I
am often asked by my clients, “What would a typical day look like for me and my
dog?”We went so far as to even
produce a cable TV show that would expound on the answer.
Since
there are so many diverse lifestyles out there, I will lay out a basic outline
for you to follow and you can tweak it to fit the one that suits you and your
family.
1)
Upon awaking, show little attention to your dog.Let him out to his designated potty area and then stumble
off to yours.
2)
Pull on some walking clothes and take Rover out for his first structured walk
of the day for a minimum of 30 minutes.Family members can rotate in this event.
3)
Upon returning from the walk, spend some time in behavior modification,
obedience practice, agility course, and lot’s of affection.This is the time you will actually say
your goodbye’s.I’ll explain why
in a moment.
4)
Feed him food event style.
5)
Now he will be in a calm state of mind and ready to settle in for your absence
.Get your own breakfast, prep for
work or what ever your day calls for.
6)
Leave the house quietly with few or no words to your dog.Remember, you already said your
goodbyes during play time after the walk.(#3 above).The less
fanfare you make about leaving, the less trouble he will have with it.This greatly reduces the potential for
separation anxiety.Do not exude
pity for him.Keep it positive.
7)
Upon arrival back home, it’s a repeat of the morning #1-4 above.
8)
Now the night is yours to do what you want or need.Enjoy your dog and your family members.In the enjoying, keep those rules, and
agreed upon boundaries established for your dog.
