I often receive many calls about dogs misbehaving. The owner will tell me that their dog is out of control and they are on the edge and ready to give the dog up. The first the I ask is "what is your dog doing that is wrong?". They quickly tell me how bad the house is being torn up, what is being chewed, what part of the yard was dug up, and the list can go on for some time. The second question I ask is "how are you stimulating your dog?" which is usually replied with "huh?". You know, what are you doing to give your dog a great life that fulfills all of his doggy needs? Most times, people are at a loss with this question because they don't know what their dog really needs.

I am amazed at the number of dog owners that do not even walk their dog on a regular basis. Many people have dogs that sit in the backyard and pretty much do nothing as a living, which at times I wish I could practice more often. However, owning a dog is more than putting some food and water out back in the yard and telling Pookie to have a good day!

When we look at some of the bad dog behaviors that occur, we can often relate them back to some sort of lacking in their life. A dog left to his own desires with all of his energy can certainly entertain himself if he chooses. The only problem is that his form of fun usually results in angry dog owners. Bored dogs can bark excessively dig, chew, escape, and overall become very unruly. When I examine a problem dog, often I see a dog who does not have much interaction with the family, does not get much exercise, and has not had any sort of obedience. Let's look at these three issues.

A dog that is separated from it's family, or pack, is a lonely dog that is forced to entertain itself. Isolation can lead to stress induced behaviors such as chewing on the back door because he wants in, or excessive barking which says "come play with me, where is the rest of my pack?" along with other forms of destructive behaviors. Some dogs will even find a way out of the yard in search of other life. Remember, dogs are very social, pack (group) oriented animals and thrive on human contact. If you are not fulfilling this need, you will have problems with your dog. Many times, families would like to spend more time with their dog but he behaves so poorly that it really makes it a chore. Hence comes OBEDIENCE!

Obedience is a must for every dog. Not only does it teach the dog some great skills, but gives you the control that you need to make your dog a pleasure to be around. Every dog, no matter how far domesticated, still thinks in "dog pack" mentality, meaning that your dog is wanting to know where his place in the social hierarchy is. A dog that is not clear on his position is most often a dog that is continually challenging and looking for his place. Obedience is a great tool to effectively communicate with your dog what his place in YOUR pack is.

Last, but certainly not least is EXERCISE. A dog has a lot of energy and needs plenty of exercise. I hear my clients over and over tell me how big their backyard is and that Pookie has plenty of room to run. I tell them this is dandy and ask when is the last time they saw their dog running laps in the backyard for 30 minutes? They laugh when they think about it and realize the point I'm trying to make. Even though you have a large area for the dog, where does he spend his time? More than likely he spends a great deal of it at points of entry and exit such as backdoors and gates. Why, he's waiting for you to come through one of those points like you normally do to interact with him.

I recommend that you take your dog on long walks or outings. These outings do a lot to burn excess energy. Dogs, like humans, can get mentally tired. Walking makes a dog channel vision, sounds, touch, smells and other stimulus through their brain. Doing this can make them tired after a good 30 minute walk.

I promise that if you combine proper exercise, obedience, and positive human interaction you will see improvements in your relationship with your little "Pookie". It's not a cure all, but it's the first place to start.