A tired dog IS a well-behaved dog!

Exercise, along with enrichment, a good diet, a clean bill of health and positive training, is the most important factor in having a well-behaved dog. Unless your dog is very elderly, a leash walk is not exercise. It is exercise for the human end of the leash and an opportunity for your dog to sniff around.

Leash walks are important, though! It gets your dog out there in the world, you can teach him leash manners, allow him to meet friendly people to socialize him and keep him socialized (you’re never really done socializing your dog) but they are not exercise. Exercise consists of some tongue-dragging games of fetch or tug in a safe, fenced area or inside your house: • biking or jogging with your dog (not with puppies though -- get your vet’s O.K. first -- avoid pavement and use Tuff Paw or Musher’s Secret on your dog’s pads to prevent cracking) • hiking on the long line (after your dog is leash trained) • Sniffing walks (minimum of two 30-minute or three 20-minute walks every day) • swimming • playing with other dogs

However, before exercising, please keep in mind the breed and age of your dog and the outside temperature and humidity. (You would not want to be running with a Husky on a 90 degree day.)