The wonders of having a pet! The waving tails, the gurgling snoods, the unconditional affection… and the never-ending list of to-do’s. So if you’ve ever wondered how it is that your furry pal seems to be on your time longer than you are working, then you are not alone. Let’s dive into the dog world of pet time, the cramming of walks, meals, play and care every day.
The Day-To-Day Walk: A Poem of Leashes and Lampposts
The daily walk is as inevitable to dog owners as death and taxes. That is your no-brainer, rain or shine, drunk or not. As one tired dog owner put it: “My dog’s internal clock is better than any alarm clock I’ve ever had. 6 AM? Time for a walk! Snowstorm? Time for a walk! Zombie apocalypse? Yep – it’s walk time!””
But just how much time is that? Well, it’s all in your dog’s age, size, and level of energy. Here's a rough guide:
- Small/ old dog: 20-30 mins, 1-2 times per day.
- Small adult dogs: 30-60 minutes, 2-3 times per day.
- Large/brisk-active dogs: 1-2 hours, broken into 2-3 walks a day.
That’s anywhere from 30 to 3 hours of your day, every day, spent walking your poochie. And that’s not counting the pre-walk clean-up (locating the leash, removing shoes, arguing with your dog about whether or not they really have to take their toy stuffed elephant on the walk) and post-walk clean-up (sweeping up muddy paws, hanging up wet clothes).
As the dog trainer Zak George says: “A tired dog is a good dog. Walks not only exercise your dog physically but mentally, and this is important for your dog’s health.” So the next time you’re walking around the block at 6 am, don’t panic – you’re not just walking, you’re investing in your dog’s happiness and wellbeing. And who knows, maybe buying yourself some walking shoes would not be a bad idea after all.
Feeding Time: How to Make Dog and Cat Food.
Ah, mealtime. The moment when your pet just woke up and realizes they have vocal cords and don’t mind using them. Whether your pet has the dinner dance or is a cat with the perfected judgmental gaze, feeding is a daylong process that needs time and energy.
Dogs and cats should generally be given twice a day; for puppies and kittens, three or four. Every feeding could be just a few minutes long, but if you count in the prep time (seating food, warming wet food or even preparing home-cooked food for the truly dedicated) then you’re looking at 15-30 minutes of feeding per day.
A cat owner told me, “My cat is clockwise. She’s a lazy loaf turned shouting performer, but two minutes before dinnertime. You have to live with a dog-eating, un-snoozeable alarm clock.”
And don’t get me started on snacks! Treat time adds up, whether you’re training them or using them because puppy eyes are too hard to resist. ‘I spend more time hiding treats around the house for my dog to find,’ one dog-owner confessed, “than I do on figuring out what to cook miself. It’s as if I have an Easter egg huntt every day for some very curious furry contestant.”
Time For Play: When the Days Go Fast and Toys Go Missing In A Sea Of Shadows
You need play for your dog’s physical and mental health. Not only that, but you get to bond with your canine pal and, let’s face it, shoot some pretty hilarious videos for your Instagram.
For dogs, play might be fetch, tug-of-war or hide-and-seek. Maybe your cats would rather chase a laser pointer, or bat at a hanging toy, or lick your underwear (sorry, it never gets old).
So how much time should you play? Here's a rough guide:
- Canines: 30-60 minutes daily, in 2-3 sessions.
- Cats: 10-15 mins, 2-3 times a day.
As one dog trainer told me: “I used to go to the gym. So now I mainly just play fetch with my Border Collie for an hour. I pretty much guarantee I’m calorie-burning, and the entertainment is just a lot better.”
And don’t forget: it’s not only physical play time. You can even train on it for mental stimulation. As the animal behaviourist Patricia McConnell writes: ‘Play is not optional. You can’t have it without it, whether it’s for your dog’s cognitive, social or emotional growth.
And so, the next time you’re in a rage with your cat about whether the folded-up paper ball is food or rubbish, remember – you’re not wasting time, you’re improving lives. Yours included.
Grooming: When Pet Hair Takes on the Form of a Fashion Jewelry
Ah, grooming. The moment when you realize that your pet somehow sprouted a whole new coat of fur since yesterday and it’s all over your shirt. From the long-haired cat that must be brushing every day to the dog that considers mud a style accessory, pet grooming is one of those activities that can fill up an important portion of your day.
Here’s a rough outline of grooming time demands:
- Short-haired cats: 10 min, 1-2 times per week.
