Are You Accidentally Building an Athlete?

I don't know who needs to hear this, but...

You are probably not tiring your dog out.

You are building an athlete. And then wondering why your dog seems to need more and more exercise every week.

It is one of the most common mistakes I see owners make.

·        Their dog is energetic.

·        The dog gets zoomies.

·        The dog struggles to settle.

·        The dog is constantly looking for something to do.

So the owner does what seems logical.

·        They walk them more.

·        Then a bit more.

·        Then even more.

·        A longer walk before work.

·        A bigger walk after work.

·        A game of ball in between.

·        A weekend hike for good measure.

The dog seems calmer for a while, so the owner assumes they've found the answer.

Until a few weeks later, now the dog needs even more exercise…. And so the cycle begins again.

The problem is that the body adapts, just like humans. If you start running a couple of miles every week, eventually your fitness improves. The run that once left you exhausted becomes easy. You don't get more tired, you get fitter.

Dogs are exactly the same. When we continually increase physical exercise, we often create a dog with greater stamina, greater endurance and a bigger engine. Then we wonder why they're still bouncing off the walls. Because what we've built isn't a tired dog. We've built a fit one.

Now, don't get me wrong.

Dogs need exercise. Exercise is important for physical health, mental wellbeing and overall quality of life. This isn't an argument for keeping your dog on the sofa all day. But exercise should not be the only tool in your toolbox.

Many owners focus heavily on physical activity while completely overlooking the skill of relaxation. And yes, relaxation is a skill. Some dogs are not born knowing how to switch off.

Some dogs need to be taught. Think about a toddler, if a toddler is constantly overstimulated, overtired and bouncing from one activity to another, they don't necessarily become calmer.

Often they become more chaotic, dogs can be exactly the same.

Sometimes the answer isn't another hour-long walk. Sometimes the answer is learning how to settle. Learning how to do nothing, learning that not every moment of every day needs to be filled with excitement.

This is particularly important for working breeds. Many working dogs have been selectively bred for generations to keep going.

·        To work longer.

·        To push harder.

·        To recover faster.

You are unlikely to out-exercise those genetics. Trust me.

The average owner is not going to outwork a Malinois, or a working Cocker, or a Border Collie.

Trying to do so often leaves owners exhausted while the dog simply becomes fitter. Instead, I encourage owners to think about balance.

·        Physical exercise.

·        Mental stimulation.

·        Training.

·        Rest.

·        Sleep.

·        Relaxation.

All of these matter. A healthy dog is not one that spends every waking moment running. A healthy dog is one that can enjoy activity when it's available and settle when it's not. One of the biggest compliments I can give a dog is not that they're obedient, it's that they can switch off, that they can lie down in a café, that they can relax while guests visit.

That they can watch the world go by without feeling the need to be involved in everything, Because that is a life skill, and it benefits both the dog and the owner.

So, if you find yourself adding more and more exercise every week but seeing very little improvement, ask yourself this:

Am I actually tiring my dog out?

Or...

Am I accidentally building an athlete?

Because sometimes the dog doesn't need another walk. Sometimes they need to learn how to rest.