For many people, exercise is a crucial part of their routine and can be as important to their mental health as it is to physical health. This true for dogs as well. Younger dogs particularly, tend to get more destructive or troublesome when they do not get enough time to run and play. Although very important to a dog’s physical health, exercise can have a big impact on a dog’s behavior and mental state. From improving behavior and intellect to combatting depression and anxiety at a chemical level, exercise has an abundance of benefits. This is connected higher levels of stress resilience, in effect decreasing the amount, and impact of triggers that may put your dog on a blind mission to escape outside despite the presence of a closed class door.
As dog owners, the Wise Woofs team has experienced how exercise and play help dogs be more cooperative and well behaved. This is supported by the theory of, “Train by Play,” as an underlying tenet to the vast majority of dog training strategies. A study, “Effects of Physical Activity on Dog Behavior,” performed in late 2016 by Marcella Zilocchi and colleagues looked into this idea by comparing the frequency that active and non-active dogs exhibited certain behaviors. The most notable results are shown in the table below.
| Observed Behavior | Frequency Observed in Active Dogs | Frequency Observed in Sedentary Dogs |
| Not Obeying Commands | 51.1% | 62.9% |
| Destroying Items | 26.6% | 31.4% |
| Chasing Cars | 29.8% | 18.6% |
| Barking (if left alone) | 33.0% | 43.6% |
| Licking itself | 34.0% | 42.9% |
| Attempting to bite other dogs | 21.3% | 27.1% |
| Staring at an object | 37.2% | 19.3% |
| Defending one or more objects (e.g. toys, food bowl) | 31.9% | 40.7% |
We see a consistent pattern that physical activity has a direct effect on dogs’ behavior. Two of the most impactful findings may be that exercise reduced the frequency of aggression and disobedience. Certain undesirable behaviors such as chasing cars and becoming fixated on an object were also an issue for the sedentary group.
Exercise played the most significant role in reducing behaviors indicative of stress. For example, active dogs in the study were less likely to be seen licking themselves which is commonly associated with stress or boredom (it can also indicate a biological health issue). By keeping dogs active and engaging in both training and play, the data indicates that it helps them both avoid boredom and cope with stress. A study performed on Canine anxiety found that exercise was a major factor in increasing stress resilience in dogs and specifically noting a decrease in noise sensitivity. While the complete mechanism is not entirely understood, exercise has been found to increase serotonin production in animals similarly to people. Increased serotonin levels are known to help focus, skill retention, impulse control, and mood regulation. Physical activity, specifically training and play, is especially important for puppies as it helps to strengthen the bond between you and your dog while improving cognitive development. One study, “Physical Activity and the maintenance of cognition: Learning from animal models” found that exercise increased neurogenesis (development of new, healthy brain cells) and was linked to improved memory and learning.
While the simple addition of a longer walk every day can make a positive impact, research indicates that higher intensity exercise at shorter durations is an important ingredient to the healthiest canine lifestyle. We hope this article encourages you to get off the computer, now… and get out for a fun, engaging activity with your dog!
