Every
cocker needs a good amount of exercise on a daily basis. It helps
regulate their appetite, control weight, and is vital to their
mental health. Left to her own devices, your cocker will probably
find ways to give her mind, body and teeth a workout, but you might
not be happy with the results. A bored dog is a destructive dog.
You
can channel your cocker's energies in the right direction by
providing appropriate toys as well as actively participating in
exercising her. When it comes to exercising your pet, quantity is as
important as quality. A 15-minute round of fetch is nice, but not
nearly enough physical exercise or time bonding with you. Plan a
walk or jog through your neighborhood daily. Since dogs are
creatures of habit, scheduling your outing at the same time each day
will give her something to look forward to. You can also use this
"special time" to explore a new area of town or visit an off-leash
dog park where your canine companion can make some new pooch pals.
A
change of scenery-and in your dog's case, "scentery"-keeps things
interesting. Another way to exercise your dog's body and mind is by
taking part in dog "sports." Frisbee tricks, flyball and agility are
some of the dog sports gaining in popularity. Most dog lovers have
seen Frisbee competitions on television or in live demonstrations. A
human, usually the dog's owner, tosses a Frisbee and the pooch leaps
and twists in mid-air to catch it on the fly. The owner usually
trains the dog to perform a choreographed routine that is
breathtaking for spectators and just a whole lot of fun for the
human/canine team.
Flyball is a team relay sport. Each of the four dogs on a team take
turns racing down a course, leaping over hurdles along the way. At
the end of the course, the dog triggers a spring loaded box that
pops a tennis ball into the air. The dog catches the ball and races
back over the hurdles. Once the dog has crossed the finish line, the
next dog on her team takes off. The winning team is the one that
scores the best time with fewest errors.
The
goal in the dog sport of agility is to run an obstacle course in the
shortest amount of time. Unlike in flyball, the dog's owner runs
alongside the dog directing her to the next obstacle. Agility dogs
must focus on their owner's directions while trying to maneuver
through pipe tunnels, over see-saws, across narrow planks and over
various jumps. These physical competitions give any dog a good
workout, and require training that keeps her mind sharp.
Be
sure to give your dog toys to keep her mind and mouth busy while you
are away from home. Pet supply stores have an amazing array of chew
toys and dog "puzzles." These are hollow cubes or balls into which
you place small pieces of treats. Your dog will be able to smell the
treats inside, and must figure out a way to get to them. Usually,
this requires nosing and rolling the puzzle until a treat falls out
of one of many small openings. The treat rewards the dog's effort,
and encourages her to continue solving the puzzle using her mind and
body.
BACK
FUN AND GAMES
WITH YOUR COCKER
