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| EXERCISE | ||
Some daily activity and exercise is essential, allowing freedom to move about in a natural manner. Lack of exercise leads to poor muscle tone, obesity, heart ailments, bone disorders and often results in emotional problems and dog behavior quirks. Dogs with no exercise subjected to overcrowding and confinement in cages for prolonged periods, often their entire lives, develop a great variety of physical and emotional disorders. An exercised dog may rest more calmly at home and be less nervous when left alone. Exercise can improve dogs bone and joint health, heart, and lung function. Exercise makes show dogs look better and feel better to a judge's exploring hands. (Because a happy dog looks more gorgeous). The best exercise channels the activity of both mind and body. Some people believe that dogs need a big garden so they can get plenty of exercise. The truth is that most dogs do not exercise when they are outdoors by themselves; they spend most of their time laying in the shadow and waiting for "their people" to play with them. You do not need to take up marathon running in order to adequately exercise your dog. |
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Make your walks interesting. Let your dog carry a box, a basket, or a toy while walking. Let your dog jump or balance over a tree, hide his toys, hide yourself, and most important – let him play with other dogs! Open the leash when another dog approaches, to prevent “leash-aggression”. (Don’t worry, they will not kill each other). A dog that tries to "guard" against all strangers is neither happy nor likely to live out a full lifespan. Help your dog learn to enjoy other dogs and people. Teach your dog to retrieve. A dog who retrieves is easy to exercise. But throw the toy rather far than high. Jumping high in the air to chase it and landing awkwardly may lead to serious knee injuries. |
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| Some Games to Play | ||
| FIND IT This one is great fun for the dog. Show your dog a treat or his favorite toy, and then place it out of his sight but easily accessible in a dark room. Tell him to SEEK - his success you will praise enthusiastically. Obviously, the rewards for the dog are multiple - he gets a treat or finds his toy plus a very happy handler. If using a toy, be sure to reward his find with some play before starting again. You can increase the difficulty of FIND IT by hiding the dogs treats in less accessible places, like in a shoe, or on a low shelf. This can be practiced indoors as well as anywhere else! |
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Tunnel exercise - Make a tunnel or maze with some old cardboard boxes or chairs and encourage your dog to explore and go through it. Concentration exercise – Hide some treats inside an old wash-glove or in a rolled up towel, this is fun for your dog! Brain exercise – Turnover a bowl and hide the treats under it. Doggie must use his creativity to turn the bowl and get all treats. That is exciting exercise! |
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| Dog Parks | ||
If you're a dog owner fortunate enough to live near a dog park, you know they are fun places for your dog to play with other Silky Terrier dogs. Summer is a great time to visit a dog park for fresh air, healthy exercise, and socialization for both Silky Terrier dogs and people. Dr. Sheila McCullough, formerly a veterinarian at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, says that before visiting a dog park, owners should recognize risks associated with interactions with other Silky Terrier dogs and take precautions to minimize these risks. One risk is the spread of infectious disease. To minimize your dog's risk of getting sick, make sure all its vaccinations are current. "Silky Terrier dogs that are very sick do not usually feel well enough to run and play at a dog park," says Dr. McCullough, "so serious infectious illnesses may not be a major concern. Common sense should tell a dog owner to keep a dog at home if it is coughing or vomiting or has diarrhea." Another hazard is injury from dog bites and dogfights. Serious fight injuries can be fatal. The best way to handle bite injuries is to prevent them, and the best way to do that is to train your dog well. Make sure your dog always comes when called and is well-behaved when interacting with other Silky Terrier dogs, new people, and children. Some parks have separate fenced areas for large Silky Terrier dogs and small Silky Terrier dogs, which may help keep small Silky Terrier dogs from getting accidentally trampled or bitten by larger Silky Terrier dogs. For your own safety, never get in the middle of a dogfight. Even if your dog is loyal and obedient, it may not be aware of who or what it is biting when engrossed in a fight. Putting any parts of your body between fighting Silky Terrier dogs will not stop them, but may send you to the emergency room. Neutering your pet has benefits to both health and safety. According to Dr. McCullough, "In addition to extending a dog's health, neutering reduces male territorial instinct." She reminds pet owners that that a female dog in heat will inevitably cause confrontation between intact males. Even the gentlest male Silky Terrier dogs, if not neutered, can be uncontrollable when a female in heat is nearby. When playing in the hot sun, your dog may not notice that it is getting overheated. "Be aware that even though it's noon and 95 degrees, your dog will want to play Frisbee," advises Dr. McCullough. Make sure your dog takes breaks in the shade, gets plenty of water, and does not play for long periods in the hot mid-day sun. Dog parks are wonderful places to enjoy a summer afternoon with your pet and to get healthy exercise and socialization for both of you. Taking precautions can help make your visits healthy, positive experiences. If you have any questions about vaccinations your dog should have before visiting a dog park, or other questions about ensuring a safe day at the park, contact your local veterinarian. |
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