Hound of the Book Reviews #1 - Dog Walks Man

Howl Out and join me this week for my Hound of the Book Reviews, as I celebrate two of my favorite passions... dogs and reading. I'll be blogging reviews of great new dog books from inspiring authors every day this week.

First up is Dog Walks Man: A Six Legged Odyssey, by John Zeaman

I walk Kelly for various reasons...to get exercise, to give her exercise, and because she loves the sights and smells. There are also many reasons why I sometimes dread walking her...too cold, too hot, too tired, too busy. But, as you may agree, we do it for our dogs.

In this book, John Zeaman takes a humorous and thoughtful look at walking the family poodle, Pete. While his kids begged for the dog, all too soon the dog-walking duties fell to Zeaman. The "minor miracle of dog walking," Zeaman writes, is "how, forced to do something--even something that you really really didn't want to do--you could end up feeling grateful for it."

Throughout his walks, Zeaman reflects on dogs, family, friends, nature, and slowing down time. My favorite part was when a meandering Pete, dragging so far behind as to be lost from Zeaman's sight, ends up being picked up as a stray and taken for a perp ride in the patrol car.

Dog Walks Man is a "compelling and powerful meditation on the simple wisdom derived from dogs and walking with them."

About the Author: John Zeaman writes an arts column for Design NJ magazine and reviews art for The Record (Bergen County, NJ) and the Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ). He has won numerous journalism awards and is the author of a series of children's books called "Before They Were Pets." Zeaman's young adult book, Overpopulation, was selected for the New York Public Library's "Books for the Teen Age" list. He lives in Leonia, New Jersey.
John Zeaman's website.




Hint for tomorrow's review: Yo Quiero Taco Bell!

The Right Way to Walk Your Dog

By Tamara L. Waters

Have you ever seen a dog walking a person? Perhaps you have even been walked by your own dog. If so, you know how exhausting it can be to walk a dog incorrectly. The ideal way is for YOU to be walking the dog. Check out a few of these tips to help you learn the right way to walk your dog and ensure that you aren't the one worn out at the end of the exercise.

Walk in Front

From my own experiences with walking my dogs, the proper way to walk a dog is with you in front and the dog following along. A better way to look at it is for you to lead the walk, not your dog. Putting yourself in the role of leader during a walk allows your dog to relax and follow along.

To help start the walk out correctly, do not allow your dog to go first out of the door or gate of his pen. Begin the walk in the position of leadership so your dog understands that his only job is to enjoy the exercise – not to lead you along.


Use an Anti-Pull Harness or a Chain Collar

If you have a dog that tends to pull when you are walking (my Chocolate Lab did this), I found that an anti-pull harness did a great job with helping her learn to not pull and to follow me. I also found that a pull chain (sometimes called a "choke chain") works well when it is put on properly. The proper method for using a chain as a walking lead is to form it into a P before putting it into place around the dog's neck. I make sure the chain is high on the dog's neck, directly behind the jaw and skull. This helps keep the dog from pulling (yes, it really does work) and also doesn't choke them if they do pull.

Keep Your Dog on a Short Lead

Yes, those long leashes might seem like a good idea, but when you are walking your dog you want to keep them close to you and under control. A long leash gives them too much distance, and what happens if they try to run while you are walking in traffic? Don't take a chance on having a tragic accident while walking your dog.

A short lead helps you maintain control and leadership as you are walking your dog. In the event of a problem (another animal, vehicle or person) that upsets your dog or puts him at risk, you have him close enough to take care of the issue.

Use a special lead or leash just for daily walks. My dog Scooby came to recognize her leash and knew that when I had it in my hand it meant we were about to take a walk. She would get very excited just to see the leash. Store your leash in a place where your dog can see it and he will probably let you know when it's walk time by standing next to the leash or even bringing it to you.

Walk Your Dog Regularly

Dogs of every breed need regular exercise to maintain their health and happiness. If your dog runs laps around your yard, living room or pen, chances are they aren’t getting enough exercise. Be sure to walk them regularly and you will probably notice a calmer attitude and demeanor.

Finish Your Walk with a Reward

After a proper walk (which includes your dog following and not leading), be sure to offer a reward. A reward can be as simple as a good session of belly scratching and affection, or a delicious treat like CANIDAE Snap Bits™. Remember to be consistent with your walks and with your rewards, and your dog will love the daily exercise and time spent with her favorite person.

For more dog-walking tips, check out Linda Cole's article, How to Teach Your Dog Proper Leash Etiquette.

