- Image by colorblindPICASO via Flickr
Learning to navigate the happy medium between leaving the dog in the apartment all day and stressing too much about leaving the dog in the apartment all day is a practice any dog/apartment owner struggles with. It’s important that dogs get regular exercise to work the stress and stiffness out of their muscles, as well as, to promote an over-all healthy and happy attitude. It’s also important because dogs rely heavily on daily routines to maintain structure in their own lives.
A dog with a well regimented schedule will have a greater chance of being happy and suffering anxiety. When dogs begin to experience anxiety they will tend to chew on things, and that last thing a dog owner wants to come home to is their favorite shoes in pieces all over the family room.
Here are a few simple ways to exercise your apartment dog and keep their attention either at or away from the apartment.
1. Toys- Toys is at the top of the list because the more toys that your dog has the more entertained they will be. With out boredom your dog is less likely to become stressed and less likely to chew on your house (literally)!
2. Dog Park- One of the best tools for training a dog to be tolerant of other animals is to be around other animals. The dog park is a great place for dogs to run around and expel more energy then they normally would on a walk.
3. Long Walks- If it’s not possible to go to the park, taking dogs on long walks in the morning or at night will help to work energy out the muscles and helps to form a routine that the dog can look forward to.
All of these are great ways to keep apartment dogs happy year round, but most of all just give them love.
