Making sure that our dogs are getting an appropriate amount of exercise is huge. We can make some guesses as to what those needs may look like based on our dog’s breed or lineage. But each dog will be different and those needs will change at various stages in their life.

Generally, dogs aren't getting this need met. Our modern world makes it hard for dog owners. But it can produce quality of life problems for both dog & owner, so is worth the effort. A lack of exercise can lead to a dog that is bouncing off the walls and looking for ways to entertain themselves. This can manifest as nuisance behavior like digging/barking/destroying stuff etc...

Meeting their exercise needs is going to look different for every dog and family. I encourage people to find ways that tap into their genetics as a dog. This can give them biological fulfillment they aren't getting otherwise. It's not always possible but is worth doing if you can!

Here are a few ways you can do that....

• Playing games of tug or fetch.

• Letting them chase a flirt pole.

• Swimming.

• Taking them for a run.

• Taking them for a long walk allowing them to sniff whatever they want the entire time.

Whatever the activity is, make sure you are both having fun so that it doesn’t feel like a chore for you. If you feel like it’s a chore you won’t be very motivated to do it.

How much time you spend exercising your dog will also look different for every dog and family. Some dogs are only going to need a small amount of exercise on a daily basis; a 20-30min walk satisfies their needs. But some dogs are going to need much more. 1-2+ hours of exercise on a day to day basis is definitely possible.

You will need to play around with the amount of time and intensity of exercise with your dog. To find that sweet spot you will want to focus on how it affects their behavior during the rest of the day.

Are they still trying to entertain themselves after a 20min walk? Okay, let’s try 45min. Still not making much difference? Try upping the intensity of your activity with some games like tug/fetch/flirt pole chasing. Walks won’t cut it for a lot of dogs. Did you find that sweet spot of 15min of fetch, 10min of tug, and a 20 min walk? BINGO BANGO. You found your recipe.

Again, this will look different for every dog and you will need to experiment. But whatever it is should make a clear difference in how they are operating the rest of the day.

We don’t want a completely wiped out & exhausted dog every single day. We want a dog that doesn’t feel the need to try and entertain themselves and isn’t bouncing off the walls.

Now get out there and exercise your dogs! Find what works for you and your dog and have a great time doing it.

Don’t forget to join my online learning community, Evolved Dog School! You might find more ideas and get support from fellow dog owners!

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