Dog Whining, Pacing And Circling -- 3 Symptoms Of Insufficient Exercise

Dog whining, pacing and circling are a mystery to many dog owners. One of the first things that comes to mind is that the dog is suffering in some way. They are not entirely wrong. While the dog's actions might not indicate a physical ailment, it often means that the dog is suffering mentally.

Don't worry, this is easy to fix.

A dog that does not get sufficient exercise will have energy to spare. That usually means that odd behavior or bad behavior are ways that the dog has found to release that energy.

Imagine for a moment how you would feel if you were cooped up indoors for most of the day with little to do but lie around house. Now imagine how you would react when you hear a sound outside, perhaps a delivery man, the postman or the jangle of a dog's chain as an owner passes with his pet. Wouldn't you be excited?

Your dog is a social creature who loves company so it's reasonable that any movement will trigger a happy response. Add to that a lack of exercise and your dog will be overwhelmed at what to do next. This can lead to bad behavior and other responses.

Dog whining, pacing and circling are 3 common behaviors that result from a lack of exercise. But you must remember that dogs need a lot of exercise, probably far more than you think. A quick walk around the block might be a lot of exercise for a dog the size a Chihuahua, but for anything bigger, a longer walk is needed.

If you cannot take your dog for a walk, there other things that you can do to ensure that your pet get sufficient exercise.

One excellent outlet is agility training. This exercises not only your dog's body, but his mind. Such a course requires the dog to think constantly as he makes his way through the various obstacles. In their natural environment, dogs run, jump over things, dart under objects, and where reasonable they will venture into caves, down rabbit holes and through fallen logs. This takes a lot of concentration and focus which is replicated through agility training.

At the end of the course, a well-deserved treat and praise from you will keep your dog interested and anxious for more agility exercises.

If this type of training is not possible, there are still other things that you can do. Enrol your dog in a dog social club if you can find one in your area. If there isn't one, consider starting one. The idea is to provide a social setting where dogs can mingle and communicate with their own kind. This stimulates the dogs minds and teaches them how to get along with other dogs. Dogs that lack social interaction often become aggressive towards other dogs and even to people.

Is your dog whining, pacing and circling? Is he showing other odd behaviors such as getting overly excited when someone comes to the door? Start by increasing his exercise and you are sure to see an improvement quickly.

Start your training on the right foot and grab this free special report, "How To Pick The Right Dog Training Tools." Take the free trial of her extensive Puppy Parenting Course for even more valuable advice on how to raise and train a dog properly.