02/12/2025
I found this really interesting article and translated it with 'deepl' from German into English.
✴️✴️✴️CallanishHeeler has been studying the natural behaviour in a grown dog family for 15 years now. With research on free living Canids and Street dogs [Block - Die Pizzahunde] as a base - can back up what Ralph Rückert is writing here.
This post was shared because it points out a main problem that has crept up over the years.
Its a long post - but worth reading in full.
➡️➡️➡️Please comment what your think about this topic.
Heeler are also in the category of "HIGH ENERGY DOG" ... tho here at CallanishHeeler the picture is different.
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"With the best of intentions, but too much?
By Ralph Rückert, veterinarian
For many dog owners, it is a firm belief that dogs need to be exercised properly and must be offered endless action. Agility, obedience, dog dancing, man-trailing, lunging—there are many options available, and they are becoming increasingly popular. Dogs are involved from an early age: puppy classes, young dog training, advanced courses.
Modern and responsible dog owners are well-informed, have a whole library of specialist literature, and are active in various internet forums. In short: people want the best for their dogs! After all, the saying goes: for us it's just a few years, for them it's their whole life.
But are we perhaps overshooting the mark? Is it possible to do too much? We veterinarians have also long recommended investing as much effort and time as possible in dogs. We played a key role in establishing the puppy school concept in the public consciousness. We also dutifully parroted recognized and self-proclaimed behavior specialists who claimed that it would certainly end badly if, for example, a Border Collie was not kept fully occupied and challenged from morning to night. So-called “dog whisperers” like Cesar Millan call for hours of walking (or should I say marching?) at a brisk pace with the dog on a leash.
An entire industry is now dedicated to training, providing species-appropriate activities, and entertaining our dogs.
In return, as a return on our investment, we expect nothing less than perfection from our dog. He should be cheerful, playful, even exuberant, but only when and where it suits us and society. He should be self-confident and independent, but at the same time slavishly obey our every command, no matter how small. After all our efforts, they should be perfectly socialized, the ideal pacifist, because if they growl at another dog even once, let alone bite them, they are quickly declared a 'sociopathic problem dog' that can only be brought back onto the path of virtue through extensive therapy.
Are we perhaps going too far? Are we asking too much? Could it be that, despite our best intentions, we are failing to address our dogs' real needs?
Unfortunately, I have always had the subjective feeling that, over the years, I have seen more dogs with psychological problems in my practice, rather than fewer.
Stress and anxiety disorders in particular seem to be increasing significantly, and this is happening in dogs where, at first glance, everything has been done right.
So it may be time to re-examine our ideas about what our dogs want or need. In this regard, it may be helpful that canid research in recent years has increasingly focused on the behavior and social structures of street dogs. What has been discovered? Well, first and foremost, that dogs that live independently do not do very much throughout the day and tend to avoid energy-sapping activities. Of course, certain things are necessary, such as:
– They must patrol their territory daily to maintain control over food sources, identify competitors, and seize any opportunities to pass on their genes. However, this patrol is by no means a run, but rather a leisurely stroll involving a lot of nose work, i.e., sniffing.
– Food supply must be ensured. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent acquiring food, breaking it down, and consuming it.
– If there is sufficient food available, they will also play for a short time, with younger animals being more likely to do so.
– Social interactions with other dogs are not as frequent as one might think. Other dogs can be perceived as competitors (often), potential sexual partners (less often), or as buddies/friends/playmates.
– The rest of the time is spent resting and sleeping. Although “rest” is the wrong word, because at up to 18 hours (!) this actually accounts for the lion's share of the day.
So what conclusions can we draw for everyday life with our dogs?
– Lots of rest! Much more rest than we humans would ever allow ourselves. And real rest in the sense that the dog has the opportunity to retreat to a suitable place.
– Walks should be measured less by distance covered than by thoroughness. The dog should be given the opportunity to explore its territory extensively with its nose. So it's better not to always march on at a brisk pace, but to focus more on the dog, especially when it is on a leash. Nose work is mental work and very demanding for the dog.
– A dog does not necessarily have to get along with all other dogs without things getting rough at times. In its eyes, other dogs are primarily competitors. If you have a dog that takes this issue more seriously than others, you should not be persuaded that it is wrong to sometimes not allow or prevent contact with other dogs, depending on your gut feeling. The widespread belief that dogs will sort things out among themselves has often led to tears, visits to the vet, and legal disputes. When they (the dogs) do sort things out themselves in a manner typical of their species, i.e., with their teeth, the bloody result is usually not accepted at all by those who were so relaxed about it beforehand.
– Don't overwork your dog! Agility, mantrailing, rescue dog work, flyball, coursing, Frisbee, etc. – these are all well and good, but only as long as they serve to satisfy your own ambition rather than that of your dog. Dogs themselves do not need as much action as we believe or are led to believe. Take the famous Border Collie, for example, which supposedly needs to be kept busy for several hours a day to prevent it from becoming dangerous. This is said to be because in its native region it is used as a highly specialized herding dog and is directed throughout the day by the shepherd using a variety of whistle signals.
It's true: this is mentally and physically demanding work. But do we have to replicate this to even remotely satisfy this dog? What does a Border Collie actually do in winter when the sheep are safely tucked away and don't need to be herded? Well, as a typical seasonal worker, it is unemployed during this time. Ideally, it does what an Italian street dog does: wander around the houses, look for something to nibble on, check out the girls or boys, and otherwise lie around or sleep. Does this make it go crazy? Nope! It is much more likely to get frustrated if it is hooked on or encouraged to do certain activities. Then (like many terriers, for example) it clearly has what it takes to become a hyperactive action ju**ie that can no longer find peace and ultimately has to struggle with psychological problems.
Don't overtrain your dog! There are actually only a few signals, commands, instructions (choose whichever term you like best) that your dog absolutely must know so that it can be walked safely and socially. If you want to let it off the leash from time to time, it must come back to you reliably when you call or give a signal. Whether on a leash or not, it should be able to move close to you from point A to point B. It should be able to sit or lie down on your command and stay in the chosen place for a certain amount of time. That's basically it. Of course, there's nothing wrong with teaching your dog a few more things for fun over time, but don't stress about it.
Let's be clear: this is not an attempt to spoil activities that both sides, i.e. dog and owner, enjoy, such as playing, sports, hiking, swimming, or whatever. In my opinion, we should just keep thinking about whether we might be transferring our own hectic lifestyle and the exaggerated expectations that others have instilled in us onto our dogs, thereby overwhelming them. So: stay relaxed and don't stress!
With this in mind, stay well, yours sincerely,
Ralph Rückert
© Ralph Rückert
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