I took quite a guilt trip this morning at WGTD as I recorded an interview with Dr. Nicholas Dodman, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University’s CUnnings School of Veterinary Medicine. His newest book is titled “The Well-Adjusted Dog: Seven Steps to Lifelong Health and Happiness for Your Best Friend.” Just from the title, I should have known that I was in for it, because I know that Kathy and I do a lot of things wrong with Bobbi and Ellie- me more than her. And what’s maddening is that some of our misdeeds stem from neglect due to our insanely busy lives- and some of other misdeeds stem from the guilt we feel which leads us to over-indulge them with treats. You add those two things up and we end up being Exhibit A for Poor Pet Parenting.
Where Dr. Dodman really lowered the boom on me (I keep wanting to type “yours truly” but my brother Steve can’t abide that figure of speech) was in the whole matter of exercising one’s dogs. The title of chapter one says it all: A Tired Dog is a Good Dog. . . but it’s more than just tiring out a dog so they’re too tired to chew a hole in your wall. It’s also about keeping your dogs physically healthier and also emotionally and mentally happier.
And wouldn’t you know it. . . on his chart’s book which splits various dog breeds into Strollers, Joggers and Runners (with escalating need for exercise) our golden retrievers are squarely part of the last category – – – needing high levels of exercise.
This is not exactly earthshaking news, especially to my wife, who has done lots of reading about dogs and how to care for them – and she has been quite persistent if only occasionally successful in lobbying for us to engage in much more dog-walking. I always stomp around and grumble as though I were a second grader whose turn it is to sweep the garage . . . and then it never turns out to be as bad as I envisioned. And maybe one of these days, I will make the connection ahead of time and remember that it isn’t as boring and frustrating as I always fear and spare my wife the headache of listening to my mini-tirades. Of course, what would make me happiest of all is if they could invent some sort of jumbo-sized treadmill in which I could do my think (with book in front of me, of course) and with the dog at my side, exercising at the same time. Until such a device is invented, I just have to do this – not because it’s my favorite thing to do but because it’s the right thing to do. I’ve heard that adulthood (and parenthood, especially) are full of such activities.
pictured: Kathy walking the dogs several days ago at Petrifying Springs. I’m along, too (taking the picture). Pretty place, isn’t it?