When my work and family days get too hectic, I try to fit in several rousing rounds of fetch so that Lilly burns off pent-up border collie energy. Imagine my frustration, then, when after just a few throws she seems bored or annoyed. Seriously, if I make the effort to bundle up, put on real shoes, and interrupt a deadline-soaked day, the least Lilly can do is enjoy it. Right?
This, dear readers, may just be a case of when dog knows best.
It’s taken me a few months to figure it out. When Lilly fusses for what I’ve interpreted as playtime and attention, I think she actually is trying to get ME to burn off some energy and stress.
What makes me think that?
Well, on the days when I do have the time or mental space to take an hour and do our three-mile walk, Lilly seems much more pleased with herself and with me.
She could merely be happy to get out. She could get more bang for her walking buck, even though I run her hard in fetch.
Then, again, it could be much more about spending real time with me and not the exercise component at all.
So, next time I feel the aggravation burbling up when Lilly gets fussy, I’ll try to remember that she may just be trying to take care of me by letting me think that I’m taking care of her.
I agree – it goes both ways. It’s just as good for me as for my dogs to get out for a hike. We all come home happier than we started!
I know I’m not fun too be around when I don’t get my exercise. Thinking of my dog, I can see that she would disengage with me if I was trying to play with her and she sensed I was stressed. She’s just too sensitive to be around my down moods.
Our canine pals are so smart and so tuned in to what we are feeling.
Sounds like a feasible theory to me. I love hearing things like this, about dogs being more in-tune to their humans than one would initially think.