MainCreeksRemi
Wisconsin
MH
Posts:824
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| 03/29/2011 5:38 PM |
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Just curious to see what everyone does and enjoys doing with their GSP (or other dogs) in the exercise department everyday?
With Remi's new found freedom of being trusted off leash things have been so much easier and I love having a truly tired puppy at night. Instead of taking several different sessions or outings through out the night to make sure he got what he needed we can now take a couple hours right after work and just let him run.
I'm trying to get into a routine with him and it seems to be working well so far. We usually do about a half hour of chuck it right away, just to get the crazy's out  . And I've started running him a bit too. Every other day we all go out for a run down the road, leashed obviously. I'm only doing a couple miles right now but I hope to be up to 7-8 by mid summer. On the days we don't run, he gets more time with the chuck it and just time to run around and explore outside. We have been trying to spend 2 hours outside after work, especially with the nice weather!!
Weekends we do more....they usually get a nice long walk, chuck it and I try to do a special trip with them somewhere to get some off leash running in a new place.
So what do you like to do and how long does it seem to take you to tire yours out?! Some nights the 2 hours doesnt cut it, I can tell he'd love to do more...but daylight will only allow so much right now. |
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Loved by Kelley:
Remi (7/3/2010) GSP
Morgan (5/17/2008) Choco Lab
Nallah (8/6/2006) Black Lab |
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Smylinacha
Connecticut
MH
Posts:1208
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| 03/29/2011 5:57 PM |
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| Well Windsor has no more freedom off leash but hubby just got an e collar and he had it on him today - so going to try that. I wasn't home when he did that so I don't use it yet. But normally Windsor goes for a run with the hubby on the bicycle and then he's either out on a lead outside with him or doing something in the house. Then when I get home from work I walk him. I rode him a couple of weeks back but it got cold again and I haven't been feeling great so it's back to walks for now and he is walking great. Then we come in and throw a ball up and down the stairs or around the house inside, then a little gentle tug of war. He chews his bones for a while and then I like the brain exercises of hide and seek and just got him one of those kong things that look like a big weeble that you put treats in - that keeps him busy for a while. Then he passes out around 9 after whining for 10 minutes. I just can't wait till he can be free in the yard again (supervised) but no way right now. |
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DesertRoseKennel
MH
Posts:1033
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| 03/29/2011 6:02 PM |
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Well, since we have a pack of GSPs (six now), they usually do a good job of wearing each other out. Then one or two days a week we train where they can run a half hour course at least once and hunt, then perhaps do callback. When we're preparing for a field trial, we road in front of the quad for 5-10 miles several times a week.
But here in AZ, it's getting warm. The pool is about 70 degrees right now. So currently, the best answer to your exercise question is:
Throw the splash ball in the pool, dog retrieves.
Throw the splash ball in the pool, dog retrieves.
Throw the splash ball in the pool, dog retrieves.
Throw the splash ball in the pool, dog retrieves.
Throw the splash ball in the pool, dog retrieves.
Throw the splash ball in the pool, dog retrieves.
Throw the splash ball in the pool, dog retrieves.
Throw the splash ball in the pool, dog retrieves.
Throw the splash ball in the pool, dog retrieves.
to infinity...
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"Our dogs are bred to be champion hunters who sleep on the bed"
www.desertrosekennel.com |
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DesertRoseKennel
MH
Posts:1033
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| 03/29/2011 6:02 PM |
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"Our dogs are bred to be champion hunters who sleep on the bed"
www.desertrosekennel.com |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3134
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| 03/29/2011 6:08 PM |
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I have absolutely no routine nor do I want one cuz I don't want them dependent on it...that is also why I have two of them and about an acre fenced in...some days all they get is the yard...other days they get the dog park, or the kids play chase or fetch with them or when I ride my horse they chase her (and get yelled at for it, lol) or we go to my parents where they have 5 acres fenced...other days just going for a car ride mentally wears them out or going to a pet store....they get more activity in the summer for sure cuz they can go to the barn where I ride with my drill team and they play with the dogs there or going to the 4-H classes or camping...
