Understanding Your Dog's Need for Balance - Mentally, Emotionally, and Physically
"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony." - Thomas Merton
We hear it often - life is all about balance. Nutrition professionals will tell you about the importance of maintaining a balanced diet to optimize health. Psychologists who practice Eastern medicine say that the key to minimizing anxiety, stress, and living a good life is about balancing your inner self with your outer self. And as a professional canine behavior consultant, I can tell you that the key to finding harmony with your dog lies in the balancing of your dog’s needs to create good behavior.
The trouble is, sometimes in our busy lives, we forget what it means to live a life of balance. We unintentionally let things slip by the wayside and then, lost, we wonder where we went wrong. Some of us have been there with our dogs. However, most canine behavior issues can be significantly lessened by bringing back the right kind of mental, emotional and physical balance for your dog.
“But my dog goes outside or gets walked every day, why isn’t that enough?” one might ask. Much for the same reason that we humans have multifaceted sides to our personalities and behaviors and require different things at different times, the same is true for our dogs. A dog could be walked several miles a day, but if his physical exercise is not balanced with the appropriate mental or emotional outlet for him, he may not be satiated and will come back shortly thereafter as if that exercise hadn’t even occurred. This is one of the reasons why I explain to my clients that it’s the quality of the walk or session that counts, not how far you go just for the sake of moving your dog’s legs.
In finding that balance for our dogs, it’s important to recognize each dog as the individual that he is, as well as the difference between physical energy, mental energy and emotional energy. While they are certainly all connected, they can be separate needs, require an outlet in different ways, and a dog may have a greater tendency towards one than the others…
“But my dog goes outside or gets walked every day, why isn’t that enough?” one might ask. Much for the same reason that we humans have multifaceted sides to our personalities and behaviors and require different things at different times, the same is true for our dogs. A dog could be walked several miles a day, but if his physical exercise is not balanced with the appropriate mental or emotional outlet for him, he may not be satiated and will come back shortly thereafter as if that exercise hadn’t even occurred. This is one of the reasons why I explain to my clients that it’s the quality of the walk or session that counts, not how far you go just for the sake of moving your dog’s legs.
In finding that balance for our dogs, it’s important to recognize each dog as the individual that he is, as well as the difference between physical energy, mental energy and emotional energy. While they are certainly all connected, they can be separate needs, require an outlet in different ways, and a dog may have a greater tendency towards one than the others…
Physical Energy: This is a dog’s athletic need to move his large muscle groups to keep his body from being stagnant. This kind of physical exertion is important for the flow of natural hormones through the body that keep the body running at optimum performance and for the overall health of your dog. Some dogs naturally have a higher physical energy than others and don’t like to settle or sit still – they like to have a job to do (which also is a use of mental energy). For example, many herding breeds like Border Collies and Australian Shepherds were designed to drive livestock over large expanses of land, and Siberian Huskies were meant to guide sleds through miles of frozen tundra – both very physically demanding jobs! So these breeds have a lot of endurance and are typically not content to sit around all day doing nothing.
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Mental Energy: This is a dog’s need to keep an active mind – to learn, to problem-solve, to provoke thought-processing. Some dogs are extremely intelligent and need something to challenge their minds in addition to their bodies; for these dogs, without the appropriate outlet can come a slew of behavior issues. These dogs tend to get bored easily and enjoy games and puzzles that engage their brain and give them something productive to focus on (see Brain Games Make For a Happier and Healthier Dog for ideas!). Dogs also take in a lot of information about their environment through sniffing. Allowing your dog the opportunity to sniff along walks at appropriate times gives him the chance to process what has happened or is happening around him, which provides good mental stimulation (and can build confidence as well). |
Emotional Energy: This is when a dog’s emotional state is driving his activity level. Some dogs are naturally what I call, in the most loving of terms, “high strung” due to their DNA – such as herding breeds and terriers, who generally tend to run at a higher frequency than companion dogs or working breeds. While these breeds may additionally have a higher physical energy, it’s important to note that they are active not only because they need a physical outlet, but also because their brains are working overtime. Some dogs carry more anxiety and emotional energy than others, either because they like control, lack confidence or don’t deal well with pressure. These dogs need a stronger outlet than dogs that are relatively unfazed by the stimulating environment in which they live, work or play.
