Understimulation

Most behavior problems in dogs stem from lack of exercise and Understimulation.

Your dog needs at least 30 minutes of hard cardio exercise everyday. Wow, that’s a lot especially if you work full time, but it’s absolutely necessary if you want a calm dog who behaves. To the right are some great options for getting your dog he exercise she needs!

Activity	Benefit	Warnings
Doggie Daycare	Great for socialization.	Not always safe. Not all dogs like to go. Make sure they do temperament screenings there.
Dog Walker	Mid-day walks or hikes for your dog while you're out!	Make sure you get a dog walker with experience and one who doesn't use squirt bottles or scare tactics.
Tug	Hard cardio for your do and you can do it inside! Does not lead to aggression.	Needs to be played with specific rules (see online article)
Dog Park	Good socialization and exercise especially for adolescent dogs.	No control over other dogs - Not for every dog, many adult dogs find it stressful.
Fetch (skip walks and play 15 min. of fetch!)	East, can be done at your house. Can be taught to any dog (see online article)	Not great for senior dogs who find it painful.
Dog-Dog Play	Get together with neighbor dogs or playgroups.	Choose play partners carefully.
Dog Sports (Flyball, Rally-O, agility etc.)	Fun for your and your dog especially if you're competitive.	Fairly new, takes time and money to be involved.
Running with your dog	Excellent cardio exercise for your dog.	If you don't feel like running, your dog doesn't get exercised.

Will Work For Food!

Wild dogs originally spent their days hunting and scavenging for food. We’ve robbed them of that by feeding them out of bowls which causes their days to be under-stimulated. During the day they find jobs for themselves like barking, chewing, digging, etc. Instead, let’s make them earn their food and feed them from Work-To-Eat toys.

Get rid of your dog bowls and feed him from the following toys to keep your dog mentally stimulated during the day. An added bonus is that all the mental stimulation makes the dog more calm and tired. Brilliant!

Tricky Treat Ball, Kong, Buster Cube, Everlasting Treat Ball

Everlasting Treat Ball, Twist ‘N Treat, Giggly Wiggly Ball etc.

There are so many of these toys on the market these days. Buy them at sites like: www.petsmart.com, www.petco.com, www.sitstay.com, www.petedge.com.

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