Over my 30 years of training, I’ve seen a worrying trend: owners thinking a tired dog is a well-behaved dog. They run their dogs into the ground, hoping to burn off energy, but all they’re really doing is creating a fitter, more anxious animal. There’s a huge difference between healthy exercise and sheer exhaustion, and understanding that is key. Clarity is kindness, and that applies to your dog’s physical needs just as much as it does to training.
Proper exercise isn’t about making your dog collapse. It’s about structured, purposeful activity that engages their mind and body. Think of our leash walking stages. We start with short, focused sessions, teaching the dog to walk calmly on a loose leash. We’re not trying to run a marathon; we’re building a foundation of calm cooperation. Faster is usually not better. Pushing a young puppy through a five-mile run before they’re physically or mentally ready is a recipe for disaster, potentially leading to joint problems and burnout. Remember, we need to let the puppy be a puppy.
So, what does good exercise look like? It’s a balanced diet of activities. A structured walk where your dog practices loose-leash skills, a game of fetch where they have to practice a ‘drop it’ command, or even a training session working on a new skill. These activities build your relationship and provide mental stimulation, which is often more tiring than mindless running. The goal is to teach your dog how to turn on *and* turn off. An hour of frantic chasing at the dog park teaches your dog that a crazy fit is the best way to get freedom, which is the opposite of what we want.
Instead, focus on quality over quantity. A 20-minute training session can be more beneficial than an hour of chaotic play. Remember my eighth commandment: always find the root cause of a behavioral issue. If your dog is destructive, it might not be a lack of exercise, but a lack of mental engagement or structure. Structure first. Freedom later. By providing clear, purposeful activities, you’re not just exercising their body; you’re fulfilling their needs as a thinking, emotional being.
