Importance of Exercising Dogs
By Scotty Valadao (Animal Behaviour Consultant (Canine) (ABC of SA™)
Although many people know that a dog needs exercise in order to maintain condition and weight, not many dog owners really understand the importance of taking a dog out on a regular walk. Because they have a large garden they think that the dog has more than enough space, the truth being, the majority of dogs spend most of the day sleeping in these large gardens when their owners are not at home! A dog that is fit and walked on a regular basis will be more alert and content, sleep better and be better at socializing and most importantly of all, the chances of behaviour problems happening are greatly reduced.
A study was done some years ago in Germany where they took about 60 dogs who had severe behavioural problems and the only modification that was done was to allow the dogs to ‘smell/scent’ on a daily basis. The results were extraordinary – an improvement of approximately 60% on all behavioural problems. No other behavioural modification or medication was given. This gives you an excellent understanding why it is so important to ensure your dog gets out for a walk on a regular basis as well as play ‘find’ games such as hide and seek, in the home environment.
The section of a dog’s brain that is used to analyzing smell is over 40 times stronger than humans. We humans have approximately 5 million scent receptors while the Dachshund breed has 125 million, the Foxie 147 million, and the Beagle a whopping 225 million. If we then look at the average dog that is kept behind high walls and rarely taken for a walk, we can get at least some understanding of why it is so important to take your dog out. I often say to clients that don’t walk their dogs very often “although you have a beautiful house and garden, how would you like to be locked up in it for months or even years at a time with no mental stimulation at all?” This is normally enough for them to rethink the situation! It is estimated that 20 minutes of mental stimulation is the equivalent of an hours exercise for a dog.
The majority of dogs I see as a behaviourist have very little, if any, exercise. The owner will then enrol their dog in an obedience class which more often than not does not help at all. This is not due to the instructor being incompetent, but rather that either the dog will behave like an angel (it is out of its normal situation) or else like a hooligan and either nothing is learned or the dog is just too stressed to learn or, the owner is so embarrassed that they don’t come back. This is the main reason that I stopped doing obedience classes, most of the dogs required a lot more than the standard exercises that are normally taught. Unfortunately, the professional is often the last person to be called in.
Another problem that occurs is that the owner will then take the dog for a walk and all that happens is that they are pulled off their feet. The dog is so overcome by all the wonderful smells around that it will virtually pull its owners arms out (can you blame the dog – if I kept you at home 24/7 and then took you to a shopping centre and tried to teach you math, would you listen?), so an activity that should be great fun for both dog and owner becomes a major chore, and we all know what happens here – the owner just stops doing it and the dogs behaviour progressively gets worse.
In addition to taking dogs for walks here are some exercises you can think about that will help to exercise and stimulate your pup:-
a. Swimming – as long as a dog has been taught to get in and out of a pool safely this is a fantastic exercise for dogs. It is also an exercise that can be undertaken in after most types of surgery without doing damage – this should always be checked with the vet first as a lot of exertion is required in the swimming process. I had a GSD who had HD in both hips and on the second day after the first operation my vet advised me to take her swimming. She healed beautifully both times.
b. Any Ball Games – these can also be used as training exercises and the owner does not need to work with balls only, they can really develop the ‘fetch’ exercise and get the dog to retrieve all manner of objects. For when the weather is inclement, I have two soft balls that I use inside with my dogs, throwing them up and down the hallway.
c. Find It – this is a great game and enjoyed by nearly all dogs, especially those that were bred for hunting or ratting. Start off by showing your dog his favourite bone or toy and hide it somewhere where he sees you place it. As he finds it, go totally overboard, ‘find it, find it, find it’ in an excited voice and give him an additional treat. The dog is now being rewarded several times – the dog gets to play with its owner, he gets to retrieve his favourite object, gets back his favourite article, he receives a food reward and he gets rewarded vocally – get the idea why dogs love this game? Gradually make it harder and harder. This is a lovely game for your dog to play when left at home for long periods of time. Teach him how to play the game in the garden by hiding various objects in different places and then spike the garden when you are out, leaving with the ‘find it’ cue to your dog.
d. Agility - you don’t need to spend a fortune and have expensive equipment, you can make your own at home and just put it in the garage when you are finished. A big cardboard box makes an excellent tunnel. Broom poles with a nail in the bottom make good weaving poles. Some broom poles and plastic buckets can be used for jumps. If you have a handy husband or willing hardware, holes can be cut in the buckets to make jumps of different heights. Get imaginative, the list is endless if you just think about it further.
e. Brain Exercises – Take a plastic bowl and turn it upside down on the paving or tiles with some strong smelling treats underneath it. A dog will push this around for ages trying to get at what is inside and come up with a lot of creativity in trying to get the treat out. Here be careful that the dog does not get too frustrated.
f. Clicker – one of the best ways to entertain a dog and keep it mentally stimulated. My granddaughter’s love watching Brady doing tricks and it keeps them all entertained for ages and Brady loves to show off!
g. Hide and Seek – dogs love this. Start off in a similar manner as the Find It game by hiding behind a curtain or chair with your head sticking out and gradually make it harder for the dog. I use the ‘findies’ cue here as well.
h. As with all activities, stop before the dog gets tired or bored. Not only will this raise you higher in the human/canine hierarchy, it will leave your dog looking forward to more. With all exercise make sure the dog does not overheat and try to include it in his daily routine – this will ensure that the dog has something to look forward to and will be enjoyed by both dog and owner and serve to deepen your bond.
