Understanding Your Dog’s Behaviour to Strengthen Your Bond
If you've ever wished your dog could talk, all you have to do is look closer to realise they're constantly communicating with you. Canines show their emotions through body language, facial expressions, and sounds. Recognising the signals of each feeling will allow you to respond appropriately without misunderstanding their intentions.
Although pups don't have the same extensive range of emotions as humans, it's believed they can experience basic feelings, including happiness, fear, anger, stress, and anticipation.
To understand what your pup is trying to tell you, Benchmark Kennels have put together an explanation of common dog behaviour.
Happy behaviour
When dogs are relaxed and happy around you, it often means they trust, love, and feel comfortable with you.
You can rest assured knowing your pup is content if they display the following signs:
- holding their tail in a neutral position
- sighing and stretching
- soft eyes with relaxed lids
- rolling onto their back to ask for a belly rub
- smooth hair
- holding their ears in the natural position
- distributing weight equally across all paws
- opening mouth slightly, with the corners turned up and tongue exposed
- licking your face
- nudging your nose with their nose
Excitable responses
Dogs are often excited to play and exercise, which is fun for you and the pup, keeps them healthy, and prevents them from having excess energy.
Here are some signs that your dog is excited:
- the play bow (when dogs raise their tail end and bend their front paws to lower their front end)
- pointing ears upwards
- opening their mouth with the tongue exposed
- yappy and high-pitched barking
- full body wagging
- jumping
- fast tail wagging
However, to prevent your dog from becoming constantly over-excited, ensure you keep them physically and mentally stimulated, maintain a consistent routine, and feed them a nutritional diet that suits their breed. Try not to encourage the excited behaviour as it can lead to aggression. If you’re struggling to keep your dog calm, get advice from a professional dog trainer and veterinarian.
Signs of stress
Recognising when your dog is distressed can help you calm them down and prevent aggravating them further.
Here are some indications that your dog is afraid, stressed, or nervous:
- cowering and hunching
- placing their tail between their legs or towards the ground
- avoiding eye contact
- sweating through their pads
- lowering their body
- hanging their head low
- pointing their ears back
- turning their head away from you
- raising hackles
- slightly urinating
- rolling onto their back to show surrender and submission
- trembling
If your dog is nervous, approach them slowly, and avoid looming over them by getting down to their level. Try not to make eye contact with them, as they can consider this a sign of threat. To appear less intimidating, turn to your side and speak in a high-pitched tone.
Don't push them into situations they aren't comfortable with, such as interacting with someone new and be patient as they build their confidence.
It's also important for dogs to have a place where they can be alone and remain undisturbed if they feel stressed, scared, or overwhelmed. Outdoor kennels are a great option for dogs that love being outside. However, ensure they only use it on their terms and never as a form of punishment. Place food, water, toys, and blankets in the kennel, so they associate it with positivity and deem it a safe space.
Angry signals
You must approach an angry dog very carefully to avoid exacerbating the situation. To determine what's causing the aggression, note down when and how your dog expresses this reaction. This behaviour can stem from many scenarios, such as feeling afraid, territorial, and protective.
Here are some ways your dog may display aggression:
- showing teeth
- fast twitch-like tail wag
- long stares and hard eyes
- standing with a stiffened body posture
- placing their weight forward
- raised hair
- dark and enlarged pupils
- wrinkled nose
- pointing their ears back and down
- snarling and growling
- curled lips
To find the best approach to handle your dog's anger, remove the stimulus that is causing it or if it happens frequently, consider seeking help from a professional dog trainer. Sudden aggressive behaviour can also be a sign of a medical problem or pain they’re experiencing that can be checked and diagnosed by a veterinarian.
Although some common behaviours can suggest different emotions, you know your pet better than anyone. Try to identify any other ways your dog expresses himself to you, other humans, and other dogs to determine their intentions and make sure you’re ready to react accordingly in the right manner.
Need an outdoor kennel to help your pooch feel calm and safe?
If you want to provide your dog with a safe place to go to for some peace and quiet, an outdoor kennel is a perfect solution. At Benchmark Kennels, we offer a range of secure and spacious kennels that can be customised to suit your dog and home perfectly in terms of size, shape, and material.
You can order a wooden or WPC eco-thermal dog kennel directly from our website today or contact us via phone to find out more about our excellent range of kennels.
