07 Apr
Exercise and your Dog
If you provide your dog with enough exercise you will find that many of its bad behaviours will stop.
This week I spoke to someone who has an 18 month old labrador constantly digging up the back garden. The dog was only getting 2 walks a week. I suggested she walk her dog every day (preferably in the morning so it was tired for the rest of the day). She did this and has found her dog stopped digging straight away.
Many behaviours are caused by a dog not being able to expend its energy. Barking at everything and anything is another behaviour that exercise can cure. Dogs get frustrated if they have lots of energy or not enough stimulation, and frustration = bad behaviour.
Every dog needs daily exercise no matter what breed it is or how old it is. You just vary the amount depending on its energy levels and capabilities. Young dogs need at least one walk a day, preferably two. Once they are fully grown dogs can be run, or taught to run beside a bicycle or roller blades. This way you can tire them out faster! Older dogs (over 8 years) need less exercise but still need the mental stimulation of going out of their territory.
Your home and garden is like a large cage to a dog so even if it is a large garden your dog still needs to get out of it on a daily basis to prevent going cage crazy. Just the mental stimulation of all the smells, sounds and sights outside the den is tiring to a dog.
Exercise your dog before going to work so you leave a tired dog at home. Tired dogs are good dogs!
When you take your dog to the park, make sure it exercises and doesn’t just stand still or spend 90% of its time waiting for a ball to be thrown. If you move, your dog will move, if you stand still your dog will probably stand still too.
Exercising your dog daily is not only good for your dog but also good for you. It helps relieve stress and it helps create a strong bond between you and your dog.
If you find your walks are stressful give me a call (0439 439004), you don’t have to put up with your dog pulling on the lead, barking or beng aggressive or out of control around people or other dogs.