Ask:

Do you think behavioral issues are due to an owner not properly exercising their dog? Do you think most dogs are given adequate exercise?

Answers:

Answer 1:

Behavioral issues stem from many things – genetics, temperament, level of socialization, level of exercise, mental stimulation, etc etc. Will lack of proper exercise contribute? Sure – the energy the dog is unable to drain through exercise has to go somewhere!

However lack of exercise is not the sole reason for most behavior problems (especially the more serious ones). Temperament, which is genetic, is usually what drives behavior (along with instinct). Ultimately if the dog has a poor temperament, behavior problems are bound to arise or be present. Socializing the dog, training the dog, and giving proper exercise/mental stimulation merely gives the human the opportunity to influence behavior at any given time. Continue reading How much do you think lack of exercise affects a dogs behavior? →