18/06/2025
Happy Wednesday !
“I want a small dog they don’t require exercise.”
“My small dog is being destructive and I don’t know why.”
“My small dog doesn’t like to play or go outside.”
“I want a small dog that I can carry everywhere.”
“My small dog doesn’t like other dogs.”
“My dog only wanted to use the p*e pads and not go outside. But now it’s not using the pads. Help!”
Every day we hear some variation of this. And it’s often followed or preceded by “I need to rehome my dog”. Yes even small dogs get rehomed or abandoned daily.
Somehow, somewhere along the way many people got stuck on size as being a defining line as to them not enjoying dog things. That is incorrect.
Sarah Rose is a small dog. A small dog even by Italian Greyhound breed standards but in her heart and mind she’s a racing greyhound. She loves to run and play and get dirty. Exercise keeps her chewing tendencies under control as it fatigues her body and reduces boredom. She needs exercise and even though it scares me to death given she broke her leg playing as a puppy before coming to us, I pray and I let the wild horse run while I do my best to keep watch. Exercise also has helped with house training as she will potty several times while out running and playing. Sarah Rose is cuddly and very loving but she would resist and think I had lost my mind if I attempted to carry her around, she wants and expects to be down on the ground so she can sniff and explore. And she loves other dogs, cats, goats and creatures. All of these pics were taken yesterday… this is how hard and fast she goes and she loves it.
Do I worry about letting them all run and play? Yes but I have to balance my concerns with their needs which I can mostly accomplish by exercising or being with them. Exercise can be done both inside and outside. And the duration and intensity of the exercise must match the dog.
In my opinion and I am certainly not professing to be an expert so this is based on my experience with a dog or two 😉, exercise is the first line of defense in a dog’s mental and physical health beyond the basics of good nutrition and care.
And for those whose dogs don’t like other dogs. First make sure that is truly the case. Sometimes they fear other dogs or just don’t know how to act around other dogs. Many times it just takes short repetitive exposure and them recording “good memories” to realize they do like other dogs. You can at least try and just as with people sometimes you have to find the dog that they click with and build on that.
If you have a dog that you would like to work with and open up exercise horizons ask your friends or family to join you and if that’s not an option and you are local contact us we will work with you and your pup.
But please don’t rehome or give up on your dog citing behavioral reasons until you first determine if exercise helps. It’s good for you and them and it’s free! And if it helps to keep them with you it’s priceless.
