05/12/2016
Could your dogs behaviour be their way of telling you they aren't being exercised enough?
As all dog lovers know- man's best friend needs regular exercise. They love to get out and about to socialise, stretch their legs, and enjoy the smell and scenery. But how much they need is very individual to the breed of dog, and their individual temperament.
Here are some signs which could indicate your dog requires more exercise than they are currently getting.
Attention Seeking: whilst we love to pet and interact with our dogs, if they have become very demanding and more attention seeking than usual, and it's making life difficult, increasing their daily exercise could help combat their diva demands.
Pulling on their Leads: good lead walking is associated with training, but it can also be a sign that your dog has too much pent up energy, and needs more exercise to make lead walking far more manageable.
Being Overweight: of course their diet is a crucial park in your pet maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding all the associated risks that come with obesity, such as heart disease, arthritis and a shorted life expectancy. But exercise is another crucial elements in your dog maintaining a healthy weight. Adding in more exercise is also important if you are helping them to shed any unnecessary additional weight which could be harming their health.
Restlessness: are they pacing around the house, constantly on edge? This can be their way of showing you they need to get out and about more in a day.
Excessive Barking: whilst some barking is part of normal canine behaviour, it can also be a dogs cry for attention, especially if they are home alone much of the day. So experimenting with longer or more frequent walks could be an easy solution to both a happier dog and happier neighbours!
Is your dog waking you at night? A simple solution could be increasing their walks. Of course it could be keeping cats and foxes out your garden, but the exercise option is an easier option to try first!
Destructive Behaviour: if your dog is under stimulated during the day, it becomes bored and can commonly rip apart cushions, damage shoes etc. Ensuring your dog has adequate exercise can avoid this.
If you can relate to any of the above issues, but are struggling to find the time to meet your dogs exercise needs, get in touch and we can help, be it with daily walks, occasional walking when you're busy, or booking in walks over the festive period.
Copyright 2016
please consult an animal behavioural specialist if you require expert advice
