Oline and Sullivan exercising on Dragoer beach.
Go for walks with your dog every day. Its important, that the dog is not only lets out into the garden. It’s a big misunderstanding, that if only you have a big enough garden, then that is good enough for your dog. The dog need new impressions every day to fulfil its needs. The dogs most important sense is its smell. Therefore it enjoys to go for walks in its local area where it lives. Its “reading” the daily paper on these walks. Based on the smell it knows witch dogs that has been where in the area and if there is a bitch in heat etc.
The dog does also, on a regular basis, have the need to go for walks in new surroundings with new smells. The dog does not enjoy the scenery in the same way we do, so a big parking lot by a mall after closing time is an Eldorado of gooou and challenging smells for the dog. A walk in the forest, of course is a good thing for the dog as well as for the owner, but often we overlook the most obvious, as for instance a parking lot.
When you are out on one the daily walks with the dog, you can spice it up a little with other things than just smelling. Big rocks by the road or the trail is evident subjects. Let the dog jump on to it, and do some position changes – sit, lie down, and stand. It also develops the dogs sense of balance. Puppies are not allowed to jump, before they are at the age of around one year. So make some different activities for them. You can for instance bring some toys on the walk. A ball in a string is a really good thing to pull and shake. Remember the treats on the walk and be generous in rewarding when you do something together. Trees are also really good to go around or to do slalom in between - loose leash and the dog by the left leg. Its fun for both and it strengthens the teamwork and unity to do something together. Besides that I think it is fine to have a dog when living in an apartment. Then the dog is certain to get outside the home for at least three times a day.
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