- Published in Blog
How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Breed Need?
Whether you already have a dog as part of the family or are considering welcoming one into your home, it’s essential to know how much exercise they require. A dog that doesn’t get enough exercise or isn’t stimulated can end up becoming depressed or anxious due to the excess energy that can be mistaken for problem behaviours like barking, whining, or chewing.
The best way to figure out how much exercise your dog needs is to consider its breed. Dog breeds fall into several main ‘classes’ like working, herding, sporting, terriers, hounds, toy and giant breeds.
Benchmark Kennels have put together a handy infographic so you can quickly pinpoint how much exercise your dog needs by its breed!
Dog exercise needs by breed…
Herding breeds
Herding breeds, along with sporting breeds, need the most exercise out of all the dog classes. In the past, they have been bred to work and not relax like many lapdog breeds that are popular today, so need daily exercise that will allow them to burn off energy physically and stimulate them mentally and challenge their brains. Some common herding breeds are sheepdogs, collies and shepherds, all of which require between 1 to 2 hours of exercise every day.
It’s essential to learn all about a dog breed before considering welcoming a new dog into your home to make sure their exercise needs can easily fit into your daily routine. This way, you won’t end up having a dog that has excess unspent energy wreaking havoc around your home, and you can make sure your dog is kept happy and healthy. Experts recommend varying the walking routes you take your herding dog on so they don’t become bored and unstimulated by the same course and mix up the exercise’s intensity by allowing your dog to run around and just walk by your side.
Sporting breeds
Like herding breeds, sporting dogs need a minimum of 1 hour and a maximum of 2 hours exercise per day, with a mixture of moderate to intense activity. Some common sporting breeds are pointers, retrievers, setters and spaniels.
Working breeds
Working dogs like saint bernards, schnauzers, huskies, pinschers, Akitas and Dobermans again need between 1 to 2 hours of exercise each day. However, rather than allowing your dog to run for long distances, it’s best to keep the activity level consistently moderate for more extended periods to tire them out. Working breeds are bred to work, so need exercise that mimics this and allows them to gradually burn off energy rather than become exhausted immediately.
Terrier breeds
Terriers, commonly known to be the yappier and crazier of dog breeds, surprisingly need almost as much exercise as larger working dogs. Terriers may be small, but they still have a lot of energy to burn and can become loud and destructive if understimulated, requiring a minimum of 60 minutes of exercise per day. Terriers like jack Russells, westies, Yorkshire terriers, and bull terriers are suited to a range of exercise levels, whether you prefer to do intense playtimes for shorter periods of 30 minutes or take them on a longer more moderate walk.
Toy breeds
Toy breeds aren’t bred for any particular functional purpose like working or hunting and are mostly bred for their looks and lapdogs. Examples of toy breeds are chihuahuas, king Charles cavaliers, Pomeranians, Shih Tzus and more. Typically, toy breeds will need a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of 60 minutes of exercise per day. Although you might think it’s okay to skip a walk here and there with a toy breed, this isn’t the case. Toy breeds still need regular exercise to keep them mentally and physically fit and healthy, so it’s important to exercise them daily, even if its a 30 minute game of fetch in the garden. Toy breeds are prone to gaining weight and becoming obese due to their size, so still, need careful consideration to make sure they will fit into your routine.
Giant breeds
Giant dogs like bullmastiffs, great Danes and Newfoundlands are less commonly seen, however, for those considering whether to welcome a giant dog breed into their home, you will need to prepare to exercise them for 30 to 45 minutes per day. You might assume that the bigger the dog, the more exercise it will need, but this isn’t the case. Giant dog breeds are at higher risk of joint issues due to their size and weight and typically don’t live as long, so it’s crucial not to overexercise these breeds. Where possible in a safe and hygienic environment, swimming is an excellent way for these breeds to burn off energy as it doesn’t put pressure on their hips and other joints.
Order an outdoor exercise pen for your pooch today!
If you’re exercising your dog regularly and meeting its exercise needs but still find it has some energy to burn off, why not install an outdoor dog pen for them to spend time? At Benchmark Kennels, we offer a range of safe, secure and high-quality outdoor dog pens, offering a space outdoors for your dog to relax or play. Outdoor kennels and pens are a great way to make sure your dog gets plenty of fresh air and has enough room to play without causing any destruction to your home or putting themselves in danger.
