CHOOSING THE RIGHT ENERGY LEVEL/DRIVE DOG FOR YOU
Dogs are active by nature. So if you’re the type of person who prefers to sit and watch TV a lot, having an extremely active dog might not be the way to go. A dog is more likely to feel depressed if he has an owner who has a different lifestyle, creating disharmony in the relationship.
Bringing a dog into your home requires considered thought about the physical activity level needed to keep him physically and emotionally healthy. Having a dog that needs to be walked twice a day might spur lazy adults to get the kind of physical exercise that they need. However, lazy individuals are not likely to change their lifestyles enough to make a good fit between them and an active dog. Instead, owners that are less active may end up depriving their dog of the benefits of being active outdoors and the dog ends up suffering.
The amount of activity a dog needs is not the same as exercise, a dog needs to be mentally stimulated as well. Every dog needs time to walk, run, play and relax each day. Got to a dog park or walk your dog on a leash in the neighborhood. Having a fenced backyard allows your dog to romp and play without a lead. For many older adults, it’s not as easy to get around as it used to be so choosing a dog that requires less daily activity is best. Individuals that enjoy being outside and actively include their dogs are more likely to have healthier, happy dogs.
Larger dogs tend to be more physically active. Many larger dogs have heritages that including being working or hunting dogs who are born with an innate desire to be active. Dogs which are born for movement and agility may include the Doberman, Springer Spaniel, Irish Setter, German Shepherd and Greyhound. They naturally desire movement and physical activity. Not all large dogs require a high level of physical activity. Size can fool you. Breeds such as St. Bernard and Bull Mastiff fit this category even though they may well outweigh their keeper.
Small dogs can comfortably live in small places, they can be great apartment dogs! These dogs may include Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus, Poodle, and Pekingese who don’t need as much outdoor activity since their nervous temperament cause them to be very active around the house. Granted, their physical activity may be running in all directions around the room, jumping on your guests or on you, but they do settle down after they get all their energy out. Then it’s time to recharge by crawling back on your lap or on one of their plush pet beds.
Understanding The Activity Levels of Dogs
Low Energy / Drive - they lay around most of the time and will make a great companion for a less active person. They only require a few daily walks and afterwards are comfortable lounging around with you the rest of the day. They tend to be less motivated to learn more advanced tasks and are less likely to be amazing athletes. They make up for it with good behavior and usually require less effort to train them on the basics. Look for the dog in the litter that comes up to you and wags their tail but is not jumping all over you. They are happy to interact with people and other dogs but do not engage in vigorous play for long periods.
Moderate Energy / Drive - mellow most of the time but will have bursts of energy. Great for an owner who wants a hands on role in teaching the dog. These dogs will be good at almost everything but not perfect at anything. Sort of a jack of all traits. If you want a dog that will go running with you and play at the park but will not be an exceptional talent then these type of dogs are for you. When you first meet a moderate drive dog you may encounter jumping, don’t be too discouraged by this because that just means they are a dog that wants to interact with you. That’s a great thing! You will notice they are active with the other dogs but take breaks and seem to be able to self regulate.
High Energy / Drive - without regular exercise these types of dogs are always ready to go, they can play all day and all night. Generally speaking, the more high energy a dog is, the more teachable they are. You have to dedicate a lot of time to make sure these types of dogs have lots of mental and physical stimulation as well as exercise. Dogs with these types of energy levels tend to be more athletic and capable of doing amazing tricks. If they do not get the stimulation required they can become destructive and training can become very difficult. These types of dogs are for people who have the time and energy to commit serious time to their dog. Look for the puppy in the litter that runs up to you and jumps like crazy on you or insists you play tug of war with them. Their tail is usually going 100 mph and they will seem like they never get tired. They want to play endlessly.
Wrapping up
There’s much to understand before picking a dog. So take the time to evaluate your living space, personality, and personal physical activity level in order to determine the best dog profile compatible to you.