Woof! Bark! And also Whiiiiiiiiiine.

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Sharkie Sep 2018 5:14pm, 4 Sep 2018 13,782 posts	0 Sharkie We have about ten standard different roughly an hour and a half 3-4 mile walks, most of them directly from the house. Each of these walks has variations - only one is directly out and back and even that has twiddly bits for variety. Jess knows all the routes but is quite insistent about her preferred version. And sometimes insists on favourite diversions even on the way back when she's tired and we RARELY use that route. And even though she is pretty well behaved and doesn't pull on a short lead that goes right out of the window if we are near the sea. Full steam ahead (train version).
Sharkie Sep 2018 5:15pm, 4 Sep 2018 13,783 posts	0 Sharkie We also have a few longer walks and some that need a car journey - usually once a week when I'm at track on Sunday and sometimes when I'm away Guy will take Jess different places.
FergusG Sep 2018 6:53pm, 4 Sep 2018 2,725 posts	0 FergusG Stella doesn’t care when or where we walk, but she has a Labrador’s obsession with feeding times and will pogo jump in anticipation if I need reminding.
halfpint Sep 2018 7:29pm, 4 Sep 2018 26,267 posts	0 halfpint Ernie gives me the death stare at various times of day when he expects certain events to happen i.e. walks and food. The only times he is quite insistent about where we go is if we are near a path to the beach or the park - both are places he loves to chase a ball and play in the water. There is a routine when I come home from work which he also insists on. It involves him taking a scarf from the basket at the front door and I have to chase him upstairs and then we snuggle on my bed. A walk is expected - even when I am home much earlier than normal.
Helegant Sep 2018 7:36pm, 4 Sep 2018 5,754 posts	0 Helegant Am I unique in thinking that routine is good for dogs, with some variations so they don't get stressed about change?
LazyDaisy Sep 2018 7:42pm, 4 Sep 2018 23,784 posts	0 LazyDaisy I suppose the thinking is that if they have a flexible routine, they become de-sensitized to change, Helegant.
LazyDaisy Sep 2018 10:14pm, 15 Sep 2018 23,917 posts	0 LazyDaisy I am delighted to report that Flossie and Cooper got on like a house on fire . We met in the local riverside park, both dogs on-lead initially, then they both had a good game chasing a couple of frisbees, then came home together. Cooper seems very sweet-natured and Flossie was happy to play chase round the table, tug o war with her rope toy, and generally treat him as a buddy. Phew, not a foregone conclusion as she's not always keen on collies we meet on our walks.
Derby Tup Sep 2018 11:17am, 16 Sep 2018 26,911 posts	0 Derby Tup
Derby Tup Sep 2018 11:18am, 16 Sep 2018 26,912 posts	0 Derby Tup Tuss gets spooked by the lying down things collies do - it seems to put him on defensive mode straight away
Rosehip Sep 2018 11:34am, 16 Sep 2018 10,940 posts	0 Rosehip That's interesting DT - Ralph the springer does a collie-like lying down thing sometimes, Boy black labs, in particular, seem to take offence at it. I thought the lying down was aimed at me - "stop and wait for me to say hi to this new friend mum" - but maybe it's some other signal?