Since Sampson did a partial tear on his right knee back in January, I’ve been having to walk the dogs separately.
At first it was no big deal, because Sampson really couldn’t go that far at all. We would walk down two houses, then turn around and walk back.
After resting, anti-inflammatories, acupuncture and hydrotherapy, his walks slowly increased in time and length. For the longest time he’s been at seven minutes. Seven minutes in whichever direction we are walking, then turn around and head home. I decided it’s now time to bump the walks up to eight minutes, when time and weather permit.
Morning walks can be a bit rushed, as I have to get ready for work. Afternoons are a bit easier because back in January, my hours at work got cut. I arranged my schedule so I leave work at 2:00 pm and I’m done for the day.
With the separation anxiety that Sampson has been having, it’s just easier for him if I come home and stay home.
Honestly, I am really enjoying the individual time with my dogs. Not just because I am spending one of one bonding time with them, but because I can work on them with their individual issues (Sampson’s need to greet everyone and Delilah’s sometimes snarkiness with other dogs.) Still, it would be nice, if their morning walks could be together.
So that is my new goal. Get Sampson’s strength up so he can make it around the block. This means he probably has to get his walk time up to around 11 minutes.
I’ve mentioned this before, when Sampson and I head out for our walk, I set the timer on my phone and when it goes off, I coax him around and head back home. Some of you may recall Sampson’s been having some issues with noises lately, so I changed the notification on my phone to chimes, which doesn’t seem to bother him.
When Sampson and I walk, we always head down hill in the morning and up hill in the afternoon. Sampson has made a friend on the street that loops behind our house, so I try and make sure we head her way in the afternoons, when the probability is better that she will be outside.
Yesterday I set my phone for eight minutes and Sampson and I headed up the hill. As we reached a point we hadn’t been to in quite a while, I pulled my phone out to check our time and we still had about 25 seconds to go.
I always try and encourage and praise him, so I said, “Good job Buddy, you really went far today.”
At that point the phone, (which I’d left in my hand) went Ding, ding, ding, ding and Sampson, with no coaching from me, turned around and headed home.
It reminded me of Pavlov’s dogs (minus the food of course) and made me realize that even when I don’t think he’s paying attention, he really is.
I wonder what other things he might be learning without me knowing? I wish he’d learn to pay the bills. 🙂
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