Dog Destructive Behavior and Dog Aggression - The Exercise Solution

Why is your dog displaying destructiveintroduced, but obviously time was needed for
tendencies? Many people erroneously believe thatthe two to explore each other and to establish a
destructive dog behavior means their dog ispecking order. With only one excited pup, a friend
punishing them for being left alone. This is quiteand I frequently walk the two dogs together.
untrue, as most dog trainers and dog behavioristsAs the dogs get worn out from the joint walk,
will confirm. Let me show you with examplesthey are more calm and relaxed with each other.
from with my two young rescued dogs, alongAggression toward each other or general "snits"
with a couple of basic dog training pointers.are far less likely then, and they are too tired to
All dogs have a lot of energy. The more hightear up a yard or house!
energy the breed, the more exercise your canineI have no destructive dog behavior problems with
requires. If you have a problem with dogmy dogs because they are walked about two
hyperactivity or over-excitation, insufficientmiles every day. They also have at least an hour
exercise may be a root cause. The same holdsof playtime with each other or with me daily.
true for destructive behavior in dogs.Note: There is nothing wrong with more than one
What to do?hour of play -- Just be sure you control it!
Walks and ball-chasing are great ways for yourI also gave Joy plenty of toys as a young pup, so
dog to exercise. That is a daily requirement. Also,she always had something of her own on which
you can put the dog on a treadmill for 30 minutesto chew and did not suffer from boredom. She
or so. Yes, it is good for dogs just as for people,loved her toys, and so she had no interest in my
for cardio-vascular health, weight control, musclethings. She even recognized the names I gave to
toning, and stress release.her individual toys, and by six-seven months old,
Psychological challenges are very critical, too, inshe would retrieve the specific toy from her toy
reducing destructive or aggressive behaviors.box on command and bring it to me for play!
Common challenges experienced on walks includeWith Labrador blood and a great mouthing need,
such "attractive nuisances" as passing cyclists,Joy also destroyed her toys faster and more
squirrels taunting the would-be chaser, and thecompletely than I have ever seen anywhere.
inevitable encounters with other humans and dogs.Even things labeled indestructible! She viewed that
These can make a dog very excited, forgettingas her hunt and kill duty and displayed her
his leash training, and sometimes incite hishandiwork with great pride. She felt she had a
protective, territorial, or dominance instincts orpurpose as she accepted and destroyed her own
aggressive tendencies.things -- never mine. We had NO destructive
I never allow my dogs to say hello to humans orchewing problem with this puppy, even during the
other dogs when they are over-excited. Greetingteething periods, which is almost unheard of for a
an unfamiliar dog this way is rude in the dogLab!
world.Destructive behavior in mature dogs is caused by
The younger of my two dogs, Joy, does tend toenergy bursts. If the energy is drained through
become over-excited when she sees another dog.exercise, however, there is no need to tear
Sometimes I remove her from the situation.something up to get rid of the energy. Obsessive
Other times I have her sit or lie down as thebehavior of any kind in a dog -- from jumping,
other dog walks by. Sometimes I intentionallyrunning, fixation on balls, whatever -- a result of
expose her as a training exercise.an energy burst.
Joy is catching on as any dog will, and is rewardedThe solution? Exercise!
with permission to say hello if she is calm. As sheAggressive dogs need more exercise than any
learns to control this excitement during herother. Aggression usually comes out in a dog who
exercise walks, her self-control and obedience inis anxious, fearful, undisciplined, or dominant.
other areas increases as well . . . including rightAggression dog dominance, people aggression, and
behavior if alone, and avoidance of destructive orother dog aggression issues will be addressed in
aggressive tendencies.other articles and are not within the purview of
The coming together of two over-excited dogsthis one. However, it is important to note that
for a first-time meeting (quite different from thewhile taking away the dog's energy through
understandably excited greeting of old friends) canexercise does not solve the underlying problem,
result in a fight. Not always, but frequently. Thenevertheless, it sure helps to lessen its impact!
overly-excited dogs must be separated.Owners must be cognizant of their dogs' exercise
In a first-time meeting of two dogs, if aggressionrequirements. It is not an option nor a matter of
seems evident, WALK the dogs together with thewhat is convenient. It is a necessity! Do not have
people in between to separate and control them.a dog if you cannot provide for this most basic
(This can also be done with one excited and oneneed.
calm dog, but not with two over-excited ones.)Remember, too, that any sort of dog behavior
Have two people take them on walks togetheryou don't like must be handled immediately. Dogs
regularly until they acclimate. That's what we do.live in the moment and stay in it until it is
With my dogs, there was no aggression but clearaddressed.
excitement on Joy's part when they were