I am not an exercise myself so I am not into walking or jogging or biking...
I should also add that I don't work (as of right now) so they don't get kenneled that much...if they did then I might have to do something more in the evening when I got home... |
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MainCreeksRemi
Wisconsin
MH
Posts:824
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| 03/29/2011 6:16 PM |
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Oh yes, as soon as the ice melts....we'll spending hours upon hours at the lake. An all time favorite (as long as Remi decides to love it like the girls do) 
Marcia- Nallah gets to come to work with us everyday...she has since she was a puppy and has always done great there. I notice that she doesn't need nearly as much stimulation at night as the other two. We've tried bringing Remi & Morgan to work too (each on their own) and they just think its a big gymnasium for them to run around in and get too excited when customers come in so they lost that priveledge. LOL I think if they got to go to work everyday too it would be different for them as well. But, until they learn their manners there they'll have to stay home. It gives me the motivation to get up and do something at night too. |
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Loved by Kelley:
Remi (7/3/2010) GSP
Morgan (5/17/2008) Choco Lab
Nallah (8/6/2006) Black Lab |
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JMSGunner
Bucks County, PA
MH
Posts:785
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| 03/29/2011 6:55 PM |
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We have no routine either. We either play inside, go to the dog park, go to the state game lands, or go on a walk at the park or along the creek in town.
I don't want a routine because I don't need a monster if I miss a day!
We have 2 acres so Gun has plenty of room to play fetch in the yard, chase the quads and dirtbikes, etc.
I wish I could bring Gunner to work! He farts less than my coworkers. |
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Jackie & Gunner
Impressive Gewehr von Catskill 4/19/2010
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7839
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| 03/29/2011 8:11 PM |
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| Like Jean I have a pack, but my pack is 4 dogs. On nice weather days, they go out at around 8 am in the morning and stay outside playing until dinner time which is around 4:30 pm. I work from home so I am home with them all day too and will take breaks off and on most days and always do a bit of training with one or more of them. On rainy or really cold days they stay inside more. Every evening at least two of my dogs go to the training center where we do more formal obedience or conformation training. The dogs that go to training are usually worn out when they get home, so the two that didn't get to go I usually do informal training with them. On weekends we do field work, go hiking,I sometimes bike them, and we do more obedience work. In summer I take them to the lake to swim on weekends as well. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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Marie
Wisconsin
MH
Posts:2721
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| 03/29/2011 11:06 PM |
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We wake up, after a few cups of coffee, Rocky and I go out on a half hour to 45 minute leash walk. Then when we return back home out to back yard for GSP play time retrieve games with dummy, frizbee , tennis balls and stuffed birds.Then by 1 pm Rocky settles for nap time for me to get ready for PM shift work. Few hours latter Dad gets home and out to back field for Rocky free off leash run time. On my days off Dad gets a break as Rocky has no nap and is an action GSP play time in house and out of house all day long. |
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Marie and Rocky, a tall, high energy GSP
http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab18/Annette_Merryfield/100_0285.jpg?t=1287205231 |
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Phillyo118
UK
MH
Posts:681
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| 03/30/2011 12:52 AM |
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No routine as such but it generally follows a similar trend, that is; Up at 6am for an hour or so off leash running along the local canal, i head to work then it's frisbee time at lunch for half an hour or so with some mental exercises/training outside (depending on weather). After work he gets about 1 1/2 - 2 hours of off leash running around the local field, chasing a ball or sniffing out birds/playing with other dogs. Then home and some "rough n tumble" with his dad before tea. Then he just chills out and chews a chew or something, usually falls asleep.
On weekends we try to take him somewhere nice for a good run around some woods or a big field or river/lake etc |
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"From the dog's point of view, his master is an elongated and abnormally cunning dog."