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How do you tell the difference? There are a few ways, but the easiest is to note how your dog chooses to spend the majority of his day.
- If he’s content to lay around and nap most of the day and doesn’t go out of his way to be active, his natural physical energy level is pretty low. If your dog moves around frequently looking for something to do, or needs to run or walk for miles every day without slowing and showing you he’s had enough, his natural physical energy level is pretty high.
- If your dog lays low but he remains alert and enjoys training and learning, he likely has a good amount of mental energy.
- If your dog only (or most commonly) gets active in the presence of a given stimulus (like another dog, a squirrel, a noise outside, a visitor, etc), this is typically emotional energy. The stimulus and the emotion your dog feels in the presence of this stimulus is what is triggering your dog to be active.
- The same is true for some dogs in the absence of a stimulus (i.e. you being away at work, causing your dog separation anxiety). In an example like this, any destruction, etc. performed during this time is linked to an emotional response, not necessarily a physical need (though it could certainly be amplified if a physical need is not met).
Regardless of whether your dog’s behavior concerns are derived from mental, emotional or physical energy, this is a point I find to be true in nearly all circumstances: Your dog is less likely to be reactive, hyperactive, anxious, destructive, vocal, or excitable if he has had good outlets (and therefore a good balance) for his mental, emotional and physical energy.
Just like a human’s, a dog’s emotional state influences his behavior and it fluctuates through the day. It ebbs and it flows, but hopefully it is not having roller coaster highs and crashing lows – if so, your dog’s emotional state is not properly balanced. And, like humans, some dogs feel very little social or environmental pressure throughout the day whereas others feel more, depending on how sensitive and resilient they are. To keep our dogs ebbing and flowing at appropriate levels, we must teach them how to dissipate this pressure before it starts to build too high.
Just like a human’s, a dog’s emotional state influences his behavior and it fluctuates through the day. It ebbs and it flows, but hopefully it is not having roller coaster highs and crashing lows – if so, your dog’s emotional state is not properly balanced. And, like humans, some dogs feel very little social or environmental pressure throughout the day whereas others feel more, depending on how sensitive and resilient they are. To keep our dogs ebbing and flowing at appropriate levels, we must teach them how to dissipate this pressure before it starts to build too high.
Without the proper outlet for this emotional energy, some dogs will continue to build in pressure until they finally “erupt” and then you get the torrent of inappropriate behaviors. When that happens, however, the brain floods with chemicals to cope and so, as a result, the ability to think and respond appropriately is much diminished. So, rather than waiting for your dog’s emotional state to be so out of balance and for him to have such a high arousal level, it is best to be proactive and provide the appropriate outlets to help your dog dissipate his emotional energy before it becomes a problem. Often times, this pressure can be relieved through physical activity, chewing, playing or some other light-hearted activity to lighten up the mood.
Productive vs. Unproductive Outlets
The more time your dog spends doing something or behaving in a certain way, the more this shapes his mind and becomes the “norm” for him. This is just the simple truth of how physiology and neurobiology work. With that said, there are good (productive) ways for your dog to take out his energy and there are less appropriate (unproductive) ways.
For example: chewing on a bone would be a productive and appropriate outlet (dogs take a lot of their emotional energy out through chewing), whereas chewing on your table legs would be inappropriate. Another example: running around in circles like a chicken with his head cut off, roughhousing with no control of his body or mind, is not a productive outlet. To teach your dog to work out his energy this way would be similar to teaching your child that it’s OK to run around the house like a hooligan, knocking everything off of shelves and punching whoever got in his way when he’s stressed or excited. This behavior is just reactivity on the dog’s end (he is not learning how to handle his emotions in a more productive manner) so not the best idea to practice over and over again.
Some more examples of unproductive outlets: Jumping and mouthing at you, tugging or chewing on the leash, stealing/chewing household items, shredding stuffed toys until all the stuffing is gone, chasing other pets in the home, barking, and scavenging/stealing food/raiding the trash.
The more time your dog spends doing something or behaving in a certain way, the more this shapes his mind and becomes the “norm” for him. This is just the simple truth of how physiology and neurobiology work. With that said, there are good (productive) ways for your dog to take out his energy and there are less appropriate (unproductive) ways.
