The same thing is true with your dog. First of all we need to consider the dog's age and I think you'll understand that a very young puppy is going to be more excitable and out of control than a dog that is older. However training should start with a puppy and not wait till your dog is older and has developed a bunch of bad habits.
Some of the exercises that can help with this include walking on a leash nicely so the dog isn't dragging you down the street or towards other people. The sit stay and the down stay are also very important exercises to teach control and to keep your dog calm. These exercises can all be taught to your dog starting at the age of four months. Again keep in mind just like a child your dog may be learning these exercises but won't be perfect with them when it is this young.
Okay so here's the good stuff. Now I'm going to share with you how to keep your dog calm.
Exercise
Yes, it's as simple as that one word, exercise. So how do we go about getting enough exercise to keep your dog calm? Go for daily walks. If 30 minutes doesn't do it shoot for an hour. In fact a lot of people love using a treadmill for this.
Another way to exercise your dog if it likes to chase a toy is to go out and play retrieve games. Yes, throw that ball or toy until your dog is worn out.
Now here's the best way to exercise your dog without you having to do anything. I love doggie daycares for this. Be sure that you choose a daycare that evaluates all new dogs for temperament before allowing them in the program. This will help assure you that your dog is with other friendly dogs. I have found that if you will take your dog to doggie daycare two our three times a week you'll be amazed at how much calmer your dog is. Doggie daycare offers nonstop activity for your dog and definitely gets rid of a lot of that energy.
Give Your Dog A Job :
Is your Border Collie being mischievous? Is your German Shepherd digging under the fence? Is your Labrador Retriever driving you crazy by bringing you the ball? These are all examples of a bored working dog that needs something to do.Quite often a new dog owner will buy a dog that's meant for working but their lifestyle is of the type that will not give the dog the exercise and work that it needs.
So here are some things that you can do to give your working dog a job.
1. Go for a daily walk - if 30 minutes doesn't seem to be enough shoot for an hour you'll be amazed at what it does for your dog and for your waistline as well. Even better yet if you are a jogger take your dog with you. Depending on its physical condition you may need to condition it for longer runs but it will be good for both of you.
2. If you have a dog that enjoys Frisbee teach your dog to catch a Frisbee and spend some time every day playing with your dog. In fact if you both get into the Frisbee game there are actually clubs that you can join in most major cities that include training and competition.
3. Obedience training is another way to give your dog a job. Yes obedience train your dog 2 - 3 times a day for a simple short no more than 15 minutes at a time session. You will be amazed at how a 15 minute obedience session can take some of the energy out of your dog.
4. If you would like your dog to use it's brain there are now several different toys that will challenge your dogs mind while it tries to figure out how to get a treat. Take a look at your local pet store or simple Google "mind games for dogs".
5. If your dog enjoys swimming you can always take him down to the river or your own pool if you happen to have one. Swimming is an excellent way to exercise humans and it works for dogs as well.
The key to all of this is to get your dog up and busy. If your dog has a job or is exercised well you will have less problems with it at home.
Remember what I have been saying forever, "a trained dog is a happy dog and an exhausted dog is even happier". So get out there and do something fun with your dog
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