Many people complain about their new dog chewing up everything in sight and tearing up their gardens. A dog usually chews and digs when it’s bored, which is often the result of the owners working long hours away from the home, leaving the dog to entertain itself. Dogs need both physical and mental stimulation provided by their owners by daily exercise which gives your dog a natural outlet for energy. Lack of sufficient exercise results in boredom and behavioral problems.

Ideally your dog should have somewhere to play around the house like a fenced in garden where it can run around without a lead, however just letting your dog out to the backyard is not enough and does not give the exercise the dog needs. Your dog should have at least 30mins of good, aerobic exercise a day, and the type of exercise you choose for your dog should depend on the age, weight, health and breed of the dog. This is an essential part of keeping your dog healthy and mentally and physically stimulated. Providing enough exercise will improve your dog’s health and prevent household destruction and other behaviour problems common in under exercised dogs. Taking your dog for regular and frequent walks is an excellent way to bond with your dog and meet both the dog’s and your exercise needs. Remember that it is in a dog’s nature to want to roam and check out the entire world. That’s just his natural curiosity. A dog locked up an apartment all day needs to run, regardless of the size.

When not actively exercising your dog, you can keep them entertained by giving them something to do, such as hiding treats in the yard which they can hunt out or by giving them toys which will amuse and stimulate them.

Dog toys are readily available from most stores and can be purchased relatively cheaply. Make sure that the toy isn’t so small that your dog will be able to swallow it whole, and that the toy will stand up to the dog’s sharp teeth without falling apart (a hard, rubbery plastic is better than a thin, soft plastic that is easy to bite into small pieces).

There are a large variety of toys available which should keep the dog amused. Some are capable of hiding treats inside them, making the dog work for its reward by rolling the toy around until a treat falls out. A method used by many animal shelters to keep their dogs amused is to smear some edible paste onto the toy, like vegemite, marmite or promite. Other toys can be placed into the freezer overnight and given to the dog on a hot day, letting the dog lick the cool treat over a period of time as the toy defrosts. There are dog toys that can strengthen their teeth or build their intelligence especially if they also attend a series of training classes.

It is a good idea to swap or alternate toys on different days so the dog doesn’t become bored with the same toy. Never forget that dogs are very sociable, and interaction with other dogs is very important in avoiding behavioral problems in the future. Dog parks and clubs are great ways for your dog (and you) to get to know others in your neighborhood.

Rebecca Prince is author of “Canine-911! – How To Save Your Dog’s Life” which gives First Aid and Healthcare for your dog and is essential reading for all dog lovers