Is your dog’s energy level right?

If you have a dog, you need to know their energy level so that you can tell whether your pup needs more play time, or a short walk around the park and then take a nap. Is it possible to tell that your dog has the right energy level?

For example, if you are considering adopting a dog, you should not settle for a specific breed but instead look for a dog that has the right energy level. So, how can you tell whether your dog has the right energy level? Here are simple ways to help you figure out your dog’s energy level.

The type of breed matters

A dog’s mix or breed can offer you a rough idea whether the dog you want leans toward lower or higher energy level. Siberian huskies, Jack Russel terriers, and Dalmatians are usually active with high energy levels. On the other hand, breeds like bulldogs, basset hounds, and pugs often tend to have lower energy.

Take the dog for a walk

A walk can help you judge your dog’s potential energy. Again, you might not be able to do this at the shelter but if you volunteer to walk the dog around the park, you will learn a lot. Does the dog try to drag you along? Or is it reluctant to take a walk? Does the dog wear out fast after the walk? This is the most direct way to judge your dog’s energy.

Try interacting with the dog

Dogs often act differently depending on their surroundings, who is in their presence, and whether they have been looked up the entire day or just relaxing after a long walk. If you want to adopt a dog from the shelter, you might not have the chance of observing it in it’s true element. Put simply, you cannot perform a ‘’test drive’’ to get a rough idea of the dog’s energy level.

As an example, a calm dog can be laid-back in a hectic dog pound. But dogs that run and bark when there is hardly anyone around are undeniably energetic. Therefore, if you want to adopt a dog from a breeder, then you have the chance of first interacting with the dog. Find out if you can visit the shelter before walk time and observe how the dog responds to strangers, or interacts with the groomer. 

Conclusion

If you get an active dog from the shelter and after a few days it suddenly becomes calm and laid-back, it is advisable to visit the vet to check whether the dog is sick.

References: Cesarsway, Dogtime, Petsplusfl

Copyright: Local Value

Dog Energy is Essential

As humans, we are primarily intellectual people, and we tend to communicate through words. Due to relying on communication, many dog owners tend to think that dogs also understand our spoken language. However, even though dogs may understand certain words and relate them to specific actions, they are mainly reacting to the intention that we’ve linked to that word.

How Dog’s Understand Humans

Let’s take the example of telling a dog to sit down. If you were to instruct your pet to sit down without showing intent behind that instruction, then that dog will not follow your directions. Meanwhile, if you approached your dog with the intention of getting them to sit down and then say any word, then the dog would sit down.

Dogs Focus on Your Energy

It is essential to understand that dogs don’t pay too much attention to words from their owners, but instead, they focus on the energy expressed through the emotions, body language and voice tone. That is how dogs communicate with their peers, and it is easily visible in any dog park. Dogs usually indicate submission through lowering certain parts of their bodies, like the ears and heads. Similarly, the dominant dogs will show their dominance by raising their heads, tail or ears while aggression is characterized by stiffened bodies and ears pinned backward.

According to Cesar, an experienced dog trainer and media personality, the term “energy” refer to how every being presents themselves to the whole world. Energy is your temperament, character or disposition. For humans, that energy is what you get if you mix emotions and intentions. He says that the formula for energy is multiplying intention with emotion.

Importance of Having the Right Energy

That formula explains why to have positive and calm energy is highly beneficial for dogs. That is the reason you cannot stop a dog from barking by starting to yell. That dog will not hear your commands; instead, the dog will think that you are also joining in barking.

When you are assertive and calm, you have a clear intent, and your emotions are balanced. Dogs can clearly understand that. Conversely, lack of clear purpose and negative emotions confuses the dogs and presents as weak energy. Dogs follow that steady energy since it is what they are instinctively designed to do. Hence, it is essential for dog owners to ensure that you are providing that critical, calm and assertive energy balance.

References: Cesars Way, RD

Copyright: Local Value