with their dogs when they come home, and the person is tired doesn’t feel good, and the dog has been in a kennel all day and is excited to see them, and why that behavior doesn’t go away if the dogs isn’t getting the mental and physical exercise they need. (not an excuse just that I understand more)
And lastly most of what I learned applies as much to my own life as it does Essies, If I’m not following my own LIFE lifestyle, prioritizing exercise, sunlight, and mental stimulation that isn’t from a screen and reading my bible and praying, if I'm not prioritizing my on gut health, If I'm not intentional with what I eat, and I’m not watching my environment and my stress, my behavior isn’t great, I don’t feel good, and I end up in a bad cycle as well.
While we were traveling over the holidays, me and Essie had more opportunities to do what we both love Hike, while we were in New Mexico we went hiking twice, it wasn’t very far either time. But there was wildlife, and wildflowers and rocks and trees for Essie to sniff, and let me tell you she was so much better behaved the two days we got to go hiking. She was happier, which is impressive because she is already a pretty happy puppy. But New Years is where I noticed it more, we went Hiking again, this time in a Calchie Pit, we walked about a mile and half, but she climbed all over rocks and followed our family dachshunds mixes all over the place, we had a great time. But later this week when I got home from a day of work, karate practices, and studying at the Library, Essie was wired she’d been locked up all day and was read to move, I was exhausted and the sun was setting but I decided I’m gonna go ahead and walk her let her get she of the energy out, now Essie loves the idea of walks but as soon as she gets bored she lays down and refuses to move she wants to be carried. (which honestly same sometimes but the difference is she weights 8lbs) so this is the same dog right, she was all over the walk this night, she was running, she was walking beside me or in front of me, when she is usually a step or two behind me.
Part of this could have been because she was so wired and just full of energy, but I think she did not get as bored with our walk over at the park because she had been on a bigger adventure earlier in the week. Which fulfilled her needs to sniff and explore, which
I don’t know though so we will see I plan on testing this theory.
So hypothesis- because I took Essie on a bigger adventure earlier in the week, she was already fulfilled and more willing to go on a shorter walk around the park. If I continue to take her on more hikes, she will be more fulfilled and I will be able to train both obedience and strength and endurance during the week easier, as long as I continue to be intentional in following LIFE, fulfilling her with hikes, training, enrichment, and adventures. Continue to prioritize her gut health, and food, and doing my best to watch her environment, limit toxins, and not avoid all stress but learn how to manage stress like staying in her kennel when people are around and the evil vacuum cleaner.
So I will follow up when I have more information on that one. But well see over the next few weeks, probably over the next month or so, because I’ve got 1-2 more hikes planned for January, but work will pick back up in February so we’ll see how that changes and if I am correct or incorrect with my hypothesis.
So how can you follow the LIFE lifestyle?
I would start by finding something that you and your dog enjoy, Essie and I love hiking, we also are working on training an scent work, but in the past I have do hiking with dogs, but also agility, biking. Both of sisters have different ways of fulfilling their dogs and bonding with them, maybes roller blading around the neighborhood, or driving around town running some quick errands, maybe its a homemade agility course in the back yard. Find what works for you and your dog, maybe its hiking, maybe its tricks, or frisbee, or field trials if you have a hunting breed dog. (which by the way dachshund were originally bred as hunting dogs, if you can find a way to fulfill the needs and instincts they have as hunting dogs, they are so much happier.
And I know it sounds like a lot, start with one thing, try one thing, if it works great stick to it, and in a while add another thing, in the other categories of LIFE. IF that thing doesn’t work, write it down try something else and come back to it in 6 months or a year. For you and your dog.
Pictures from our hike over new years.