Every breed of dog that exists today was created for a specific purpose. Shepherds and collies were bred to herd. Pointers, retrievers, setters and hounds were bred to hunt. Terriers were bred to find and kill vermin while toy breeds were created to be ideal lap companions. Most of these jobs require a lot of energy or time in close contact with an owner. Over the generations, our dogs have become extremely good at the things we have bred them to do.

But the average dog-owner’s life now is very different from what it used to be. Many of our work schedules demand that we spend nine hours or more away from home, and this can leave us so exhausted that once we get home, we don’t want to move much again. Our low-key lives can be hard on our dogs. Their breeding demands that they get up and go, and we are constantly telling them to lie down and stay. Without healthy outlets for their natural energy, bored dogs will find ways to amuse themselves. Unfortunately, this can result in destruction of furniture, digging, barking, and even running away. It is our responsibility to make sure our dogs use all that energy and intellect in healthy and fun ways. Below are some ways to help exercise the body and mind of your dog.

Make your dog a part of the family: Remember that most dogs were bred to spend a lot of time with us. By including them in our daily lives, we can relieve some of the anxiety that routinely being left alone can create. Using confinement methods can be of tremendous help when integrating your dog into family activities.

Watch TV together- it’s simple and provides a great opportunity for some cuddling and down time. You can even work short training sessions into commercial breaks.

Take your dog with you on short errands. Take your dog through the drive through with you or bring him with you on kid-shuttling trips. Do make sure that your dog is safely confined when you are running your errand. Leave him in the car only if weather permits, and if it won’t aggravate any barrier frustration issues. If you’re walking, never leave him tied up outside of a store. Make sure that you’ve got another family member or trusted friend to hang onto him.

Take your dog with you to friends’ houses if your dog is welcome. Exercise: Ensuring your dog gets enough exercise is one of the most important and underrated things you can do for him. There are many fun ways to get your dog exercise. Make sure that you are aware of your dog’s endurance levels and that you don’t do too much too soon.

Play Tug Of War with your dog. Tug is also great for rainy days, but make sure that you establish rules so you and your dog can play safely.

Play Fetch or Frisbee if your dog is inclined. This is also a great activity that can be played indoors on rainy days.

If your dog is dog-friendly, set up Doggie Play Dates with a well matched canine pal. Also see if dog parks may be a viable option for you and your dog.

Take your dog swimming. Some dogs love to swim! Some hate it. You won’t know until you try.

Take your dog on hikes or walks. While walks are a great form of exercise, keep in mind that many dogs, especially young ones, need a daily chance to run at full speed.

Enroll in an obedience class. Obedience is a fun way to strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Furthermore, it will mentally and physically exercise your dog, while providing an important opportunity for socialization with other dogs and people. Try Agility or Rally-O classes once you’ve got some basic obedience under your belt. Herding dogs are great candidates for Agility and Rally-O, although many other breeds enjoy these activities too!

The key is that all of these forms of exercise are interactive: Dogs, like people--, are less likely to exercise if left alone. With company, getting exercise is more fun and can be a great opportunity for you and your dog to strengthen your bond.

Toys: The investment you make in toys can prevent finding your things destroyed during your dog’s fits of boredom. Instead of trying to curb your dog’s natural inclinations, try giving him several appropriate outlets. Before giving your dog toys, consider toy safety:

• Give your dog toys that are made specifically for dogs (and not children).
• Check the condition of your dog’s toys often. Throw away toys that have exposed stuffing, squeakers, or have been chewed into pieces that can easily be ingested.
• Toys made out of a very hard rubber and rope toys are usually safest, though some heavy chewers can destroy these types of toys as well.
• Be sure to supervise your dog when they’re playing with toys to minimize choking hazards.

Work-to-eat toys: Rather than giving your dog her meal in a bowl, give her a way to earn it — and expend mental and physical energy in the process! There are a variety of great toys on the market that dispense food over time and can help keep your dog engaged while in her crate, on tie down, or during down time with the family.Kongs: hollow toys that can be stuffed with food. Oddly shaped, they bounce in unexpected directions and keep your dog on his toes. Choose the right size for your dog. Kong recipes available at www.kongcompany.com under "Tips and Advice". Premier Busy Buddy Toys: A large variety of food-dispensing toys to keep your dog occupied. The "Twist and Treat" is an excellent starter toy. www.busybuddytoys.com Check the website for where to buy.

Biscuit Balls/Treat cubes: These toys have an inner maze that kibble travels along, so that random pieces will fall out as your dog rolls the toy.

The key to Work-to-Eat toys is to start easy. If your dog can’t figure out how to get the food out of the toy, he will give up. When he becomes expert at getting the food out, make it slightly harder by packing food tighter, or creating mixtures of things such as peanut butter, cream cheese, cheese, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, or baby food.

If your dog is pretty food motivated, work obedience into your day, and make her earn her kibble from you. There’s no reason your dog has to get her meal out of a bowl! Earning her meals from you is a great way for you to establish leadership and is a good opportunity for your dog to learn how to be polite.

Developmental Toys: A great line of puppy toys by "Petstages" that cater to your dog’s different developmental stages is available at Pet Food Express.

Work to Play Toys: These toys engage your dog and help her exercise her problem and puzzle solving skills. The following are plush toys that have several smaller squeaky toys that "hide" inside. They are toys that are designed for you to use with your dog so you can help her problem solve. They include I-Cube, Egg Babies, Intellibone, Hide-A-Bee, Hide-A-Bird, and Hide-A-Squirrel, and are available online at www.sitstay.com and various retailers.Toys and Treats for a Hot Day

• Ice cubes, or frozen cubes of chicken or beef broth.
• Frozen Kongs with your dog’s favorite fillings.
• Chilly Bones or a rope toy in soaked in chicken broth and frozen.
• Doggie ice cream.

Be sure to get involved! Your dog will enjoy their toys that much more if you are sharing in the fun. Set up a toy box or basket. This will give your dog a centralized location from which to grab toys. If she’s bored, she will always know where to go to find something to play with. Rotate toys to keep things exciting.

Providing your dog with ample opportunities for physical and mental exercise can help keep your dog out of trouble and, more importantly, help foster a happy loving relationship with your dog. Keep your dog’s life full of surprises, and you may be surprised at how calm and well-behaved your dog can be!