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by Tngsd on 26 June 2010 - 22:06
A disavowing of “goal oriented” exercise for dogs as written in
PUPS is actually on very tenuous grounds scientifically, since adult wild canids exhibit primarily
goal-oriented activities, such as searching for food and mates, and daily movements between
shelter and water, and such instinctual behavior undoubtedly carries over to an extent in our
own domesticated dogs.
“Forced”, “repetitive”, “restrictive”, “solitary” or “goal oriented” (PUPS wording)
activities cannot be counted as exercise under these requirements, unless performed
under the order of a veterinarian: These specifications would have a number of negative
ramifications for both dogs and breeders, should PUPS amend the existing AWA, including:
1. Many show breeders living in colder, snowier climates use indoor treadmills during the
winter months to keep their dogs in condition when prolonged outside activities are less
inviting for both dogs and their owners. Use of treadmills for this purpose apparently could
not fulfill the PUPS “exercise requirements”, and some other exercise program for the
winter months would have to be designed. Perhaps a special indoor exercise facility would
have to be constructed by the breeder at great expense to fulfill these requirements
2. Probably being defined as “goal oriented”, such purposeful training activities, such as
hunting, tracking, agility, obedience, and herding, apparently cannot be counted as
fulfillment of these exercise requirements in PUPS, no matter how well they condition the
dog physically and mentally, nor the level of enjoyment that the dog receives from these
pursuits. Breeders licensed under the PUPS language to be included in the AWA would
probably be forced to institute other exercise programs even for their working dogs, in
addition to or even in place of their current training regimens.
3. Owners who are elderly, disabled, or recuperating from illness or injury, and who are
therefore unable to assist the dogs in an exercise program, will often use treadmills, or
“repetitive activities” such as ball tossing to provide their dogs with meaningful exercise.
Disallowing these, and mandating other forms of exercise, may make it more difficult for
these breeders to maintain their AWA license, despite the overall good care they
otherwise provide their dogs.
A question exists if natural surfaces (such as vegetated surfaces, bare dirt, sand, or
pea gravel) would be allowable in this exercise area: The exercise requirements mandate
that the floor of the area to be so utilized must be “cleaned once a day” and is “free from pests
and vermin”. A scrupulous application of these terms might rule out “natural” surfaced exercise
quarters, no matter how careful the owner was regarding sanitation and pest control of this
area.
Even though approved wire flooring is acceptable under current AWA standards20,
PUPS specifically states that wire flooring cannot be used as a surface on which these
exercise requirements would be met. Even if the “primary enclosures” are deemed to be
sufficient size to meet these new exercise requirements, and are well-maintained and are in
conformance with AWA specifications, these would need to be replaced should they have wire
flooring due to these mandated exercise requirements contained in PUPS. Wire flooring has
proven useful in larger kennels for reasons of sanitation, dryness, and warmth; there is no
reason given in PUPS why these would not be acceptable as flooring in exercise enclosures in
addition to primary enclosures.
Analysis: Section 3
PUPS is actually on very tenuous grounds scientifically, since adult wild canids exhibit primarily
goal-oriented activities, such as searching for food and mates, and daily movements between
shelter and water, and such instinctual behavior undoubtedly carries over to an extent in our
own domesticated dogs.
“Forced”, “repetitive”, “restrictive”, “solitary” or “goal oriented” (PUPS wording)
activities cannot be counted as exercise under these requirements, unless performed
under the order of a veterinarian: These specifications would have a number of negative
ramifications for both dogs and breeders, should PUPS amend the existing AWA, including:
1. Many show breeders living in colder, snowier climates use indoor treadmills during the
winter months to keep their dogs in condition when prolonged outside activities are less
inviting for both dogs and their owners. Use of treadmills for this purpose apparently could
not fulfill the PUPS “exercise requirements”, and some other exercise program for the
winter months would have to be designed. Perhaps a special indoor exercise facility would
have to be constructed by the breeder at great expense to fulfill these requirements
2. Probably being defined as “goal oriented”, such purposeful training activities, such as
hunting, tracking, agility, obedience, and herding, apparently cannot be counted as
fulfillment of these exercise requirements in PUPS, no matter how well they condition the
dog physically and mentally, nor the level of enjoyment that the dog receives from these
pursuits. Breeders licensed under the PUPS language to be included in the AWA would
probably be forced to institute other exercise programs even for their working dogs, in
addition to or even in place of their current training regimens.
3. Owners who are elderly, disabled, or recuperating from illness or injury, and who are
therefore unable to assist the dogs in an exercise program, will often use treadmills, or
“repetitive activities” such as ball tossing to provide their dogs with meaningful exercise.
Disallowing these, and mandating other forms of exercise, may make it more difficult for
these breeders to maintain their AWA license, despite the overall good care they
otherwise provide their dogs.
A question exists if natural surfaces (such as vegetated surfaces, bare dirt, sand, or
pea gravel) would be allowable in this exercise area: The exercise requirements mandate
that the floor of the area to be so utilized must be “cleaned once a day” and is “free from pests
and vermin”. A scrupulous application of these terms might rule out “natural” surfaced exercise
quarters, no matter how careful the owner was regarding sanitation and pest control of this
area.
Even though approved wire flooring is acceptable under current AWA standards20,
PUPS specifically states that wire flooring cannot be used as a surface on which these
exercise requirements would be met. Even if the “primary enclosures” are deemed to be
sufficient size to meet these new exercise requirements, and are well-maintained and are in
conformance with AWA specifications, these would need to be replaced should they have wire
flooring due to these mandated exercise requirements contained in PUPS. Wire flooring has
proven useful in larger kennels for reasons of sanitation, dryness, and warmth; there is no
reason given in PUPS why these would not be acceptable as flooring in exercise enclosures in
addition to primary enclosures.
Analysis: Section 3
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