- Long-haired cats: 15-20 minutes a day.
- Short-haired dogs: 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times per week.
- Long-haired dogs: 20-30 minutes a day.
Then there are the baths, nails and teeth cleaning. Depending on your animal, these can be another hour or two added to your weekly pampered schedule.
One Husky owner laughed: “I don’t have a white couch. I have a sofa with fur, it was white. “Lint rollers are my favourite tool now.” I’ve grown to love them.
And do not forget, grooming is not only about keeping your pet clean. It’s also a form of prenatal exam. “When you groom them, make sure they have regular check-ups for lumps, bumps, or skin issues,” says veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker. This is like giving your pet a health check every time you brush.”
Dog Training: Getting Old (and New) Dogs to Learn New Tricks
Whether you’re house training a puppy, or showing your adult canine that the mailman isn’t a demon to be defeated, training is a process that takes time, patience and, sometimes, a bit of humour.
In case of puppies or puppies who were just adopted, you might need to dedicate 15-20 minutes, 2-3 times a day to basics training. Maintaining a maintenance training routine can take 10-15 minutes per day with adult dogs.
A dog-owner reported: “I taught my dog to “shake hands” for weeks. Now he feels it’s the right word to say to everybody, even the startled driver who came to get a package and wanted me to sign for it.”
Recall that it isn’t only dedicated sessions where training happens. It’s an ongoing process, part of your day-to-day life with your pet. The dog trainer Victoria Stilwell advises: “Every time you are in the presence of your dog, it’s training time. Make them count!”
Veterinarians: “An Apple a Day” Is Not the Solution for Dogs and Cats
Vet visits are important to keep your dog or cat in good health, but they can fill up your calendar. All animals need annual exams; puppies, kittens, and elderly pets will probably require frequent inspections.
An average vet visit can take between 30 minutes and an hour, not counting travel. And if your pet requires any extra treatments or surgeries, you may be looking at hours.
‘I have a cat who is invisibly good but only on vet day,’ complained one owner. And then the cat underfoot is gone. I even looked into calling a search and rescue crew to come and see us for our annual health exams.”
Remember home preventive treatment such as flea and tick treatments or prescription medication. These are little things, but should be done every day.
As veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker shares, “Being preventative is the best health for your pet over time.” Sbend time now, you’ll save yourself so much time, trouble and money in the future.”
The Brain Tension: The Untangling Time Contract
And there’s the mental strain – the incessant vigilance and premeditation involved in caring for another animal.
This includes things like:
- Stop forgetting to buy pet food before it’s too late.
- Making vet visits and baths.
- Scheduling pet care while you’re out of town.
- Maintaining medication lists.
- Stressing over how your pet is going to feel and look after himself/herself.
This takes time, it’s a rolling process all owners will be familiar with.
I’ve turned into a walking glossary of my dog’s likes and dislikes,” one owner told me. I also know which park has the best squirrels to chase, which treat flavour is the latest hit, and how many times I can drop the ball before my arm gives out. It’s like a furry baby who never grows up”.
The Unexpected Time Sucks
And then there are the sudden time commitments – the ones you didn’t anticipate when you took that little glob of wool with you home.
Like the time you spend:
- Looking for the game that just disappeared.
- Scrubbing up the debris of your dog’s trash can trip – a scavenger hunt for sure.
- Rescuing your cat from under the bed before an appointment with the vet.
- Trying to take the best photo for your dog’s Instagram (because they’re just like their own account)
According to one cat owner: ‘I once spent two hours trying to get a picture of my cat blinking. Two hours! And ulltimately I only got a fuzzy shot of her ear. ‘I knaw for a fact she was snarking at me.
The Happiness Factor: In which Time Is Silent.
Yet this is the thing about the time we invest in our pets – it’s not just the stuff. It’s all the pure joy, the unbridled love, the people who are there and make it worth it.
It’s how time is never going to pass when you’re snuggling your cat on a lazy Sunday morning. That unapologetically adoring look on your dog’s face when you return home after five minutes. It’s the quiet company while you are at home and your cat is sleeping happily nearby.
In the words of one dog owner, “My time with my pet is not a task and I do not have to. It’s a stake in love, in happiness, in a relationship that does everything I don’t think it could do. It’s a lot of time – yes – but it’s the most efficient use of my time.
And so yes, pets do take time. Walking to feeding, playing to grooming, vet visits to training – it is a full-time occupation sometimes. But ask any pet-person – it’s the best job in the world.
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