Agility
I hope you are enjoying the weekly highlights of the different purebreds. On these blogs you will see a section called “Activity Level”. Whether it is a mix-breed or purebred, understanding their energy level will help you decide if the breed is going to match your lifestyle.
What is an “Activity Level?”
The activity level will help you to understand a dog’s exercise requirements. Are you a person that enjoys a couple of 10 minute walks a day and chilling out or do you thrive on doing a 5-mile run a day with a half hour of ball playing included?
Lifestyle
What is your dream day or vacation like? Is it going to the mountains and snowboarding or is it lying by the beach and reading a good book all day long? This will give you a pretty good idea about your personality and what you enjoy doing. Then take a look at what your “real” day is like, do you get home from work and hit the gym or do you barely have enough time to take a quick walk around the block? This will help you figure out how much time you have for a dog and their activity level.
Find Out About the Breed
When looking for the right breed whether purebred or mix-breed, it is important to ask the rescue organization, shelter, or breeder you are getting your dog from what their personality is like. Different breeds have different exercise needs and wants.
Different Activity Levels
An Australian Shepherd (Activity Level: HIGH) mix or purebred isn’t going to be happy snuggling all day long next to you while you are reading a book. However if you enjoy running 3-5 miles a day and are looking for a running mate then the Australian Shepherd will be a good fit. For the laid back lifestyle, the Havanese breed (Activity Level: LOW) will be a better match.
Exercise Needs and Wants
Walk
If a dog’s exercise needs and wants are not met you will be facing a dog that will develop behavioral issues. A bored dog that has a high energy level will become destructive and can exhibit neurotic behaviors such as; digging, barking, chewing and chasing. They’re trying to let you know they are unhappy and bored. It is our job to make sure the breed we choose to live with matches our lifestyle.
Below are some different ideas for each Activity Level to meet your dog’s exercise and needs:
Activity Level – HIGH
- One 45 Minutes to 1 Hour of Rigorous Activity
- 30 Minutes or more of continuous playtime during the day
- Running Partner
- Tracking
- Field Competition
- Agility
- Herding Competition
- Flyball
- Dock Diving (if the breed LOVES water)
- Bicycling
- Example of Breeds from the 8 Categories that fall under the High Activity Level
- Alaskan Malamute (Northern Dog)
- Border Collie (Herding)
- English Setter (Gun Dog)
- Boxer (Guardian Dog)
- Redbone Coonhound (Scenthound)
- Xoloitzcuintli (Sighthound & Pariahs)
- American Pit Bull Terrier (Terriers)
- Dalmatian (Companion Dog)
Activity Level – MODERATE
- Leisurely one 30 minute walk per day plus 30 minutes or more of playing in the back yard (fetch)
- Example of Breeds from the 8 Categories that fall under the Moderate Activity Level
- American Eskimo (Northern Dog)
- Bearded Collie (Herding)
- Cocker Spaniel (Gun Dog)
- Great Dane (Guardian Dog)
- Black and Tan Coonhound (Scenthound)
- Afghan Hound (Sighthound & Pariahs)
- Rat Terrier (Terriers)
- Affenpinscher (Companion Dog)
Activity Level – LOW
- 10 minute walk 3x per day
- Snuggling on the couch with you
- Example of Breeds from the 8 Categories that fall under then Low Activity Level
- Chow Chow (There is no Northern Dog that falls under this category however, this breed is considered to be in the Low-Moderate category)
- No Herding Breed falls in this category
- No Gun Dog falls in this category
- Bull Mastiff (Guardian Dog)
- No Scenthound falls in this category
- Italian Greyhound (Sighthounds Pariahs)
- Skye Terrier (Terriers)
- Bulldog (Companion Dog)
A trainer tip: Don’t pick a high energy dog thinking this will help you get motivated in starting that exercise program that you keep putting off. Unfortunately, meeting your dog’s needs could become a chore. Therefore you begin to resent your dog and your dog starts to develop unwanted behavioral problems due to boredom. Simply put, you will not enjoy the 10-15 years of your best friends life if it is a chore.
I hope these tips help you think about your activity level and lifestyle when thinking about bringing a dog into your life. Take your time to find the right breed that will match who and what you are all about.
