Small Dogs, Big Exercises.

Whoever claimed smaller dogs were easier to maintain, was flat out wrong. Even I thought walking Lady Gaga and Glinda was not important. Well, I was in for a rude awakening. When visiting my mother, I noticed how calm and well behaved her dog Casey was. Casey is a Chihuahua and stereotypically Chihuahua’s are hyper little dogs. I asked, “What’s your secret?” She simply responded, “I walk her almost every day for at least fifteen minutes. If I don’t walk Casey, she ends up going crazy.”

After doing some research, I learned that even the smallest dog needs some exercise. I’m not saying drop everything you do, but taking time for our dog/dogs is really significant if you want them to behave.

Perhaps once a month, take your dog to a doggy park, or even a fun trip to the beach that is doggy friendly.

I noticed a huge difference with Lady Gaga and Glinda’s behavior. They’ve become very calm lap dogs, which the exception if a stranger comes along.

Now if you want to get creative, here are some ideas.

Create your own agility course in your back yard. Now this will take time, because your dog will have no idea what your expectations are. Using treats and patience will help your dog train.

We found a website that created their own agility course with a budget for $150.00. http://www.caninecrib.com/dog/training/agility-course.asp

If you’re like me with a crazy schedule or you don’t have a creative thumb, group dog walking is always fun. Collaborate with your co-workers/classmates/neighbors/friends to meet up and walk your dogs together. Do this with caution. If your dog has aggressive behavior, then it’s best to walk solo.

If you want more one on one time, playing fetch will make your dog happy and exhausted. If your dog does not know how to play fetch, your local pet store has toys where you can insert peanut butter or a biscuit inside. Remember to have patience when teaching your dog to play fetch.