4 Reasons Your Dog May Be Acting Up!
Not Enough Exercise
One of the biggest issues for dogs with behavior problems is how much exercise they get. Dogs, big or small, need significant amounts of exercise; more than many people think. According to PetMD.com, the recommended amount of daily exercise is generally between 30 minutes to 2 hours, with working dogs leading the pack in needed exercise.
If a dog is misbehaving, this may be a sign that they are lacking in exercise, which leads to pent up energy that needs to be used. They will find ways to expend that energy, such as chasing, jumping, destroying objects, and barking.
Dogs bred for hunting, guarding, herding, and pulling are often high energy and need more exercise than other dog breeds. If they don't get enough, they will often resort to bad behaviors.
Too Much Protein
A problem that many owners may not realize is that giving a dog too much protein mixed with not enough exercise can lead to excess energy, meaning more behavior problems.
To alleviate the problem, simply reduce the amount of protein the dog eats, either by feeding them less, or finding a food lower in protein. More exercise can also help this problem, but many people find that harder to achieve instead of simply changing their dog's diet.
The Working Dog Breeds
As mentioned previously, there are certain breeds of dogs who need more to do. These dogs will not be content to lay around the house and sleep, or go on short walks with the intent of just using the bathroom. They were bred to work, and that is exactly what they want to do.
If possible, allowing them to run around a large yard or field is the perfect way to burn off that working dog energy, if there is no actual work to be done. These dogs are very smart and often also require more stimulus in order to keep them from chewing on items such as shoes, so investing in a few interesting toys is a good idea.
Examples of Working Dog Breeds:
- Borer Collie
- Boston Terrier
- Dalmatian
- Labrador Retriever
- Australian Shepherd
Examples of Low-Energy Dogs:
- Basset Hound
- Bull Mastiff
- Great Dane
- Pug
- French Bulldogs
They Are Simply Bored
Dogs get bored too. When people are bored, they tend to try to find something to do, such as reading or eating. Dogs also look for things to do, though they tend to go for chewing things in the house to amuse themselves. Bored dogs are far more likely to destroy the couch than a dog who has something to do with his time.
Toys are a great option, but playing with the dog and going on longer walks to tire them out are their favorite activities.
Sources:
- Bark Post
- American Kennel Club
- Healthy Pets.Mercola
- Pet MD
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2019 Caitlyn Booth
