Welcome to TOPDOG!

Dog walking is good for both you and your dog! Walking your dog is the first step for any canine behavioral problem. The reason for this is that dogs are natural travelers, and they have a need to explore new territory every day in order to remain mentally healthy and stable. Walking your dog stabilizes him or her mentally and physically by letting them expend energy. If a dog doesn't get exercise beyond his yard, he or she will be bored and that can lead to bad behavior. Dogs have different energy levels. It's the high energy dogs that will use their boredom in destructive ways, and are more likely to suffer separation anxiety when you leave them home alone. Small dogs may not need as much exercise, but walking benefits them as well.

Dog walking is one of the cheapest as well as the most enjoyable ways of ensuring your own fitness as well as that of your dog. Apart from that, it endows you with the usual benefits of walking i.e. improvement in cardiovascular development, strengthening of muscles and bones, low blood pressure, etc.

Yet another benefit of dog walking is that your pet has the capability of charging you up, enhancing your energy levels, so that you walk faster and with much more enthusiasm. With this, you not only burn more calories, but also improve your overall fitness levels. It has been proved that dogs serve as great stress busters. So, walking with your dog will help you forget all your worries and relax your mind as well. All in all, right from the social viewpoint to the health perspective, dog walking holds lots of benefits!

ABOUT TOP DOG: This group is for people who would like to meet in the Carmichael area to take some walks in the evening / occasional weekends with their DOG-FRIENDLY (and human friendly) pooches and meet with other dog owners who enjoy the exercise and enjoy bringing their canine companions along. We hope to meet other dog 'parents' who enjoy their hounds as much as we do! (Obviously we would ask that everyone's hounds be up to date with shots etc...) DOGLESS TOPDOGS: If you like dogs but do not have one, and you enjoy walking for exercise, feel free to join us. We will welcome you, however please know that we will be spending lots of time with the dogs, focusing on dog walking behavior, basic canine socialization, and occasionally some doggy play time. :)

DOG FRIENDLY AND LEASHED DOGS ONLY PLEASE!!!
ABOUT AGGRESSIVE NON-SOCIALIZED DOGS: Even though we will walk with leashed dogs, if your dog is aggressive or does not get along well with other dogs, it is probably not the right group for you. An excited or hyper dog is different than an aggressive dog. Only YOU know your own dog, dogs do get excited, but if your dog is wanting to pick fights then this is not the right group for you.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER PLEASE READ THIS WHOLE PAGE AND TAKE THE TEN MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS TO THE LEFT UNDER "POLLS" AFTER JOINING~ THANK YOU :)

NOTE TO TOPDOGS: PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION OF THE WALK YOU'RE ATTENDING, THE DESCRIPTION WILL TELL YOU IF IT'S A SLOW TO AVERAGE SPEED WALK OR FASTER SPEED AEROBIC PACED WALK CALLED A "QUICK WALK". WE DON'T WANT ANYONE WALKING ALONE. We'll be doing some slower walks, and some faster speed "QUICK WALKS" for those that would like to walk at more of an aerobic speed. QUICK WALKS WILL BE TITLED "QUICK WALKS" ON THE CALENDAR. IF THE WALK YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING DOES NOT SAY "QUICK WALK" THEN IT IS AN NORMAL AVERAGE SPEED WALK.

"QUICK WALKS" are for those that would like to walk a little faster and gain some aerobic exercise. "QUICK WALKS" will be quick and simple. These occasional quick walks might not be good for senior dogs, especially in the heat of summer. Please consider your own health and your pooches overall health before walking any distance in the heat. DON'T FORGET TO BRING WATER FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR POOCH, DEHYDRATION IS NO JOKE!

IMPORTANT: PLEASE KEEP YOUR DOGS ON A SECURE LEASH / COLLAR WHEN YOU ARRIVE WHILE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR. THERE ARE LEASH LAWS IN THE PARKS, AND IT PREVENTS YOU FROM GETTING A TICKET, WHILE MAINTAINING CONTROL & SAFETY OVER ALL OF OUR DOGS. DOGS SHOULD REMAIN ON THEIR LEASH AT ALL TIMES DURING THESE MEETUPS UNLESS OTHERWISE PLANNED. ALSO, PLEASE PRACTICE DOGGY COMMON COURTESY AND BE AWARE THAT DOGS ARE SOMETIMES NATURALLY PROTECTIVE ON THEIR LEASHES, AND GREETING OTHER DOGS WHILE ON A LEASH IS OPTIONAL TO EACH OWNER. JUST BECAUSE YOUR DOG IS LEASH FRIENDLY, DOES NOT MEAN ANOTHER TOPDOG MEMBER WANTS YOUR DOG TO APPROACH THEIR DOG.

*** ABOUT RSVPs: An RSVP is a commitment you make to the organizer and the group. If you are a "YES", will wait 5 minutes for you to arrive. If you have a last minute hold up, please be courteous and update your RSVP right away so that we are not waiting for you. If you RSVP to an event as a “YES”, and are a “no show” three times, you will be removed from the group permanently.