Bored, under stimulated and under exercised dogs will try and find much needed ways to expend their energy and fill their time.

Provide your dog with the regular exercise they need.  This is very important in keeping your dog healthy physically as well as emotionally. Regular exercise not only helps prevent behavior problems from developing but also aids in resolving them.  Be aware that even with access to a yard a dog may not be getting enough exercise.  Regular walks, sports and games are also great ways to bond with your dog.

Many behaviors that are problems in our homes are actually normal dog behaviors that can be redirected and more positively expressed through the use of toys, games, sports and organized activities. For example, the need to chase can be satisfied with fetch, Frisbee, or flyball. Chewing can be fulfilled with the use of chew toys, bones, Kongs and stuffed animals.  The need to search can be expressed by hiding toys around the house or yard (especially Kongs stuffed with peanut butter or liver paste as this is reminiscent of the need to search for food and your dog also has to work the food out), playing the hide and seek game with yourself or hunting and field trials. In addition to stuffed Kongs, there are also many interactive puzzle toys on the market which fulfill your dog's need to be occupied and have a job to do, particularly in your absences. When playing with your dog or in your absences, a game can be invented for every natural dog behavior, the only limit is your imagination!

Variation of the environment is very important in channeling your dog's attention and energies. In addition to regular daily walks, provide an ample variety of toys, starting with 20 toys and weekly rotating 5 toys in and out.

Regular walks, exercise, games and toys will not only help avoid behavior problems it will keep your dog at her physical and mental peak. It will also deepen and create a more harmonious relationship for you and your dog.

Avoiding Leash Aggression - Pulling back when your dog pulls ahead on a leash only causes your dog to pull harder. Dogs have an oppositional reflex that causes them to pull in the opposite direction when they are pulled back so pulling on a leash actually can create harder pulling ahead by your dog. The best way to train a dog to walk correctly is by verbal commands and proper leash techniques that do not involve pulling. Aversive collars such a choke chains can actually contribute and even create aggression issues while walking. As the dog pulls towards a person or dog to greet them they get a collar correction from the choke chain, literally choking them. Using aversive techniques such a sharp yanks or snaps on the leash (known as “leash corrections”) in an attempt to stop/punish the dog for pulling seriously compounds negative associations with passing people or dogs as over time passing people and dogs become associated with the unpleasant, uncomfortable and aversive “corrections”.  Typically, the best collar choices for dogs are flat, regular collars, Gentle Leaders and harnesses for dogs with delicate tracheas. Dogs already with a history of aggression towards people and/or dogs should never be walked with an aversive collar; the Gentle Leader head halter is the best collar choice.