This morning, before the heat arrived and turned the training field into something resembling a large green frying pan, Bert and I headed out for an early wander.
We took a slow walk around the meadow, with plenty of time for sniffing. There was no rush, no distance to cover and certainly no step count target. Bert investigated the morning news while I followed along, pretending I had some say in the route.
Once we reached the training field, we did a little scatter feeding and a few movement games that allowed Bert to use that awesome collie brain of his. Nothing complicated, nothing particularly energetic and nothing that would look very impressive in a dramatic training montage.
He also footed the ladder while I checked the roof of the Scent Shed. Admittedly, his understanding of health and safety procedures remains questionable, but his supervisory skills are excellent.
Less doesn’t mean doing nothing
On hot days, slowing everything down is important. Dogs are already working harder to regulate their body temperature, so activities don’t need to be fast or physically demanding to be worthwhile.
However, “less is more” shouldn’t only apply when the sun has got its hat on.
Dogs don’t need every walk to be long, every training session to be packed with exercises or every day to contain a grand adventure. Sniffing, searching, gentle movement and a few minutes of enjoyable training can provide plenty of mental enrichment without overwhelming them.
A slower walk gives dogs time to process their surroundings. Scatter feeding encourages natural searching behaviour. Simple movement games can build confidence, coordination and connection with their guardian. These small activities might not look spectacular, but they can leave a dog feeling settled and satisfied.
Quality over quantity
Sometimes we become so focused on tiring our dogs out that we forget to ask whether they’re actually enjoying what we’re doing.
More miles, more ball throwing and more excitement don’t always create a calmer dog. In some cases, they simply create a fitter dog who expects even more activity tomorrow.
A quieter outing with time to sniff, explore and make choices can offer far more than constantly marching towards the next destination. It’s not about doing nothing; it’s about choosing activities that genuinely meet the needs of the dog in front of us.
Bert didn’t cover miles this morning. He didn’t complete an hour of training or collect a certificate for Advanced Ladder Supervision.
He sniffed, searched, moved, thought and spent time with me.
And you know what? That was more than enough.
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