Every dog needs both physical and mental stress. If we talk about physical activity, then a dog, regardless of its size, needs at least 2 hours of walking a day. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about the Yorkshire Terrier or the Irish Wolfhound, the phlegmatic Chow Chow or the Choleric Terrier. If there is an opportunity to walk even more – wonderful!
During a walk, the dog gets tired physically, receives impressions that the brain then processes – so walking to some extent tires the brain too.
You will not be full with physical activity alone.
Let’s draw a parallel with people: if we run around playing football or go to the gym – it’s great, we have fun, we produce endorphins, we get tired, but this is not enough. If we go to the gym every day, most likely, we will still get bored, want to read a book, go to a museum or chat with interesting people, and at least play Sudoku. A dog, like a man, needs a mental load.
This does not mean that we can work out with the dog for 15 minutes, and then walk for only half an hour.
The dog still needs to run and carry out species-typical behavior: sniff, communicate with fellow tribesmen (unless, of course, your pet is trying to eat them). But if he tries to eat other dogs, believe that it is more honest in relation to him to correct this behavior. Let not so that your dog plays with fellow tribesmen, but at least in order to minimize the constant stress in which both of you are while walking, looking for enemies.
Studies show that dogs with normal nervous systems can tolerate loneliness for up to 6 hours. Left without company for more than 6 hours, the dog begins to experience discomfort. By the way, in the Scandinavian countries there is a law: if your dog stays alone at home for more than 6 hours, you must hire a dog sitter, or a dog sitter.
ways to keep your dog entertained
With our workload, we can not always give the dog the opportunity to get a sufficient amount of experience, but there are ways available to everyone that you can easily and cheerfully take your dog at home.
Stunt training.
First, it’s fun and can be fun for both the owner and the dog. After all, when a dog collects pyramids or hugs a stuffed bunny, it’s cute. In addition, we can always boast of the dog’s skills in front of guests or, as a last resort, in our unstable economic situation, to show a show on the square and collect supplies for a rainy day.
Shaping
when a dog is playing a guessing game. It’s fun and doesn’t require any proactive actions on the part of the owner.