Perhaps in response to the weight gains in the human and companion animal populations, the numbers of reports and articles about the value of exercise seem to be piling up as fast as those excess pounds. Among these are those that passionately promote exercise as the universal anecdote for an increasing array of companion animal behavioral problems. Given what some claim is a tremendous amount of scientific evidence to the contrary, how dare I recommend that some of my clients and their pets forego those lengthy romps in the park, at least temporarily?
The reasoning underlying this seemingly bogus recommendation comes not from my rejection of the science involved, but rather from my awareness of how that science works. By definition, scientific studies are conducted under highly controlled circumstances. For many of these, those ever-dependable laboratory rodents are placed in specifically defined situations in which, theoretically, all the variables in question are eliminated or controlled.
Now, these rodents aren’t just any rodents. The researchers don’t, for example send graduate students down the local dump to round up a test population. Nor do they go to breeders of show rats or adopt their subjects from humane or rescue organizations. Quite the contrary. The animals they use have been born into laboratory settings, as have some and perhaps even many of their ancestors. The laboratory and its occupants are familiar to them. It’s their territory, their neighborhood as is were.
Consequently, when laboratory animals are placed in an experimental situation, although that particular microcosm may be novel to them, it occurs within a familiar setting. When, for instance, the researchers want to determine any positive effects of exercise on physiology, there aren’t any antagonistic rodents threatening the subject nor apprehensive rodent parents lurking about worrying about their offspring. Nor will the subject be placed in a test environment that’s previously been marked or otherwise claimed by other animals.
On the other hand, consider the plight of the average dog with behavioral problems. Many of these animals’ problems may be traced to the fact that they’re overwhelmed in their mental as well as physical environments. Because of their relationships with their owners, they may feel obligated to protect those people as well as themselves. And like all of us, these dogs seek to relieve that stress and achieve stability in the most energy-efficient way they can.
So what do dogs with little confidence do when taken to a park or field that other animals, both wild and domestic, also frequent? Well, it depends. The exercise-as-universal-anecdote school of thought assumes that they will joyously romp and play, unmindful of all the scent marks of those other animals and that this, in turn, will relax these dogs. That school of thought also maintains that the dog will happily accept the presence of any other animals the owner defines as quality playmates. The dog will also either calmly walk away from or ignore anyone or anything which poses a threat. And, of course, all of these dogs would immediately come running to their owners the instant those folks give the “Come” command.
How realistic is it to think that the average dog with behavioral problems will be able to fulfill those criteria? Not very. Whether leashed or free, many may forge ahead of their owners in an attempt to secure the space. If they encounter someone or something they consider a threat, they may respond more stressfully if leashed than free, but most will be stressed in both cases. Some of these animals may engage in so much marking during these outings, they eventually wind up straining to produce the urine necessary to do the job. As far as coming when called, forget it. They’ll come when it suits their purposes.
Paradoxically, other animals with behavioral problems are sufficiently overwhelmed by all the stimuli assaulting them in the park or field that they stick to their owners like glue. If particularly threatening stimuli assault them—and these may be stimuli beyond human perception—they may freeze to try to run back home or to the car.
When such fearful canine responses occur, it’s only natural that these upset the dogs’ owners. Some folks may feel cheated because they so love to hike and the dog obviously doesn’t share that opinion. Others are constantly on the look-out for things that might upset the dog, their anxiety practically guaranteeing that the dog will be even more alert and negatively reactive to such changes. In short, unless the person with the dog can remain totally calm throughout the exercise session, they’ll add to their pet’s stress.
There’s no doubt that animals falling into both categories return from such outings exhausted, not unlike we would if we had to take a long walk through a very unsavory neighborhood. And some of these animals do collapse and fall asleep when they get home. But, they jump, twitch, and whimper or cry out in their sleep. Another group may physically collapse post-outing, but they remain awake, licking their feet, chewing their nails, or engaging in other stress-relieving behaviors. If they don’t feel particularly secure in their home environments, either, their exercise may leave them feeling sufficiently vulnerable that they become hyper-vigilant. In that case, they may pace or interference from another pet or child in the household may be greeted with a snap rather than a growl.
Does this sound relaxing?
Hardly. Compare those forms of exercise to sessions limited to a familiar, secure environment in which the owner keeps up such a confident, fast-paced, intimate interaction with the dog that the animal has no time to worry. In this situation, the dog learns to take his or her cues from the calm, confident, up-beat owner under the very best of circumstances. Because the dog is on a leash, there’s no question whether the dog will obey the come command. For some dogs this may mean any forays are limited to short periods in the back yard during those times when neighborhood distractions are at a minimum. For animals with serious problems, it may mean doing confidence-building exercises with the owner(s) in the living or family room first before moving the sessions outdoors.
An old adage reminds us that nothing succeeds like success. When it comes to exercise, the goal isn’t to let the dog run willy-nilly with the idea that merely doing so will relieve the stress underlying any problem behaviors. The goal is to create a pattern of physical and mental relaxation that will ensure that animal’s well-being and last a lifetime.
