As soon as I was finished with the boxer mix, I went to a wedding. I was there to help serve food. A good friend of mine was having a wedding in her backyard for her cousin. She needed some help and being the helpful guy that I am, I offered my services, which included serving meatballs and chicken in a buffet line.
Eric serving up meatballs and chicken.
As soon as I was done with the wedding, I had to jump in my car, drive two hours to Hartford, CT, and go to a bachelor party.
On Sunday, my girlfriend and her Mother decided that they wanted to explore some places in Western MA. We went to the Bridge of Flowers, the Potholes, and the High Ledges in Shelburne, MA, right off the Mohawk Trail. Here are some of the pictures.
Eric & Rachael on the Bridge of Flowers.
The Bridge of Flowers, Shelburne Falls, MA
Rachael and her Mom on the Bridge of Flowers.
The Potholes, Shelburne Falls, MA
Rachael inside one of the potholes.
View from the High Ledges, Shelburne, MA
Needless to say, my dogs needed a good romp by Monday. Which brings me to today’s point. I have been saying this for a long time, but it is worth repeating:
“The only good dog is a tired dog.”
Most of the dogs that I see with behavior problems have way too much pent up energy. They have all of this energy that needs an outlet. The dogs that live with us today have a much different life than the dogs that lived with us just fifty years ago.
You see, the dogs of yesterday often had jobs within the household. Dogs were originally bred to hunt, guard, and herd. In today’s society most dogs will never do the tasks that they were originally bred for.
I have dogs from the herding group. Not one has ever herded a flock of sheep. Because of this, I have to provide outlets for their energy. I play retrieving games, tug games; I bring them hiking and swimming.
This burns off the pent energy that builds up in every dog. I also make sure that I exercise their brains. I always do obedience and tricks with them to stimulate them mentally.
So the next time your dog is driving you nuts, there is a good chance that your dog needs a good dose of exercise.
All the best,
Eric
P.S. If you would like to discover more about behavior problems and how to deal with them check out here how to solve them.
