I think cycling or roller blading is shown a lot because in the states you can't really let dogs run off-lead in public parks the way you can here. Walking on-lead simply isn't going to high energy dogs with enough exercise. So the biking, rollerblading and even treatmill at a push are ways to get sufficient exercise for a high energy dog in a less than ideal environment.

I believe he personally takes his dogs on a long off-lead hike in the countryside.

In one of his books he describes a well structured walk. And the actual structure depends a lot upon your dog's individual habits. But as an example, in a one hour walk he recommends:

15 minutes migration, moving as a pack
5 minutes rewards; tracking; searching; sniffing
15 minutes migration, moving as a pack
10 minutes rewards, tracking; searching; sniffing
15 minutes migration, moving as a pack.

Or

30 minutes pack leader walk with intention (must invest 100%)
10 minutes rewards; tracking; searching; sniffing
15 minutes migration moving as a pack
5 minutes rewards; tracking; searching; sniffing

Yup ! I use my dog's name to get his attention. Thereafter, his name is only used in the form of praise ... ie, good boy Tai. When I am oi'ing and tssting because he hasn't obeyed, for example, my sit command, I do not use his name. I want him to associate the use of his name with praise, when he has been obedient or when we are playing.

If he has disobeyed my first command : "Tai! Sit !" then his name is not used again, until the command has been obeyed and I can then praise him.

Becky, you are just talking a load of rubbish. No dog I have ever had, even rescues like Tai who were unfit with no muscle due to lack of exercise, have had to be dragged "kicking and screaming" into taking exercise.

CM does not ONLY roller blade with dogs. As you very well know, if you watched the programmes. God, I really do despair. I've got to go now, OH is waiting for me to come on a bike ride with my poor abused dog. He went 10 miles yesterday along the towpath, and he's about to do another 10 miles. That poor dog, you had better report me to the RSPCA. Oh, and you'd better add this ... he fell in yesterday, tripped over a mooring post on the side of the canal, and the bank was too steep there for him to be able to climb out. I had to jump down onto a concrete pontoon and get him to swim to me so I could pull him out. Jeez, I am one cruel cow

I've just spent £1000 on mountain bikes for me and my husband so that we can overexercise our already overexercised (according to some halfwits) Beagles even more!!!

You know, they're so abused and downtrodden that they use appeasement signals such as wagging their tails and making their little eyes sparkle.

I won't make judgements about people on discussion forums as you can't see their dogs. But I despair at the state of some dogs I see when their owners think they are fit and lean. Lets just say I have concerns when people start talking about others over-exercising their dogs. Statistics tell us that most dogs in this country are fat to the point of being unhealthy and that the majority of the time their owners don't know it. When asked to pick out their dogs build on a chart they pick out the picture of a dangerously overweight dog and think it's in perfect condition!!!

I think people should get their priorities right and worry about the epedemic of unfit, fat, unhealthy dogs in our country rather than trying to make lazy dog owners feel better by pretending that insufficient exercise is in the dog's best interest. It's not.

yeah, i was just trying to make the point that CM doesnt just say to take them roller blading etc, there are plenty episodes were he walking with them. mahooli said...

shes is saying he uses that as the only form of exercise, which he doesnt

If you knew anything about dogs you would know that taking a dog that has not been exercised straight out on long walks is wrong, it needs to be built up gradually to prevent the dog from being injured. If CM is taking peoples dogs out who he believes has not been adequately exercised straight away on roller blades then he is doing it wrong.
With regards to you being in dispair just remember those of us who are stunned that YOU cannot see the abuse this man deals out on his dogs.
Having just read the supposed exercise regime CM puts in his books then I pity those poor dogs, where are they allowed any time off to actually be dogs on their own terms rather than those put upon them by him? Only allowed to sniff when he says so for a mere 25% of a one hour walk good grief. Dogs aren't robots.
Becky

Where have I mentione dover exercising dogs, nowhere, you're making things up now. What I have said is that dogs need more than a bit of pavement pounding or being attached to bikes/blades etc to ensure they are happy and both physically and mentally stimulated. I have also pointed out that it is wrong to take under exercised dogs out straight away on long, forced (if they are attached to bike/blades) walks. It needs to be done gradually and carefully to prevent injury.
I have always campaigned about fat dogs even to the point of calling the RSPCA to those that are grossly over weight, however at that time the RSPCA did not consider excessive weight to be a neglect issue although they have changed their tune soon.
I will also not disregard one matter of abuse over another, CM abuses dogs and whenever a CM thread appears then I will express my opinon thus, when a fat dog thread appears I will do the same. To me they are ALL causes for concern and they should ALL be top priority. The man is a menace as many American Humane societies have now come out publically against him, have complained along with many dog professionals and individuals as well. His programmes should be banned from UK TV.
Becky

No I didn't say that what I said is using blading/cycling as the only form of exercise for your dog is inadequate.
Becky

Dogs need a warm up and warm down when walking. This is not something I read or made up. My last dog suffered badly with his joints and was seeing a specialist for some time. That specialist vet said just like people, dogs need to warm up before running and then warm down. Lead walk, let them off, lead walk back to the car or home. If Gnasher is setting off on her bike with that poor dog she is heading for trouble.

I also feel that if Gnasher has to tsst and oi so much her training isn't working. No CM training, ever, in my house and I have a very fiesty boy, but I only need to use his name. Makes me wonder if some people just have a dog so they can feel powerful.

he also throws balls for them and has a swimming pool for dogs unable to do long walks due to poor condition, also at the beginning of each programme there is a notice saying that no animals were hurt during the making, and at the end it specifically says it is NOT recommended that viewers use his methods, they are for him as a trainer to use. now can we agree to disagree