A study was done some years ago in Germany where they took about 60 dogs who had severe behavioural problems and the only modification that was done was to allow the dogs to ‘smell/scent’ on a daily basis. The results were extraordinary – an improvement of approximately 60% on all behavioural problems. No other behavioural modification or medication was given. This gives you an excellent understanding why it is so important to ensure your dog gets out for a walk on a regular basis as well as play ‘find’ games such as hide and seek, in the home environment.
The section of a dog’s brain that is used to analyzing smell is over 40 times stronger than humans. We humans have approximately 5 million scent receptors while the Dachshund breed has 125 million, the Foxie 147 million, and the Beagle a whopping 225 million. If we then look at the average dog that is kept behind high walls and rarely taken for a walk, we can get at least some understanding of why it is so important to take your dog out. I often say to clients that don’t walk their dogs very often “although you have a beautiful house and garden, how would you like to be locked up in it for months or even years at a time with no mental stimulation at all?” This is normally enough for them to rethink the situation! It is estimated that 20 minutes of mental stimulation is the equivalent of an hours exercise for a dog.
The majority of dogs I see as a behaviourist have very little, if any, exercise. The owner will then enrol their dog in an obedience class which more often than not does not help at all. This is not due to the instructor being incompetent, but rather that either the dog will behave like an angel (it is out of its normal situation) or else like a hooligan and either nothing is learned or the dog is just too stressed to learn or, the owner is so embarrassed that they don’t come back. This is the main reason that I stopped doing obedience classes, most of the dogs required a lot more than the standard exercises that are normally taught. Unfortunately, the professional is often the last person to be called in.
Another problem that occurs is that the owner will then take the dog for a walk and all that happens is that they are pulled off their feet. The dog is so overcome by all the wonderful smells around that it will virtually pull its owners arms out (can you blame the dog – if I kept you at home 24/7 and then took you to a shopping centre and tried to teach you math, would you listen?), so an activity that should be great fun for both dog and owner becomes a major chore, and we all know what happens here – the owner just stops doing it and the dogs behaviour progressively gets worse.
In addition to taking dogs for walks here are some exercises you can think about that will help to exercise and stimulate your pup:-
a. Swimming – as long as a dog has been taught to get in and out of a pool safely this is a fantastic exercise for dogs. It is also an exercise that can be undertaken in after most types of surgery without doing damage – this should always be checked with the vet first as a lot of exertion is required in the swimming process. I had a GSD who had HD in both hips and on the second day after the first operation my vet advised me to take her swimming. She healed beautifully both times.
b. Any Ball Games – these can also be used as training exercises and the owner does not need to work with balls only, they can really develop the ‘fetch’ exercise and get the dog to retrieve all manner of objects. For when the weather is inclement, I have two soft balls that I use inside with my dogs, throwing them up and down the hallway.
c. Find It – this is a great game and enjoyed by nearly all dogs, especially those that were bred for hunting or ratting. Start off by showing your dog his favourite bone or toy and hide it somewhere where he sees you place it. As he finds it, go totally overboard, ‘find it, find it, find it’ in an excited voice and give him an additional treat. The dog is now being rewarded several times – the dog gets to play with its owner, he gets to retrieve his favourite object, gets back his favourite article, he receives a food reward and he gets rewarded vocally – get the idea why dogs love this game? Gradually make it harder and harder. This is a lovely game for your dog to play when left at home for long periods of time. Teach him how to play the game in the garden by hiding various objects in different places and then spike the garden when you are out, leaving with the ‘find it’ cue to your dog.
d. Agility - you don’t need to spend a fortune and have expensive equipment, you can make your own at home and just put it in the garage when you are finished. A big cardboard box makes an excellent tunnel. Broom poles with a nail in the bottom make good weaving poles. Some broom poles and plastic buckets can be used for jumps. If you have a handy husband or willing hardware, holes can be cut in the buckets to make jumps of different heights. Get imaginative, the list is endless if you just think about it further.
e. Brain Exercises – Take a plastic bowl and turn it upside down on the paving or tiles with some strong smelling treats underneath it. A dog will push this around for ages trying to get at what is inside and come up with a lot of creativity in trying to get the treat out. Here be careful that the dog does not get too frustrated.
f. Clicker – one of the best ways to entertain a dog and keep it mentally stimulated. My granddaughter’s love watching Brady doing tricks and it keeps them all entertained for ages and Brady loves to show off!
g. Hide and Seek – dogs love this. Start off in a similar manner as the Find It game by hiding behind a curtain or chair with your head sticking out and gradually make it harder for the dog. I use the ‘findies’ cue here as well.
h. As with all activities, stop before the dog gets tired or bored. Not only will this raise you higher in the human/canine hierarchy, it will leave your dog looking forward to more. With all exercise make sure the dog does not overheat and try to include it in his daily routine – this will ensure that the dog has something to look forward to and will be enjoyed by both dog and owner and serve to deepen your bond.
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