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Common behavior problems among dogs can be curbed with more exercise

What is your excuse? I’ve heard more than my share when it comes to not giving your dog enough exercise. Yet, most people do not understand that limiting a dog’s exercise can lead to several common behavior problems. I regularly receive phone calls from frustrated dog owners whose pets have eaten their leather couch or cannot stop jumping up on their guests or the dining room table. More times than not these dogs get little, if any, exercise and so they make up their own.
Life’s hectic schedule can get in the way of making sure your dog gets his/her daily exercise – many people do not get enough exercise themselves. However, the importance of exercise in dogs (and people) is immeasurable for mental, physical, and emotional health. Dogs are hot-wired to work, and if they do not have an opportunity to relieve stress and ‘take the edge off’, they can develop severe behavioral problems. Without proper daily exercise and mental stimulation, they can become destructive, hyperactive, nippy, and may literally bounce off the walls. In short, they need a job and they need to walk everyday.

Proper Exercise for your Dog
Do not worry if you are not a marathon runner - your dog probably does not need to run 10 miles a day (and probably shouldn’t). I recommend a 20 to 30 minute walk twice a day outside of the house. (At least one walk a day – wake up 30 minutes earlier in the morning for a week and you will see a difference in your dogs behavior by Friday!) Technically, playing fetch or Frisbee in your backyard counts as exercise, but your dog will benefit from being outside of your yard and walking around the neighborhood. Walking on leash helps with self-control and reiterating/learning manners, as well as building the bond between you and your pooch. And believe it or not, exercise is good for you, too! Studies show people who own pets and regularly walk them are healthier and leaner individuals.

Mental Stimulation as Exercise for your Dog
Retrieving, Frisbee, Find-It and Kong games are all great mental activities. Teach your dog to fetch a tennis ball or catch a Frisbee. Teach your dog the ‘Find-it’ or ‘Find-Me’ games. Smear some yogurt or peanut butter with some cheerios in a Kong, stick a big carrot in the end to plug the hole, and then freeze it to make it last longer.

Benefits of Exercising your Dog:
• Decrease behavioral problems such as digging, chewing, nipping, barking
• Decrease the symptoms of separation anxiety and aggression
• Decrease underlying anxiety and overall stress
• Help build strong joints and muscles
• Exercise helps maintain a healthy heart and lungs
• Maintain a healthy weight for your pet, which is very important to overall health. If your dog is overweight he/she can easily develop diabetes, which can lead to blindness and several other health related issues
• Exercise will help your dog learn what is on the outside of the fence, and may diminish fence aggression and/or fence running
• Exercise/walking will help your dog learn self-control and not to pull on the leash (if you teach him, of course)
• Exercise provides mental stimulation so he/she doesn’t have to stare at the wall or sleep all day
• Exercise will help your dog calm down during resting periods of the day
• Exercise can help eliminate potty problems and marking behavior related to anxiety
• Exercise will help your dog live a healthy, happy, and calm life

At the end of a long day, grab your dog’s leash and head for a nice, long, relaxing walk. I promise your dog will be very grateful and so will you!