Energetic Dogs

Energetic dogs are so much fun to watch.

You can tell they really enjoy life.


Living with one can be exhausting at times though. Trying to entertain a ball of energy 24 hours a day is a really big task.

I want to share some tips for those of you with "busy bee" dogs. Hopefully they can help you avoid some of the common pitfalls of this type of canine personality so you can focus on having fun with your dog.

Ideas for dealing with energetic dogs.

Training: A beginner's obedience class can teach both you and your dog good ways to focus all that energy. Very excitable dogs are more prone to inappropriate behaviors such as jumping or running into the street, both of which can be very dangerous. Many dogs with high energy levels love having a "job" to do.

Exercise: Dogs get anxious and uncomfortable when they cannot exercise enough and they will find new ways to use that energy. Give them ample opportunities to work their muscles and exercise. Simply tying their leash to a stake or dog run is not enough. Taking 20 minutes twice a day for a brisk walk around the block is a great way to encourage more activity in both of your lives.

Environment: Is your dog "energetic" or is he actually just anxious? Sometimes dogs will react nervously around areas which are very noisy, include unsettling sounds like sirens, or contain other animals. Simple separation anxiety can manifest in the kind of bouncing-off-the-walls behavior commonly dismissed as "energy." Consider whether your dog's environment could have something to do with their habits.

Age: If your dog is younger than 2, they might be the dog equivalent of a teenager and have extra energy to burn. Have patience with them; they are still growing up!

Boredom: Yes, dogs get bored too. When your dog simply will not leave you alone long enough to cook dinner or watch TV, try distracting them with a tough puzzle toy that has a secret compartment for treats or kibble.

There is nothing like the smile on a happy dog's face paired with a wagging tail. Happy, energetic dogs are fun and living with one can pose some unique challenges, but that is all part of the reason we love them.

I hope these tips were helpful.

Canine Christmas Caper

I viewed this video and just had to share......

Watch this bold and smart dog!

Why Dogs Bury Treats

Does your dog often bury her bones, treats or even her toys in your backyard? Ever find a bone under the pillow on your bed or behind the sofa cushions?

Most behaviors dogs practice today are rooted in their ancient, developmental history. In the early days of canines, food was not always plentiful. After a successful hunt, a dog would bury whatever he did not consume to keep it from scavengers and even other members of her pack. When she became hungry again or prey was sparse, she would return to her “stash” to consume the leftovers.

Sometimes the problem was that the hunt was so successful there was too much food to be consumed at one meal. An ancestral urge led the dogs to bury their food for leaner times. The dirt also helped keep the food fresher by keeping it from direct sunlight.

You might wonder why your dog still practices this behavior when you deliver her kibble to her food bowl every day! Old habits die hard and even our domesticated canines still experience the natural instinct to hoard. In fact, many species in the animal kingdom regularly practice hoarding behaviors. Squirrels hide acorns, leopards hang their kill from trees for later consumption, and even humans stock their pantry with canned goods and non-perishables.

Your dog’s modified hoarding instinct is normal. But if her burying urge becomes obsessive, try to limit her toys and treats to one or two items. After all, she can only play with one toy and chew one bone at a time.

Canine Heros

A kind and gentle seeing-eye dog guiding his blind caretaker across the street, the intense focus of a K9 police unit sniffing out a bomb, a search dog barking to let us know that she has found a missing child - these are the images that come to mind when you think of canine heroes. They use their animal "super powers" of smell, sight, and boundless loyalty to better our lives.

But these working dogs are not the only heroes in the canine community. We live with them every day. Our dogs strengthen our families, bring us back in touch with Mother Nature, and remind us to live every day to the fullest. They change our lives.

These tough times give us cause to appreciate our canine companions even more. Dogs don't follow unstable pack leaders. Instead, they let us know when we have lost our way. We can get so caught up in the concerns over our material wealth that we overlook the real wealth we have. Take a moment to appreciate the riches that your family and friends bring you, and let your dog know you recognize his heroic capacity for love.

Dogs are Dogs.....not Humans

Cesar Millan says it best when it comes to not humanizing your dog.

Here are his tips:

Find a canine solution. Often, the solution we would use for a human is totally wrong for solving a dog’s issues. For example, when a human sees a scared or nervous dog, s/he will first offer comfort and consolation. This would never happen in the animal world and can make the problem worse instead of better, because it reinforces unstable behavior.

Speak the animal language. When dogs come into our homes, they meet emotional energy for the first time. We shower them with affection and babble at them in high-pitched baby-talk, so they see us as excited energy. This is why many dogs don’t listen to their human caretakers. Their mothers never acted this way; where did that calm-assertive leadership go?

Treat your dog like a dog. We often develop a different agenda for our dogs. We want to make puppies our babies. From day one, many humans forget to fulfill and understand their dog's needs and instead project their own needs and desires on the animal.

Be the pack leader! In the absence of a clear leader, a dog, even a submissive one, will seek to fill what they see as the vacant leadership role. The dog will ignore the owner, act out, and can lead to serious behavior issues.

Imagine if your significant other mistook your needs for the needs of a chimpanzee; where would that leave you? Confused and disoriented. It’s the same for dogs. But their confusion and disorientation manifest in bad behavior such as tearing up the couch or incessant barking. If we don’t fulfill them as a species, our dogs won’t live a balanced, centered life.

Understanding and projecting a pack leader’s calm-assertive energy will create a positive and lasting connection with your dog.