I know people who are completely ruled by their dog. They would leave half their drink because it's meal time for Fido and they have to get back, or s/he'll starve to death. I've always been of the school of thought that dogs should be flexible and, if they're fed an hour later than usual, they should be able to cope with that. However, there's also the comfort of routine. What are your thoughts?
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility We don't let our dogs rule us. At the end of the day they are animals! I've found that any animal with a strict routine actually gets more stressed than one used to a changable routine. If you ever deviate from the norm with a dog/horse etc that is used to a very tight schedule, they get very worried. I think its far better for animals to have a rough routine eg after they wake up they go out to the garden or they get 3 meals a day but its flexible as to when these things happen. It makes for an all round happier family - parents not stressing out about their pooch, pooch not stressing because its 17.02 and he hasn't had his 5 o clock tea!
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility Charlie is a member of our family, and so his routine is part of ours. I think routines are good, they help communicate to the dog what's expected. Eg after morning walk, it's laptop open, work time, the dog may as well go to sleep. I don't mind him enquiring where his dinner is if I'm running late, anymore than I mind if OH were to ask. I just don't expect either of them to make a big fuss about it though.
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility [quote author=JulieT link=topic=8727.msg123581#msg123581 date=1415870655] anymore than I mind if OH were to ask. [/quote] My OH would get a good, long, silent stare. He would whimper and run away with his tail between his legs and never dare to raise the subject again I guess one of the things is we really don't have a routine, especially in the evening. Our dinner is always some time between 8pm and midnight. So, there's no routine, certainly in the evening, for a dog to fit into. Now, if it were my parents, who ALWAYS have their lunch at 1pm and ALWAYS have their dinner at 6pm, lest the world stop turning, it would be another matter! Clearly, I'm not saying a puppy would have to wait until midnight, but, for example, yesterday evening when Willow had a play date with another dog and we let them carry on playing with each other in their living room - we didn't get home until 8:30, when Willow was given her dinner. I normally feed her around 7pm. She wasn't fussing at all, more than happy to keep jumping on the big yellow beast, who was just a bit bemused by the small black thing. I'm just trying to work out if that kind of thing is unfair on her. My instinct is to think that a routine, if broken, can cause stress, whereas flexibility is a lot easier on everyone. However, I know plenty of parents who would disagree and say that their kids need routine. Kids and dogs are different creatures (dogs being FAR preferable!) but I wonder if they're similar in this regard. Maybe I'm overthinking. As long as they get fed, and know they will; as long as they get their exercise; as long as they get plenty of love and cuddles, this may be a non-issue!!
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility Mine have a quite structured life , routine playing a large part but I certainly would lose any sleep over their meal being an hour early or late , or their walk either .
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility We take it in turns to make supper, so it's no biggy. You don't sound in any danger of having such a strict routine the dog gets distressed if it changes. [quote author=snowbunny link=topic=8727.msg123587#msg123587 date=1415871461] As long as they get fed, and know they will; as long as they get their exercise; as long as they get plenty of love and cuddles [/quote] Sounds about right to me.
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility Ours have a routine but it's not regimented and if we're travelling or out and about it flexes. Our toddler is probably less flexible than the dogs ;D The only thing I'm pretty adamant about is how much time they spend without company and I arrange for someone to come in if I'm going to be away longer than 4 hours for Riley and 2 hours for Obi(while he's little). If I'm out all day I usually ask someone to look after Obi all day and Riley gets a day off from the pup
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility When Pongo was young and we were still house-training, we tried to keep a bit of a routine about mealtimes and bedtimes so that he'd get into a pattern of going outside to do his business regularly. Now he is 11 months, he still gets fed at roughly the same time most days, but not regimented - he eats when we eat, which is between 6 and 8 in the evening and between 7.30 and 8.30 in the morning. His walk is usually in the morning, but not always; there is not really a routine to what we do during the day. The only thing that we keep as a real routine is making him go outside for a final pee before we go to bed... this seems important because he usually doesn't think he needs one, but if we left him sleeping I'm sure we'd have accidents during the night. He drags himself outside when we insist, and gives me a long-suffering look as he squeezes out just enough to keep me happy and get a treat. I can see him raise his eyes to the heavens with a 'what a stupid woman she is but I'd better humour her' look. Rosie
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility We have a rough routine - breakfast after she has been out for a wee (anytime between 8am-10am) Twice a week she is walked by our dog walker around 11am. The other days I walk her when I finish work which can be anything from 12-5pm. Tea is around 7pm (+/- an hour). Wee before bed is anything from 10pm-11.45pm. We have found Harley is very adaptable to the times we do things x
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility We have rough routines but if things go differently no worries, only thing we never change is breakfast has to be before 8am or Elsie starts chucking up yellow froth so it's best she has her breakfast early.
