Over the past few weeks I have seen a lot of communication between dog owners, and some trainers too, addressing the topic of exercise and training. Many have said that dogs are not listening because they have too much energy, dogs are chewing and digging because they have not had a 4 mile run yet today, and exercise the dog before you train him or her, you will see a better result.
Yes, chewing, digging, and other similar behaviors can be a direct result of too much energy and boredom, yes, dogs do need a lot of exercise, and yes, it is often easier to get a dog to behave when they are tired.
Personally, I think a lot of dog owners are stuck on the idea of exercise always has to come before any obedience because of Cesar Milan, who constantly stresses exercise, discipline, and then affection. I am not knocking him, or disagreeing with him, but remember this approach often refers to rehabilitation cases. Also keep in mind that you are not always going to have the luxury of running your dog for an hour before you need them to behave or follow a series of tasks. Exhaustion is not a replacement for training.
If you are currently bringing your dog to the point of near exhaustion before training him, that is fine and good; exercise of course is very important. However, as you progress in your training be sure to wean your dog off of the crutch of exhaustion and make sure they can function appropriately whether they are all fired up or about to nap.
If exhausting your dog is currently the only way to get your dog to behave, consider enrolling in a well balanced training program that can yield the results you and your dog both need.
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