"My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am." |
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Max2
Oneonta NY
MH
Posts:1111
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| 03/30/2011 4:08 AM |
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| We have our routines. Everyday we hike up our mountain at least one time and sometimes several a day. Always going in different directions. Except for the winter we will follow an old quarry road up the hill and cut through the woods at different angles to come home. Training all the while, recall , turning him . Hunt training when we hit good cover. Like a little machine. Working his little brown butt ! Max has been in the woods since he was 7 weeks & 6 days old and he still loves going exploring. Each trip up takes about an hour to hour & 15 minutes. Depends on my work also because in the summer Max comes to work with me at least 50 % of the time. |
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Chris |
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:3164
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| 03/30/2011 5:17 AM |
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| My husband works at home 3 days a week and on those days he tries to take each dog out for a quality run (3 to 4 miles). On the days he is at work, generally they get to run up the hill to granny's (for visits). Other than that, chasing them around the basement, some mental work, etc. |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 03/30/2011 5:35 AM |
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I have a pretty rigid work schedule so we do have a routine.
6-7 a.m. morning walk. In the summer when there's more light at 6 I run her on a rugby field nearby.
5:30 - 7 pm evening walk. When park hours and weather permit (usually spring and fall) we go to the off-leash rental park Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday so she can run.
Weekends: Morning run 1-2 hours in the rental park, then off to do whatever - field work at the plantation, road trips, or hanging out downtown. Then she gets a short evening walk.
Yeah, I walk a LOT. Walking is not enough for a GSP especially a kenneled one so I take her somewhere to run/play fetch whenever I can. |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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MainCreeksRemi
Wisconsin
MH
Posts:824
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| 03/30/2011 5:36 AM |
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My dogs seem to do ok if we happen to miss a day because of weather or other stuff going on, but I like to think of our routine as a good reason for me to get out and get some exercise too. They're good motivation
Some days like over the winter its just too cold and we have to settle for some sort of activity inside. Playing chase in the basement is a favorite.  |
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Loved by Kelley:
Remi (7/3/2010) GSP
Morgan (5/17/2008) Choco Lab
Nallah (8/6/2006) Black Lab |
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DesertRoseKennel
MH
Posts:1033
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| 03/30/2011 6:09 AM |
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Marie, you really shouldn't let Rocky drink a few cups of coffee every morning, really not good for him  |
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"Our dogs are bred to be champion hunters who sleep on the bed"
www.desertrosekennel.com |
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Phillyo118
UK
MH
Posts:681
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| 03/30/2011 6:47 AM |
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/like  |
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"From the dog's point of view, his master is an elongated and abnormally cunning dog."
"My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am." |
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dieterthegsp
Cape Breton, NS, Canada
MH
Posts:559
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| 03/30/2011 8:26 AM |
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| I basically rotate everyday between off leash places. We either go to the beach, the big field and wooded area across the street or the park in town. Its not a dog park but lots of people take their dogs there and people dont seem to mind. When we go the the park I usually just use the chuckit. |
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Properly trained, a man can be dog's best friend.
Videos
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gharner
Middletown, PA
MH
Posts:565
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| 03/30/2011 12:01 PM |
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| No strict routine here either, but I try to do a 2-5 mile walk atleast 3 to 5 times a week. And then we do off leash things all the time. Either hiking, retrieving, dog park, kayaking, fishing, etc. |
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:3164
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| 03/30/2011 12:19 PM |
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| I should have mentioned that our "routine" changes on the weather. When there's lots of snow on the ground or there has been a good dry spell, running off-leash in the forest or playing with the chuckit at the park is an absolute must. I'm also trying to take them out in the evenings for a social stroll |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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Thom Gordon
Sandy, Utah
SH
Posts:44
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| 03/30/2011 2:23 PM |
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Our routine has been somewhat hampered by the weather as of late but usually runs to a local pond/field area with some quartering drills thrown in the mix with reinforcement of the here command & retrieve work. Once in a while I stuff a pigeon in the pocket and plant it while Creek is not lookin which is getting tougher to do due to him being just a little sharper each day (now seven months). Once in awhile he locates the covey of Valley Quail that resides near the area but haven't seen any in the last couple of weeks, I believe they are now dispersed and lookin to pair up to mate. On the weekend I try to put him in Chukar country which usually involves a rigorous hike that can take at least three to four hours, he's usually spent by the end of the weekend so I give him/me Monday to rest.
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