| Making sure you give your dog adequate | | | | difficult for the owner to know how much |
| amounts of exercise is extremely important | | | | exercise is needed. The best way to gauge |
| not only in preventing behavior problems, but | | | | this is for the owner to observe the dog's |
| also for the overall health of your pet. It | | | | behavior. If the dog seems to enjoy lying in |
| can help keep you both happy. But not all | | | | the sun all day then most likely he does not |
| dogs need the same amount of exercise so how | | | | need a lot of exercise. On the other hand, if |
| do you know what amount you need to spend | | | | the dog is restless and wanders around the |
| exercising your dog? | | | | yard and house constantly, his needs will be |
| | | | better served with more exercise. |
| The primary consideration in determining the | | | | |
| amount of exercise a dog needs depends on | | | | Walking is one of the top modes of exercise. |
| breed. Herders, hunters and working dogs | | | | But it's not a lot of fun to walk a dog that |
| need the most exercise of all the dog breeds. | | | | "pulls" or who is not obedient to your |
| Ideally, these dog breeds need 30 minutes to | | | | commands. Clearly a dog who knows the proper |
| one hour of daily exercise, whether it is a | | | | way to walk on a leash will get more walks. |
| walk with its owner, playing outside with | | | | Teaching this skill to your dog as a puppy is |
| other dogs or running around and chasing | | | | critical. However if this is not yet |
| squirrels. Misbehaving is much more likely to | | | | accomplished, there are ways to teach your |
| occur as well as health deterioration without | | | | adult dog to walk properly on a leash. |
| this daily amount of exercise. Examples of | | | | |
| these breeds are: Hounds, Beagles, Border | | | | The phrase "walking properly" refers to the |
| Collies, Alaskan sled dogs, Australian and | | | | dog obeying the commands the owner gives and |
| German Shepherds, Terriers (particular Jack | | | | not "pulling." For example if the owner says |
| Russell) and Shelties. | | | | "stop" the dog knows and does stop. If the |
| | | | owner says "sit" the dog knows and does sit. |
| A common misconception is that the smaller | | | | If the owner says "heel" the dog knows and |
| the dog the less exercise the dog needs. This | | | | does heel. By teaching your dog these |
| is a misconception. It is all about breed. | | | | commands, both you and your pet will have |
| | | | much more frequent and enjoyable walks |
| Mixed breed dogs makes it a little more | | | | together. |