Updated on 1/4/14, Originally posted on 3/10/12

Weekly Bible Verse: Matthew 7:6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

There are some breeds of dogs that have a high energy level.  These are usually breeds from the working and herding groups, but dogs in other groups can have lots of energy too.  Breeds like the Border Collie, German Shepherd Dog, Corgi, Siberian Husky, and many other breeds often have a lot of energy.  High energy and endurance is what makes these dogs perform so great at their individual jobs.  I mean come on, what good would a couch potato type dog be at herding livestock; it just doesn’t work!  The same thing can be true if you take a high energy dog and try to make a house pet out of them; it just doesn’t work!  There are definitely dogs from the working or herding group that can make good house pets but this is dependent upon their personality, energy level, and how much the owner exercises the dog.

High energy dogs need something to do.  If you don’t find something to keep this type of dog occupied, many times they will pick a destructive activity to use up that energy on.  You can’t expect a high energy dog to just sit in a yard all day: they will become bored and get into trouble.  Signs of a bored dog are things like excess digging, escaping from the yard, and/or chewing excessively.  If your dog has lots of energy take them jogging or for daily walks, train them for an agility course, play fetch with them; these are great things to do with your dog to help them use up that energy.  Spend time with your dog and start training from puppy hood; this will help keep your pup under control when it is older.  If your dog is past the puppy stage start training your dog today!  Training takes time, patience, and consistency but is well worth it.  If you don’t spend time training your dog and give them the attention they need, your dog will become a terror that nobody wants to be around.  Do not give up on your dog’s training, you can do it!  Many times people give up too easily and abandon their dog at a shelter just because it doesn’t behave!  How can a dog behave if it is not trained and given activates to use up that extra energy on?   Find a trainer nearby to help you get started.

If you’re considering adopting a dog from the working or herding group make sure you know what kind of a dog you are getting.  Look into the breed’s background.  What was the breed used for?  Know that working or herding dogs are most times unsuitable as pets for the average family.  Ask yourself if you have the time to care for the dog properly and if you have the extra time to exercise the dog.

I own a dog from the working group (photo above) and I think she is one of the best dogs ever but I have also given her a “Working Job” to do daily that she LOVES it so she is never bored!

See AKC’c list of Working dogs here http://www.akc.org/breeds/working_group.cfm

See AKC’s list of Herding dog here http://www.akc.org/breeds/herding_group.cfm

1.  Bell says:

   September 2, 2012 at 2:54 pm

   Hi
   Can you recommend any good dog training books and where I might be able to find them? My dig has high energy and needs some training. I have found running him daily helps to keep him calm.

   Thanks

    

2.  admin says:

   September 3, 2012 at 12:03 am

   Most pet stores carry training books; you can also find dog training books on ebay or Barnes and Noble. I don’t have a particular book to recommend.