For example: chewing on a bone would be a productive and appropriate outlet (dogs take a lot of their emotional energy out through chewing), whereas chewing on your table legs would be inappropriate. Another example: running around in circles like a chicken with his head cut off, roughhousing with no control of his body or mind, is not a productive outlet. To teach your dog to work out his energy this way would be similar to teaching your child that it’s OK to run around the house like a hooligan, knocking everything off of shelves and punching whoever got in his way when he’s stressed or excited. This behavior is just reactivity on the dog’s end (he is not learning how to handle his emotions in a more productive manner) so not the best idea to practice over and over again.
Some more examples of unproductive outlets: Jumping and mouthing at you, tugging or chewing on the leash, stealing/chewing household items, shredding stuffed toys until all the stuffing is gone, chasing other pets in the home, barking, and scavenging/stealing food/raiding the trash.
Some ideas to build more productive outlets:
- Teach your dog to take his energy out by chewing on the appropriate chew items and toys, i.e. give him a special chew/toy when a guest enters the house so he chews on that item rather than jumping and mouthing at your guest. You can even have your guest give your dog the item if preferred.
- Provide him with puzzle toys and games that stimulate his mind, i.e. a treat ball that he has to bounce around to work the treats through a labyrinth inside, a board with hidden compartments you can stow treats in, playing “hide and seek” with you or toys around the house, etc. For a list of some of my most recommended puzzle toys, click HERE.
- Go for walks/hikes that you both enjoy and working at a pace that is appropriate for the level of stimulation. In busy town or city areas, pay more attention to your dog’s body language signals to bring him back to a calm emotional state before he gets too high, working more slowly as needed and focusing on the quality of your dog’s experience rather than just how far you walk. In quiet park or wooded areas, give your dog some space to explore and romp if he desires, but I still always recommend having your dog on a long leash unless in an enclosed area (please respect leash laws and the comfort/safety of other patrons using the park/trail!).
- Sniffing is a natural need for dogs. Providing sniffing breaks during walks and allowing your dog to check out his environment provides good mental stimulation. It's also necessary to build confidence for insecure dogs and sniffing can be a way of coping with stress. Give your dog a break to sniff along leisurely walks when he finds something of interest (so long as it's safe), decide how long you will let him sniff for, and then move on with a "let's go." If your dog is snowing signs of stress, stop and let him take things in for a bit to decompress; when he looks more relaxed, you can continue on. If your dog's arousal level is building too high, stop and take him to a quieter area to sniff around, giving him a chance to come back to a calmer emotional state, and then re-evaluate the situation to see if it's too much for your dog at that time.
- Give your dog the opportunity to play with other dogs, but this should not be the primary source for his outlet or it may increase his dog distraction and decrease his connection with you. During play sessions with other dogs, provide breaks to bring your dog back to a calmer emotional state, since many altercations between dogs occur during moments of high arousal. You should still play a very active role in your dog’s play with other dogs by throwing toys, recognizing your dog for checking in with you, and watching his body language (and that of the other dogs he is interacting with).
- Play with your dog to build your connection to one another over distractions and the environment. This could involve fetch, tug, chase games (controlled only), or hide and seek. You could also take classes together (like agility or tracking) or participate in activities like dock-diving or flyball.
- Implement appropriate training and enrichment techniques to build your dog’s skills in social and stimulating situations. This includes building up strong obedience commands like “sit”, “down”, “stay”, “come” and name response just to name a few, and practicing them often in a variety of environments and circumstances with varying levels of distraction. Using these skills to direct your dog in real-life situations at home (like while you’re doing chores, cooking dinner, or checking your email), at others’ homes, and in public will help your dog understand what is expected of him in a given situation and will teach him how to act out of a place of thoughtful control rather than impulsivity and reactivity.
If you can understand your particular dog’s mental, emotional and physical needs, and meet those needs accordingly by giving him the appropriate outlet at the appropriate times, you can find that harmony and have a well-balanced (and therefore well-behaved) best four-legged friend!
For help on identifying your dog's mental, emotional and physical needs, and taking actions accordingly to bring them into balance, contact Maria at (845) 549-0896 or [email protected]. Together we can find harmony!
For help on identifying your dog's mental, emotional and physical needs, and taking actions accordingly to bring them into balance, contact Maria at (845) 549-0896 or [email protected]. Together we can find harmony!
Written by Maria Huntoon, Maria G. Huntoon Canine Consulting Services