- Published in Blog
How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Breed Need?
Whether you already have a dog as part of the family or are considering welcoming one into your home, it’s essential to know how much exercise they require. A dog that doesn’t get enough exercise or isn’t stimulated can end up becoming depressed or anxious due to the excess energy that can be mistaken for problem behaviours like barking, whining, or chewing.
The best way to figure out how much exercise your dog needs is to consider its breed. Dog breeds fall into several main ‘classes’ like working, herding, sporting, terriers, hounds, toy and giant breeds.
Benchmark Kennels have put together a handy infographic so you can quickly pinpoint how much exercise your dog needs by its breed!
Dog exercise needs by breed…
Herding breeds
Herding breeds, along with sporting breeds, need the most exercise out of all the dog classes. In the past, they have been bred to work and not relax like many lapdog breeds that are popular today, so need daily exercise that will allow them to burn off energy physically and stimulate them mentally and challenge their brains. Some common herding breeds are sheepdogs, collies and shepherds, all of which require between 1 to 2 hours of exercise every day.
It’s essential to learn all about a dog breed before considering welcoming a new dog into your home to make sure their exercise needs can easily fit into your daily routine. This way, you won’t end up having a dog that has excess unspent energy wreaking havoc around your home, and you can make sure your dog is kept happy and healthy. Experts recommend varying the walking routes you take your herding dog on so they don’t become bored and unstimulated by the same course and mix up the exercise’s intensity by allowing your dog to run around and just walk by your side.
Sporting breeds
Like herding breeds, sporting dogs need a minimum of 1 hour and a maximum of 2 hours exercise per day, with a mixture of moderate to intense activity. Some common sporting breeds are pointers, retrievers, setters and spaniels.
Working breeds
Working dogs like saint bernards, schnauzers, huskies, pinschers, Akitas and Dobermans again need between 1 to 2 hours of exercise each day. However, rather than allowing your dog to run for long distances, it’s best to keep the activity level consistently moderate for more extended periods to tire them out. Working breeds are bred to work, so need exercise that mimics this and allows them to gradually burn off energy rather than become exhausted immediately.
Terrier breeds
Terriers, commonly known to be the yappier and crazier of dog breeds, surprisingly need almost as much exercise as larger working dogs. Terriers may be small, but they still have a lot of energy to burn and can become loud and destructive if understimulated, requiring a minimum of 60 minutes of exercise per day. Terriers like jack Russells, westies, Yorkshire terriers, and bull terriers are suited to a range of exercise levels, whether you prefer to do intense playtimes for shorter periods of 30 minutes or take them on a longer more moderate walk.
Toy breeds
Toy breeds aren’t bred for any particular functional purpose like working or hunting and are mostly bred for their looks and lapdogs. Examples of toy breeds are chihuahuas, king Charles cavaliers, Pomeranians, Shih Tzus and more. Typically, toy breeds will need a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of 60 minutes of exercise per day. Although you might think it’s okay to skip a walk here and there with a toy breed, this isn’t the case. Toy breeds still need regular exercise to keep them mentally and physically fit and healthy, so it’s important to exercise them daily, even if its a 30 minute game of fetch in the garden. Toy breeds are prone to gaining weight and becoming obese due to their size, so still, need careful consideration to make sure they will fit into your routine.
Giant breeds
Giant dogs like bullmastiffs, great Danes and Newfoundlands are less commonly seen, however, for those considering whether to welcome a giant dog breed into their home, you will need to prepare to exercise them for 30 to 45 minutes per day. You might assume that the bigger the dog, the more exercise it will need, but this isn’t the case. Giant dog breeds are at higher risk of joint issues due to their size and weight and typically don’t live as long, so it’s crucial not to overexercise these breeds. Where possible in a safe and hygienic environment, swimming is an excellent way for these breeds to burn off energy as it doesn’t put pressure on their hips and other joints.
Order an outdoor exercise pen for your pooch today!
If you’re exercising your dog regularly and meeting its exercise needs but still find it has some energy to burn off, why not install an outdoor dog pen for them to spend time? At Benchmark Kennels, we offer a range of safe, secure and high-quality outdoor dog pens, offering a space outdoors for your dog to relax or play. Outdoor kennels and pens are a great way to make sure your dog gets plenty of fresh air and has enough room to play without causing any destruction to your home or putting themselves in danger.
- Published in Blog