One of the first things I ask my new clients is “how do you exercise your dog?” I have yet to encounter a behavior issue that doesn’t benefit from an increase in exercise. Dogs, like people, require physical AND mental exercise.
I barely have time to give my dog his daily walk, now you’re telling me I have to entertain him too?
Well, yes and no. For most dogs, my goal is an hour of exercise per day. This can be broken down into several different activities. Here’s an example of my dogs’ daily hour of exercise:
- Walk in the neighborhood – 30 minutes
- Fetch and sniffing in the backyard – 15 minutes
- Dinner in a frozen kong instead of a food bowl – 10 minutes
- Quick training session – 5 minutes
Getting creative with meal times can go a long way. Dogs have an evolutionary need to sniff, chase, and dig for their food. Take half an hour on a Sunday and prep Kongs for the upcoming week. Before you go to work each morning, take a Kong out of the freezer and leave your dog to his daily mental exercise. No extra time is required. Check out the links below for Kong stuffing ideas:
https://pupford.com/best-kong-recipes/
https://southerneatsandgoodies.com/kong-fillers/
https://stumpsandrumps.com/how-to-stuff-a-kong-like-a-pro/
You’ll be surprised how much happier (and better behaved!) your best friend will be when he has more exercise! A tired dog is a good dog!
Exercising your dog and still experiencing behavior challenges? Contact our Behavior Specialist, JoAnna, at [email protected]
Written by JoAnna Rogowski, MS, KPA CTP