Perhaps in response to the weight gains in the human and companion animal populations, the numbers of reports and articles about the value of exercise seem to be piling up as fast as those excess pounds. Among these are those that passionately promote exercise as the universal anecdote for an increasing array of companion animal behavioral problems. Given what some claim is a tremendous amount of scientific evidence to the contrary, how dare I recommend that some of my clients and their pets forego those lengthy romps in the park, at least temporarily?
The reasoning underlying this seemingly bogus recommendation comes not from my rejection of the science involved, but rather from my awareness of how that science works. By definition, scientific studies are conducted under highly controlled circumstances. For many of these, those ever-dependable laboratory rodents are placed in specifically defined situations in which, theoretically, all the variables in question are eliminated or controlled.
Now, these rodents aren’t just any rodents. The researchers don’t, for example send graduate students down the local dump to round up a test population. Nor do they go to breeders of show rats or adopt their subjects from humane or rescue organizations. Quite the contrary. The animals they use have been born into laboratory settings, as have some and perhaps even many of their ancestors. The laboratory and its occupants are familiar to them. It’s their territory, their neighborhood as is were.
Consequently, when laboratory animals are placed in an experimental situation, although that particular microcosm may be novel to them, it occurs within a familiar setting. When, for instance, the researchers want to determine any positive effects of exercise on physiology, there aren’t any antagonistic rodents threatening the subject nor apprehensive rodent parents lurking about worrying about their offspring. Nor will the subject be placed in a test environment that’s previously been marked or otherwise claimed by other animals.
On the other hand, consider the plight of the average dog with behavioral problems. Many of these animals’ problems may be traced to the fact that they’re overwhelmed in their mental as well as physical environments. Because of their relationships with their owners, they may feel obligated to protect those people as well as themselves. And like all of us, these dogs seek to relieve that stress and achieve stability in the most energy-efficient way they can.
So what do dogs with little confidence do when taken to a park or field that other animals, both wild and domestic, also frequent? Well, it depends. The exercise-as-universal-anecdote school of thought assumes that they will joyously romp and play, unmindful of all the scent marks of those other animals and that this, in turn, will relax these dogs. That school of thought also maintains that the dog will happily accept the presence of any other animals the owner defines as quality playmates. The dog will also either calmly walk away from or ignore anyone or anything which poses a threat. And, of course, all of these dogs would immediately come running to their owners the instant those folks give the “Come” command.
How realistic is it to think that the average dog with behavioral problems will be able to fulfill those criteria? Not very. Whether leashed or free, many may forge ahead of their owners in an attempt to secure the space. If they encounter someone or something they consider a threat, they may respond more stressfully if leashed than free, but most will be stressed in both cases. Some of these animals may engage in so much marking during these outings, they eventually wind up straining to produce the urine necessary to do the job. As far as coming when called, forget it. They’ll come when it suits their purposes.
Paradoxically, other animals with behavioral problems are sufficiently overwhelmed by all the stimuli assaulting them in the park or field that they stick to their owners like glue. If particularly threatening stimuli assault them—and these may be stimuli beyond human perception—they may freeze to try to run back home or to the car.
When such fearful canine responses occur, it’s only natural that these upset the dogs’ owners. Some folks may feel cheated because they so love to hike and the dog obviously doesn’t share that opinion. Others are constantly on the look-out for things that might upset the dog, their anxiety practically guaranteeing that the dog will be even more alert and negatively reactive to such changes. In short, unless the person with the dog can remain totally calm throughout the exercise session, they’ll add to their pet’s stress.
There’s no doubt that animals falling into both categories return from such outings exhausted, not unlike we would if we had to take a long walk through a very unsavory neighborhood. And some of these animals do collapse and fall asleep when they get home. But, they jump, twitch, and whimper or cry out in their sleep. Another group may physically collapse post-outing, but they remain awake, licking their feet, chewing their nails, or engaging in other stress-relieving behaviors. If they don’t feel particularly secure in their home environments, either, their exercise may leave them feeling sufficiently vulnerable that they become hyper-vigilant. In that case, they may pace or interference from another pet or child in the household may be greeted with a snap rather than a growl.
Does this sound relaxing?
Hardly. Compare those forms of exercise to sessions limited to a familiar, secure environment in which the owner keeps up such a confident, fast-paced, intimate interaction with the dog that the animal has no time to worry. In this situation, the dog learns to take his or her cues from the calm, confident, up-beat owner under the very best of circumstances. Because the dog is on a leash, there’s no question whether the dog will obey the come command. For some dogs this may mean any forays are limited to short periods in the back yard during those times when neighborhood distractions are at a minimum. For animals with serious problems, it may mean doing confidence-building exercises with the owner(s) in the living or family room first before moving the sessions outdoors.
An old adage reminds us that nothing succeeds like success. When it comes to exercise, the goal isn’t to let the dog run willy-nilly with the idea that merely doing so will relieve the stress underlying any problem behaviors. The goal is to create a pattern of physical and mental relaxation that will ensure that animal’s well-being and last a lifetime.