Hey guys,
Hope all is well with your ridgeback! Sorry it has taken so long for me to get back to you as it has been a busy month. Essentially, the gist of my post was that it's not so much the physical activity that will wear your RR out as the mental activity. Your RR has been bred with the ability to run up to 35 miles a day at a horses trotting pace. You will never ever be able to mimic this type of physical exhaustion. Moreover, the best way to exhaust your dog is simply by walking him/her 2 miles 2x a day on a short leash. This walk is intended to be several things: a continuous training exercise (even effective for dogs who have been doing it for years), a bonding experience (the leash surprisingly is a very strong bonding tool as your dog can feel every emotion you have though that leash so its very important to be in the moment, in control, and the leader of the walk), finally a good release for energy (for the both of you).
You, as a proud parent, can let your dog run free all day and at the end of that day that dog will still exhibit wild characteristics of a dog who hasnt been exercised at all. If you walk your dog 2 miles a day 2x a day on a short leash (or on a long one with the slack pulled in) you can really make your dog think which will be more physically draining than running free all day. It is important to note that when you walk him, make sure he understands this walk is not a walk for his entertainment. This walk is for training. He must follow you at every turn (change direction frequently without an indication of your doing so). He must never walk ahead of you. He must obey all commands (wait, sit, down, slow, etc..) and you must utilize these commands on every walk at random. Many people use dog day packs to help in the exercise. Dogs know once they have a pack on, the walk is no longer for "fun" its for work which is exactly what this walk is intended for...work.
I'm not saying to not let your dog run free. Dogs (especially RR's) are seekers so they need to be able to run free and sniff out new things, track new scents and play with other animals. However, these activities need to be done after a walk is done. You will see a monumental difference in your pets behavior in the house when you get a routine of strict walking as a means of exercise/discipline. Many people think an acceptable means of exercise is taking your pet to the dog park and letting him play for 3 hours. This is not so. He will most definitely be tried for even a couple hours afterward, but most definitely will arise again to be even more wild post nap. If you walk him prior to going to the dog park you will also find that his demeanor at the dog park with change too. He will be more polite, socially intuitive and will also think more while there rather than running around like a wild goose.
The only analogy I can draw is with kids. If you took your kid to the park every day and cut him loose to play with others without any discipline or regimented schedule you would see a wild child at home regardless of how long you were at the park. That kid needs to do his homework, chores, etc before you go to the park. The same logic applies with dogs, especially RR's as they are innately stubborn, willful, and very intelligent. This walk if you do it correctly will establish you as a dominant figure in the house, force your RR to think about what your next move will be and create a bond between the two of you that is irreplaceable. Try it for a month. Be firm but loving and be the leader of your walk.
So pick up your leash, call your dog, and get outside and walk.
Good luck, let me know how it goes.
