All dogs need exercise. EVERY day. There might be a possible exception of the lap or close companion breeds of tiny stature. However, even these little cuties enjoy daily outings. Exercise benefits dogs by burning up excessive energy. It is also very beneficial to both the mental and physical health of your new best friend. Since most breeds of dogs were originally developed for an ACTIVE purpose - it is not surprising that modern suburban dogs are suffering from lack of attention and daily exercise.
Most "bad dog" behaviors stem directly from inactivity and boredom. When given the correct level of play, exercise daily, and training most problem activities cease.
Schedule time every day for play and exercise with your dog. Don't think that a little walk around the block is going to fully exercise your dog - especially the larger hunting, sporting, and herding types. Plan on, at least, two hours daily. One hour in the morning and one in the evening during the coolest times of the day. Of course, long exercise periods are ALWAYS punctuated with rest periods in order for the dog to cool down and catch it's breath. Have enough fresh water available at all times. Puppies should be exercised for shorter periods of time more often.
Exercise can be fun and games: ball chasing, retrieving, running/playing with fellow dogs, long (1/2 - 1 hour) walks, swimming, etc. It can also be serious work such as obedience training, tracking, hunting, herding, agility, carting, etc. You may want to consider starting a doggie "play group" with other pups that get along with your dog.
There are lots of ways to exercise your dog AND enjoy their company! The choice belongs to you; the dog owner, and the dog's ability. The point is that some sort of choice for some sort of exercise is a daily MUST DO, if the owner wants a happy, healthy, well-adjusted, good citizen dog companion.
From the moment that the puppy/adult dog enters the new home set up a daily routine with your dog and stick to it so what the dog does is regimented by the owner. This routine would include potty times, feeding and watering, attention, exercise(walks, retrieving, obedience and control practice), naps during the day and sleeping at night.
Set up behavior guidelines and practice these consistently and demand nothing less than compliance. This is a good time to think about goals concerning living with your puppy/dog. A goal might be to have an adult dog who doesn't jump on guests, or doesn't bark when you're not home. It is easier to not allow inappropriate behavior to become a habit (and dogs are creatures of habit) than to try to correct the behavior later. Remember: You are always training your dog whether you realize it or not!
Training tip: Dogs like routines and boundaries. It is what they would get from their canine pack leader which is now you. It is part of their canine nature to be part of a pack. It cannot be stated too often that dogs need to be treated as dogs. This means working on a level they understand (that of a dog's world) simple, structured, and clear about what's what.
You can still spoil them but that doesn't mean confusing them by pretending they are people. Treating a dog like it's a human can actually make it crazy. Which can lead to behavior problems. And that is one reason so many puppy/dogs end their lives at animal shelters.
Using a crate and/or kennel can be helpful tools in assisting with behavior control when the owner cannot be present. Do not make this imprisonment. The dog should look upon a crate as it's "den" and a kennel and/or dog run area as it's place to be free for relaxing or play.
Observe a good dog obedience training class. Watch training, at least, through the Novice off-leash level. A good training class teaches much more than obedience exercises. It should, also, teach dog owners to understand and appropriately communicate with their dog. Also, it's a great place to socialize both dogs and owners. Any reputable trainer will let you observe at least one class for free. Find a trainer you like and students who are enjoying themselves. Take the obedience training and use it as part of the your daily routine with your dog.
Be clear and consistent in handling your dog. Use a freedom command to let your dog know it has permission to be at ease. Examples: free, let's go, it's OK, all right.
When obedience or control commands are given, back them up by demanding compliance and watching to see that the dog does what you have asked. Don't give a command if you aren't willing to enforce it.
Call your dog a 100 times a day! Teach your dog to "watch" you. This gets the dog to stay in touch with you. Use your dog's name and call it to you often. Possibly make a silly noise or sound in order to direct your dog's attention to you. Give verbal praise when there is eye contact.
Training tip: Whenever possible use one-word commands. Never more than two-word commands. When you decide on a word for a behavior make sure it is a word you won't have to change later. This is so basic it is often overlooked. But changing words for commands can be extremely confusing for your dog. Example: using "down" when you really mean "off" will confuse a dog when you start obedience class and find out "down" really means lay on the floor/ground. "Off" is an excellent command to use when your dog jumps on people, furniture or decides it wants to be in the front seat of your car with you and drapes it front legs over the seat to be close. This can be cute but dangerous.
These are just a few ideas you can use to gain control of your dog at home. Anytime you feel like your dog is the one in charge you can use these to help reestablish your pack leader position. Control exercises are also handy when the weather doesn't allow you to practice your obedience outside.
Training tip: Take care that time spent with your dog is effective and not detrimental. Do not allow the dog to take control.
Training tip: Remember, dogs have rights too. They have the right to be left alone in peace and quiet when tired or sleeping. Mutual respect is your ultimate goal.
In order for dogs to live in our world successfully, they need to know we are "alpha" or dominant. That is, we are the pack leader and they are a lower ranking member of the pack. We also need to help them to learn to control and channel their impulses. This is similar to how we would help a child learn to behave when we go to new places like restaurants or to not interrupt when Mommy is talking to someone.
Some ways we can show dominance over our dog.
These are some ways a higher ranking dog will show their superior rank: circling the dog, carefully stepping over the dog, straddling the dog, and eye contact.
Make the dog sit and wait until you are ready, and they are sufficiently calm, to enter and exit car or home.
Work on sit-stays and down-stays before treats and after playtime. Have them sit or down and wait before their food or treats.
Stop and look when you cross the street and insist that they sit and wait with you.
If you want to channel your dog's behavior, you must understand dog behavior in general, and your dog's breed characteristics in specific.
Most dogs today are used as companions, that is to say family pets. This does not remove the fact that they are animals and have animal instincts embedded into their whole being. If you think that you can stop a dog from chewing, digging, and sniffing, you probably should consider getting a different animal for your companion. However there are ways that we as humans can channel these impulses into acceptable and useful behavior.
We can teach them that they have toys that they may chew and (by restricting access) places that they may dig. With pups or new dogs, we can take away a forbidden object (not your shoe which safe in your closet) saying "NO! Not a Toy!" and replacing it with an allowed toy. Jumping can be channeled into agility training. Always keep in mind that some excessive behaviors are signs that your dog is bored or unhappy. This may be relieved by "walkies", play-time and obedience practice.
Finally, we need to remember that dog training is a life long process not a week project or day long workshop event. Even if we successfully complete an obedience course, we probably will have to do tune-ups to keep the dog in line. The time or lack of time that you spend with your dog will last for the lifetime of your dog. Please spend time thinking and planning so that you use that time wisely. We would really like to hear about your successes!
Disclaimer: We do not pretend we know everything about dogs or dog training. We learn new things constantly. If something in this course guide doesn't sound right, don't do it! Please e-mail us so we can be aware of the issue. And please expand your canine knowledge any way that makes sense to you!
Happy Heeling!
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