As dog lovers, we've probably all seen this joke on a poster or internet meme and laughed about it being true at one time or another with our own dogs. Play, exercise and mental stimulation are key ingredients in raising a happy, healthy, well-behaved dog. Most dogs get in trouble when bored or not having an outlet for pent up energy. As owners, we spend a lot of time and money making sure we are giving our furry four-legged friends the best food and getting them the best vet care possible. However, due to lack of time, energy or experience, we sometimes neglect our dog's mental health and physical exercise needs.

Although a walk around the block is a good start, it does not address the needs of most dogs (except for puppies and senior dogs). Keep in mind the level of needs in those areas will depend on the age and breed of your dog. In general, the dogs in the sporting and herding groups will require much more exercise than those in the toy group. But, all breeds require mental stimulation to avoid boredom.

What can you do to meet those needs? I have a few ideas you can try, but you will need to experiment with your dog to see what works best.

• Solo Activities (always supervise a puppy or dog with a new toy)
  • Balls
  • Stuffed, squeaky, or crackle toys
  • Rope toys
  • Kong toys stuffed with treats and/or peanut butter
  • Interactive treat dispensing toys

• Games
  • Fetch
  • Tug ~ this game is fine as long as you teach your dog to drop the object when asked
  • Find It ~ hide a toy while your pup is in a down stay and upon release have them "Find It"
  • Hide & Seek ~ make your dog stay and then you hide; shout a release command so your dog will search for you
  • Training ~ dogs enjoy any interaction with their human and view training as fun as long as it's done in a positive manner
  • Dog play dates
  • Hiking or jogging ~ check with your vet first to make sure your furry friend is physically developed enough for this activity

If you and your dog want to go beyond the basics, there are a variety of competitive events in which your dog can compete like agility, fly ball, and rally obedience just to name a few. There is plenty of information about these events and competitions available on the internet.

The bottom line? The sky is the limit regarding how far you and your dog want to go regarding training. First and foremost, remember your dog loves spending time with you. Secondly, getting enough physical exercise and mental exertion are the key components to having a well-behaved dog whose name is not "No, no! Bad Dog!"

~ Sue