Last week I starting walking with my dog again. I need the exercise and so does Sam after staying in nearly all winter. I can do a two mike hike without a problem, though Sam  slows down a lot on the way back. But considering how nuts he is at first, it’s no wonder. He expends his energy before we’ve walked a block!

Sam really needs a lot training on the leach “in public.” He’s just fine in the house or in the back yard where I’ve done the bulk of training with him. But once we walk out the door and head to the curb, look out.  I’ve tried carrying training treats in the hope he’d be swayed by food, but he’s not the least bit interested and barely listens to me. 

Thankfully he’s not the least bit agressive to people or other dogs we pass. 

But his attention swings back and forth to other things at a mind-numbing rate. I can imagine what goes through his mind. “Ooo a squirral, ooo a rabbit, ooo a grasshopper, ooo  a leaf blowing across the sidewalk.” And on and on…

If he wasn’t behaved in the house I’d swear he had canine ADHD! And yes, dogs can get it.

In theory Sam is supposed to be a fairly laid-back dog. He’s half chow chow, and here’s what it says on their site about chows and exercise.

The Chow Chow will do with brisk daily walks and with some romps in the yard or in the garden. It is not a high-energy breed and will not need a lot of exercise, just enough to keep it fit and healthy.

Energy Level:
Below average.

Ok, the behaved quiet indoor side of Sam is chow.  And yes, he does look calm.  Believe me that picture is deceiving!

We’re not sure about his daddy, but the vet guessed either shepherd or golden retriever. (After that first walk of the season, I’m suspecting puppy daddy was a Mazda! Zoom-zoom…)

So I told the vet I was worried that Sam was hyper and she suggested that along with exercise that I increase his mental stimulation.  I googled mental exercises for dogs because seriously I don’t know what Sam would find challenging when he is poke-nosy about everything.

A game of hide and seek can be played both indoors and outdoors. Many dogs will naturally play this game both because they are instinctually good at tracking and retrieving and because they want to be in their owners presence. Hide and seek requires that your dog use her mental skills to track you down.

In theory this is great, but we tried this one and I’m not fond of when Sam catches me because he just pounces.  That’s fine for a puppy but he weighs sixty-five pounds now.  Him pouncing on my lap now???  (Think the movie Elf.)

Exercise. Lots of exercise. If you can incorporate exercise with another activity such as playing, “Find the ball,” or doing some agility exercises, then that’s even better.

Sam’s not a ball kind of dog. He has a huge Nylabone and a thick knotted rope, both chewing exercises. But if I tell him to fetch either he does. So he’s not a dumb dog. 

 Brain teaser toys. There are a number of cool toys that actually challenge your dog’s mind. For example, one of the more popular ones is the “Buster Cube,” a plastic cube that releases a pellet of food, every third or fourth time the Cube is rolled over. Or kong toys where you put a treat inside and the dog has to find a way to get it out.

Next time I’m in the pet store, I’ll pick one of these up. Who knows, maybe  all Sam needs to get him used to listening to me is mental stimulation.  Maybe he’ll settle down yet and be a great dog to take out in public.

Or maybe this is simply Sam, and he’s going to go through life full tilt — tongue lolling, tail wagging and running with the wind.    

So I’m open for some advice. Anyone have a better idea to get Sam to listen?  Any hints for when we’re out walking and he’s trying to lung ahead?  Do you have a pet that has a mind of its own?