Article  Be Sure to Give Your Australian Shepherd Enough Exercise The Australian Shepherd is a working dog, which means this breed is active both physically and mentally. Therefore it is important that an these dogs get enough exercise so that they stay fit and healthy, as well as to keep their minds challenged and active. Unfortunately, with most people's busy schedules, giving your dog enough exercise is often a daunting task. Here are a few tips to help you give your Australian Shepherd enough exercise. Jog with your dog. If you don't mind getting up for an early morning jog, a quick 20 or 30 minute run in the mornings will provide plenty of exercise for the average Australian Shepherd. This won't take a big chunk out of your day, and it will keep your dog happy and slightly tired while you are at work. Because these shepherds were bred as working dogs, they are built to be quite active. Running comes naturally to them, and they will most likely come to love accompanying you on your morning runs. Plus, this ensures that you are getting plenty of exercise as well! Take your Australian Shepherd to the dog park. The dog park is a great place to let your dog run and socialize. Dogs get great exercise by running and playing with other canines. The Australian Shepherd is a pretty social, loveable breed, so you and your dog are sure to have lots of fun at the dog park. Like the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, only taller, don't forget that your Australian Shepherd is by nature a herding dog. Be aware of your dog's personality, and watch to make sure he or she doesn't start herding the other dogs, particularly the little dogs, a bit too enthusiastically for the other owners' tastes. Also, be warned that going to the dog park once or twice a week may tire your dog out, but your dog still needs small doses of daily exercise to stay fit and happy. Enroll your dog in agility classes. Agility classes are a hot new extracurricular activity for dogs. Basically, they involve training your dog to give them the physical skill and discipline to jump through hoops, go over and under obstacles, and so on. You will find that agility classes give you a workout, as well, as you will need to run alongside your dog as he or she navigates the obstacle course. Agility classes are great for active dog breeds such as the Australian Shepherd. Of course, agility classes also cost money, which some dog owners may find to be a significant downfall. Put your dog in day care. Yes, there is day care for doggies, and most of them love it! Day care is like spending the day at the dog park: There are other dogs to play with, usually a great big space where they can run, and perhaps even equipment they can climb and play on. Most doggie day cares also have set meal times and quiet times to ensure that the dogs don't overdo it. Day care is a great way to ensure your dog gets plenty of exercise, if you are busy and find it difficult to make time for going for runs, visiting the dog park, or taking agility classes. Simply drop your dog off at day care in the mornings, and pick them up after work. The fun environment is a perfect outlet for your Australian Shepherd's energy levels, and the constant activity (as opposed to sleeping all day while you're at work) will keep their mind sharp and entertained! As you can see, there are a lot of ways to ensure an active, working breed of dog such as an Australian Shepherd gets plenty of exercise. Simply choose whatever activities work best for your own activity levels and schedule them! Category Society Author Anonymous Add To Favorites Print This Article Email Article To A Friend Post Comments   Rate This Article (0) 1 - Poor2345 - Good678910 - Excellent Added On 09-17-2009