by A well exercised dog can be calm and easy to live with, and it can also help the dog be healthy, so you do need to exercise a dog regularly.
On the other hand, a dog that is kept restricted and confined readily becomes a boisterous, agitated nuisance who can be difficult to own.
Harnessing your dog’s energy
Dogs have an inherited the genes that give them the desire to run and be active from their ancestors and wild relatives, wolves, who needed to keep their bodies in good condition for hunting. These active traits have been deliberately enhanced through selective breeding to produce breeds with great energy and stamina for different types of work.
In our modern world, many owners can only spare a relatively small amount of time for their dogs. In addition, most dogs are no longer worked like they were centuries ago. This often results in pet dogs having too much energy for their owners to cope with, especially the descendants of working dogs.
Problem behaviors are common in under exercised dogs, as they try to find an alternative outlet for their considerable mental and physical energies. Dogs with too much energy may chew all sorts of household goods, chase away imaginary intruders whenever they hear a sound, steal things, become obsessed with finding food, park, wine, and run away in search of entertainment.
They might also jump up, be boisterous and thoughtless, and find it difficult to concentrate on learning or pleasing their owners. If you have only limited time to spend with your dog each day, you need to make the most of it.
Dogs need both physical exercise and mental stimulation. Physical exercise should be aerobic, in the form of free running and play, and stamina building, as is the case with walking them. Teach your dog to come back when called and also to retrieve so that they or reliable off the leash and can be exercised easily.
Short sessions of vigorous play, interrupted with periods of walking and off leash running, will give you the ideal exercise plan.
How much is enough exercise
The amount of exercise you give depends on your dog and their needs. Two daily walks of about an hour duration each are enough for a healthy, young working dog, but older dogs and those from non-working breeds will need less.
As well as physical exercise, dogs require mental exercise in the form of playing and learning. Make time to teach your dog different games and actions, so that you can exercise their mind easily while at home without exhausting yourself.
Finding hidden objects in boxes or around the house is a good mental exercise, as well as playing hide and seek with your dog. Learning new tricks and exercises will also keep them active and involved in your everyday life, with the advantage that they will be tired when you want to rest or have to go to work.
Exercising puppies
Puppies need careful exercise as they have soft joints and bones that cannot tolerate too much walking. Active play and free running for short periods will help to use up their energy and make them easier to raise.
Puppies and young dogs often have a crazy five minutes when they race around crazily with their tail tucked beneath them, but then they calm down. Always be careful when exercising puppies, because they’re not familiar with their surroundings or the limitations of their body yet.
Conclusion
Remember, make a point to exercise your dog both physically and mentally each day. Not only will this help you raise a healthy dog, but it will also help you to build a stronger relationship with them as well.