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility [quote author=Julie1962 link=topic=8727.msg123605#msg123605 date=1415874192] We have rough routines but if things go differently no worries, only thing we never change is breakfast has to be before 8am or Elsie starts chucking up yellow froth so it's best she has her breakfast early. [/quote] Do you give her anything at bedtime? I give mine just a little snack, couple of biscuits or a small amount of kibble for the pup. It seems to stave off the "I'm completely starving" drama in the morning Apologies if you've already tried that ;D
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility [quote author=bbrown link=topic=8727.msg123607#msg123607 date=1415874408] [quote author=Julie1962 link=topic=8727.msg123605#msg123605 date=1415874192] We have rough routines but if things go differently no worries, only thing we never change is breakfast has to be before 8am or Elsie starts chucking up yellow froth so it's best she has her breakfast early. [/quote] Do you give her anything at bedtime? I give mine just a little snack, couple of biscuits or a small amount of kibble for the pup. It seems to stave off the "I'm completely starving" drama in the morning Apologies if you've already tried that ;D [/quote] Yes she has 3 meals a day last one at 8pm then her bedtime biscuits when we go to bed, I think it's because we are early to bed though, rarely later than 9.15pm because my husband starts work so early in the morning.
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility I am retired, so I don't have a daily routine. But the dogs soon learn what's coming up! They can tell when I'm going out and taking both together and when it's just one or the other as soon as I start getting ready! As soon as I start preparing to take Gypsy out Tatze rushes to her crate and the other way round. They can tell by the bag I'm preparing (Gypsy has a bag with blanket and other stuff for sitting under tables etc) and by the shoes I put on. As soon as I go to the doggy cupboard they are watching to see which it is In the evening we go into the lounge at 9pm to watch TV - if I'm late they stand by the lounge door grumbling!
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility [quote author=snowbunny link=topic=8727.msg123587#msg123587 date=1415871461] Kids and dogs are different creatures (dogs being FAR preferable!) [/quote] I agree X1000!!
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility For us it's pretty important that Inca can be flexible. She will always get her breakfast at 6.30 on a weekday but her lunch and dinner can often be an hour early or an hour late depending on what Rob and I are doing. Breakfast at the weekends is slightly later. I alternate between working from home and being out on the road so Inca's day can be different depending on what I'm doing. Rob often takes her to work with him too. For a 3-month old puppy she has adapted amazingly well to all of this. Today she has spent the morning at home with me (asleep until now) and this afternoon she will go to the office with Rob. The main thing for us is that she is not left alone for too long and that she gets enough exercise every day which will become more important as she grows up.
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility my two have a routine but its not bound by time, its sequence of events. so breakfast after long walk in morning, and tea after their night time game with me after work. After that I have my dinner then its chill time for dogs...so they dont care if its late or early but they like the familiarity of the sequence. routine seems important to cuilli, brods just goes with the flow...like others im most focused on routines around being left alone, 4.5 hrs max. Ive walked out of work meetings before! having said that they dont seem to bother about the very occassional longer stretch so its more about me i think !
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility Really interesting reading this thread....routine is my master ;D ;D ;D I wish I could be different.... In my defence we are dictated to by the weather for 5 months of the year for walk times....and the rest of the day is built around that.But Dexter would have a routine anyway.....I don't work but to get everything I want to get fitted onto my days I need to be organised and routined ;D Dexter only falls into the routine though when we are home .... for example around 4.30 pm each afternoon is usually my quick sit down time and grab a bit of forum time...at 5 pm Dexter will either get up and go and sit by the door or climb up onto the couch and sit on my head .....I really mean that,sit on my head this is to remind me that it is walk time.....he can't tell the time can he?but he knows the ROUTINE.?..now if I'm out at 5 and don't get in to say 5.40 I will peep,through the window at hi and he's asleep....he doesn't care his walk is late! ....my friends were once teasing me about my lack of spontaneity and I famously replied 'I am spontaneous,but I can only do spontaneous on Thursdays. ;D ;D ;D I'm with Barabra...Dexter has never been left alone for more than 4 hours and I am getting twitchy at the 3 hour mark.....but again when I've snuck up to spy on him....what is he doing.....yep,sleeping! Modified to say Fiona......leaving half your drink?now that's just foolish!!!!
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility [quote author=Dexter link=topic=8727.msg123642#msg123642 date=1415883247] Modified to say Fiona......leaving half your drink?now that's just foolish!!!! [/quote] Oh, yes, I agree! I would never do that myself, obviously. In fact, I'm not sure why I'm even friends with people who would do that! I think the point about not leaving them too long is a good one. Luckily for mine, I work from home, so it's only weekends during the winter where they would be getting left at all, and I'd make sure it was only for about three hours at a time. I have a course to go in December for six days, but I'll be walking them first thing for as long as they're allowed at that age before going out. I won't be able to come back during the day, so I'll get someone in to feed them and give them a walk at lunchtime, again the maximum possible. Then, I'll be back early evening so I'll have a play with them then, feed them and maybe take them to the local pub for a quick drink (for me!) and socialisation (for us all).
Re: Thoughts on routine vs flexibility I think it depends massively on the personality and lifestyle of the owner. We have routines woven into our day. When I get up she hears me come downstairs, unlock the front door, put the kettle on, I then go into my study and switch on the computer and let her out for a wee. I have other little sub routines in our day, but when she gets her walk etc is at my convenience ( and the weathers). It has always been this way and she has happily accepted it. Happy humans, happy dog. Don't think that can be beaten
