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Is Your Dog A Wild Dog?

Energy levels of different dog breeds are a very important factor when deciding what’s right dog for you. Just say that St. Bernard that you thought would spend most of they life on the couch may have other ideas, and the exuberant Springer Spaniel that you think will bounce off the walls may find watching the paint peel off them the best way to pass time. Most of the time, however, dogs bred for activity, such as the Irish Setter or Boxer, will fulfill the owner's expectation. Although high activity or even reactivity may be a desired trait in some breeds, that activity level must be manageable for the family living with the dog.

Activity in a wide open field may be very appropriate, whereas pacing or charging through the house at all hours of the day and night is could be very annoying to most owners. Your emotional state easily transfers to the dog. Just remember an excitable dog will become more reactive if you use a high-pitched, fast, excited voice and are also reactive, nervous, and excitable. You must handle the energetic or reactive dog with calm, firm, purposeful movements and speak to him in a normal, firm-toned voice.

The deliberate, calm handling will help the dog stay calm. If your battle them to attach a lead to the collar, dogs will fidget and jump around even more fiercely. If your  dog is hyperactive, take a firm grip on there handle and command them to sit in a slow, firm voice. If they don’t sit, firmly and slowly grip the handle and place them into a sit. Hold them  in place quietly, without an anger or any unnecessary hand movements, until they ceases the battle and remains in position. When they settle down, quietly, calmly, verbally praise them. Praise an excited dog only verbally, because physical contact will tend to excite him even more. Try again to attach the lead. If he goes out of control again, repeat the forced sit, and when they relaxes, praise them. Repeat the process until the dog sits quietly. Do not attempt to put a lead on an excited dog.

Obedience training, with its one-on-one interaction between you and your dog, is an effective outlet for the energetic dog. Obedience not only teaches the dog to sit quietly but also requires them to concentrate, and thus, uses up brain power and energy. Obedience training will also permit you to control his activity in the house. The "settle" command is very very effective and important for controlling excitement in the house. When the dog becomes overly excited or active in the house, place them in a settle. The settle should be for at least ten minutes long, and they will usually fall asleep or at least relax by that time.

When the get up, they are is usually calmer. Remember when every your dog gets overly excited demand a settle they, will soon learn that the house is not the play yard. Unfortunately, you can't place the energetic or nervous dog in a settle for the rest of they life; therefore, they should have appropriate outlets to release energy. Be conscientious in evaluating your own dog's energy level and adjust it to there lifestyle and routine exercise accordingly. If they is overly energetic the first recommendation a dog owner receives is to fence in a large backyard for the dog to use in running off energy. The pet owner, who may have had other ideas for the yard than making it a huge exercise run for the dog, creates a yard for the dog, only to realize they still exhibits an annoying overabundance of energy in the house. A large yard is useless if the dog does not use the area to run around.