First and foremost, it can never be emphasized enough the need for dogs to be walked. Often, people that own a big yard or even a few acres of land claim that their dogs do not need to walk because they have plenty of space to run about and keep in exercise. Therefore, they adopt a dog and leave it there to wander possibly day and night and keep a clean conscience thinking that their dog is getting enough exercise and stimulation.

This is very wrong. Often dogs left on their own to wander outside are pretty bored, unsocial and sometimes they even become quite territorial, often even fence aggressive. Also it is easy to forget that dogs are pack oriented beings that enjoy human companionship and seek it eagerly each day.

However, one of the biggest problems in not walking dogs daily is the fact that the owners of these dogs are missing one crucial part of dog ownership: walking their dog as a form of leadership. To recognize this importance, perhaps it is helpful to take a ride back in memory lane.

Dogs in the wild and wolves are pack animals, therefore they are animals that move all together in packs. When they do this, there is always a leader, known as the alpha dog. This leader is the one that leads the pack and makes major decisions.

In a domestic setting, owners are the pack leaders, therefore walking a dog is a great way to demonstrate leadership. Of course, the walk must be structured in a way that allows the dog to the owner as a leader, therefore the dog must stay besides or slightly behind the owner at all times.

A dog walking in front of the owner is basically thinking he is the boss. He makes decisions of where to go, often dragging the poor owner left and right and attempting to chase that squirrel or trying to meet that child across the busy street. This is not only confirming the dog's leadership status but it is also straightforward dangerous!

So walking is the first and most important form of exercise for dogs. You can skip the game of fetch or the game of Frisbee, but don't refrain from walking your dog!

Dogs need on average a 60 minute walk a day if possible or two small walks of half hour each. This provides the opportunity for the dog to get a good amount of healthy exercise and plenty of mental stimulation as he gets to smell, hear ad see different things than from his yard.

However, what should dog owners do should they be too busy (or even too lazy!) to commit to this exercise regimen each and every day?

All potential dog owners first of all should realize what they are getting to before adopting a dog. Dogs need regular exercise and owners must understand that. A dog cannot be parked in a yard all day long, be fed and then sent out again. Dogs are not used to that. In the wild dogs used to walk an average of 10 hours a day hunting and stalking prey. Today, walks are evidently much shorter than that. Following are some (temporary) alternatives for dog walks.

-Hire a dog walker

If you are at work all day, try to hire a dog walker. He or she will walk your dog ensuring he gets the exercise he deserves. If you cannot locate any dog walkers in your area, consider asking some college students or posting your need on a college bulletin board. Some student in need of extra cash may be happy to lend a hand. Just make sure first though that they have what it takes to walk an underexercised dog!

-Doggy day care

Just as people drop off their child to day care each morning some dog owners drop off their pups to doggy day cares. These places are packed with great activities that will make Rover very happy and even very tired, upon picking him up! More and more of these facilities open nowadays, as people come to realize the consequences on leaving their poor pets at home all day long.

-Dog Treadmills

Cesar Milan is a big fan of dog thread mills as many of his fans have seen him use them for many of his clients. These are not an alternative to walking but may help hyperactive dogs that need lots of energy drained or may provide a temporary fix if the weather outside is inclement.

-Dog Back Packs

A 45 minute walk may be cut to 30 minutes if you fill up a doggy back pack and allow your pooch to wear it. These back packs are a good way to drain some energy while allowing the dog to feel helpful. You can fill up the back pack with bottles of water and other necessities.

-Dog Parks

A good way to exercise social dogs is to have them romp around at the dog park. Ideally, these dogs should be walked for a bit before heading to the park so they will not be too hyper once there. Always keep an eye on your dog and other dogs however, as sometimes fight may erupt. Avoid them all together if you see there are dominant dogs around or if your is of a dominant nature. Rather, if a dog park does not work out for you or your dog ,try to schedule play dates with a dog owner friend that owns a social well behaved dog.

-Games

A game of Frisbee or fetch may help drain out some energy and provide a good time for both dogs and owners. Some dogs even know how to play hide and seek or soccer.

-Agility Course

You can set up a fun agility course for your dog in your yard if feasible. This can turn out being a great way to provide exercise, while boosting your dog's confidence.

As seen there are various ways to exercise your dog, however, just remember that the best form of exercise is walking your dog. Give walking your dog priority over all the other forms of exercise and you will have a very happy stable dog that sees you as the ultimate leader to love an respect.