Read more articles by Tamara L. Waters

Why Dog Walking is Important

By Linda Cole

Dog walking is an activity that takes time and energy. After a hard day's work, it’s not always easy to pull yourself out of your chair to take the dogs for a walk, especially if they don't have good leash etiquette. However, walking your dogs on a daily basis creates a unity in your pack that helps them learn they belong together. Dog walking as a group teaches dogs they are a family and you are the one in control.

When you have more than one dog, their personalities can get in the way during playtime. One may be a ball hog and another may be shy and won't play because their personality holds them back. Another dog may be jealous and does everything in their power to interfere in your playtime with others in the pack. And trying to reward with treats can bring out food aggression issues in some dogs who don't want to share. You may be tempted to just give up because of the hassle involved with interacting with more than one dog. But since you are the leader, it's up to you to find that one activity that can bring everyone together as one, and dog walking is the best way to do that.

Going for a walk helps them bond with you and with each other. It's a special activity that provides them with much needed exercise and stimulation to help them stay fit both in body and mind. Going for a walk allows a dog to explore and learn. A boring day is broken up when their senses are given a chance to investigate smells and sights. How would you like to be coped up inside your house day after day? Even dogs that have a large pen where they can run and play need walks to help break up the same old routine.

Dog walking around the neighborhood gives dogs a chance to find interesting scents, like another dog who left a calling card on a fence post or next to a bush. Don't be in a hurry when dog walking. Give them a chance to experience the joy of being with you and each other as they “window shop” along the way. Let them sniff under a bush or around a tree because they are learning about the dog or animal who left the scent. Walks are educational for dogs. Let them fill their minds with all the wonderful scents they are processing.

My dogs love their pen. It's large enough for them to chase each other around and they're excited every time they go outside. We have possum, coons and neighborhood cats that leave their scent around the outside of their fence and sometimes, inside. Yet, when we pick up the leashes, their bright eyes and happy tails tell us we are about to make their day. They may have just had a tussle over who gets to sit beside me on the couch, but the minute a leash is dangling from my hand, the argument is forgotten as they wait their turn to have their leash snapped onto their collar. They know there's excitement waiting for them outside the front door.

When dog walking, it's good to have different routes. Since my dogs never know which direction I'm going to go, they have to watch me. It keeps the activity fresh and new when they have different routes and teaches them to follow you. I’ve never had a dog that didn't enjoy going for a walk. Even a couch potato enjoys a stimulating walk. Like humans, dogs need mental stimulation to keep their minds healthy.

It's important to be the leader of the pack. Dogs need to know who is in charge, and the owner who takes charge allows each dog to be a dog who doesn't have to worry about making decisions. Taking your dogs on a walk creates unity and equality in a dog's mind. No one dog is more important than the others because they all walk together behind or beside you as they find new sights, sounds and scents that keep their mind active and alert. The most important thing about dog walking is that a dog who is tired won't have any pent up energy left. After a healthy and stimulating walk, all they want to do when they get home is relax. Running with your dog is also a great way to give them exercise and Ruthie Bently’s article has some good tips on that activity.

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Walking with Flexi Leash

If Kelly had her way, I don't think there's anything else I'd be doing all day besides taking her on walks! So naturally, the choice of collars and leashes is very important to us. I want to make sure they're safe, and Kelly wants them to be comfortable. And it doesn't hurt if they're pretty, too!

Recently, I was contacted by Flexi USA to see if Kelly and I would test drive one of their retractable leashes. They sent us several options to choose from. I selected the 16 foot classic All Belt. Kelly and I took several long walks using the leash, which took her a little time to get used to at first. The tension on her collar felt different from the slackness she is used to feeling.

Review: Kelly and I give the Flexi Leash 4 out of 5 pawprints.

Pros:
I found the handle more comfortable than a regular leash.
The leash gives plenty of room to roam, while retracting to preventing tangling.

Cons:
The tension on the collar causes the dog to pull at the leash.
The leash is not convenient for city walking.

Since we live in the city, most of our walking is on sidewalks that are somewhat busy. For this, I prefer a collar with a short lead for better control to keep my dog from veering into traffic or approaching other pedestrians on the sidewalk. However, the Flexi leash is convenient for parks and other places where your dog can run and wander about to explore. Kelly and I definitely feel it's important for dogs to be able to run, sniff, and explore. No fun to have to heal and behave ALL the time!

Flexi Leash comes in 10 ft, 16 ft, 23 ft and 26 foot lengths. I like the All Belt, which feels more secure to me. While the cord type leashes were longer, I would suggest watching to be sure the cord doesn't become tangled around your dog's legs.

Flexi Leash comes in many colors and designs, so the pretty factor is covered. There is even a Flexi Leash with a built-in flashlight that I think looks pretty cool!