Today I have a hundred and one things to do. As well as filming for the various shows I have, I run a business that takes up a lot of my time. I am also a mother, and when I am not on the road, my daughter and her needs take precedence over everything else. Yes, there is a team that works with me, but like a lot of people, my workload is still vast and it’s hard to find the time to get everything done. I’m not complaining, but I think that sometimes my dogs might.
I have never been comfortable with having dogs that just fit into my day. I fully admit that there are some times when I don’t want to take them for a walk or play with them – there are so many other things I need to get done and it would be a lot easier if I had those extra hours each day to do them. However, I just don’t feel right until my dogs have had daily exercise and all their needs have been attended to. I personally cannot concentrate until I know they are fulfilled, which means I make sure a certain portion of the day is set aside just for them. I am responsible for making my dogs’ lives the best they can be and I encourage all my clients to try and do the same with theirs – making time for the animals in your life is essential for their physical and mental health.
Almost all of the dogs I work with that demonstrate negative behaviour, do so because they have little to no daily outlet. Many people bring dogs into their lives for selfish reasons and don’t make the time to fulfill their dogs’ needs. Consequently, these dogs spend long hours by themselves with nothing to do, forcing them to find their own ways to cope with boredom. All too often, this means chewing on household items, barking uncontrollably, or becoming reactive and anxious. Ultimately the prescription for problem behaviours like these is an easy one – a simple modification protocol that includes more physical and mental enrichment. Advising my clients to utilize the tools I give them is the easy part, but the follow through can be a lot harder.
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