45 Of The Silliest New Pics Of Doggos ‘Malfunctioning’, As Shared On This Online Group

“Exercise is essential for all dogs—it helps keep them fit, and is really important for their mental health too, so walks, training, and playtime should be part of every dog’s daily routine. You can also shake things up a bit for them by trying activities like swimming—it’s great exercise for them and can be especially good for dogs with stiff or painful joints. Just be mindful that some places are much safer for a doggy dip than others so pick your spot carefully," PDSA Vet Nurse Shauna shared some great ideas about having more active fun with our dogs.

"Joining a local agility or flyball class, or even trying yoga with your dog can be a great way to mix things up! Whichever activity you bring into your dog’s life, just make sure that they enjoy it, are not being over-exercised, and that it is positive and fun!” she said.

According to the PDSA, every dog will have different energy levels. These depend on their breed, age, health, fitness, and even personality.

"While there is no such a thing as a lazy dog, some definitely need more activity than others! Your dog should determine the ideal amount of exercise needed. If they seem really tired, stop the activity, let them rest, and consider shortening the duration next time. The amount of exercise is less important than the quality and variety of the exercise," the pet health pro explained to Bored Panda.

Interestingly enough, dogs and humans have similar social structures. That's why we live so well together, PDSA representative Shauna pointed out. "Studies have shown that dogs are amazing at reading human body language, including facial expressions, and can usually tell how we are feeling. They will also take cues from us about how to respond to situations—if we are worried about something, our dog will know we are worried but won’t understand why, so might feel unsettled too," she noted what the bond between us and our canine pals looks like.

"Therefore, an anxious owner may unintentionally make their dog anxious, because dogs are closely bonded to us and feel what we feel. However, pet owners may subconsciously choose a pet that mirrors their personality—an outgoing, active person may choose a bouncy, high-energy dog to suit their lifestyle, which would, in turn, seem as though the dog ‘takes after their owner.’”

Bored Panda was interested to learn more about how we ought to approach training our dogs. For instance, we were curious about when it's best to teach our pets how to behave properly.

“Most owners envisage their puppy growing into a well-behaved adult dog, but it can be difficult to know where to start!" Vet Nurse Shauna said. "Dogs of any age will enjoy training, as long as it is positive and reward-based, there is never a wrong time to start. The first three things a puppy or young dog should learn are to sit, where to go to the toilet, and to come back when called. This will start building a foundation so you can teach other aspects of doggy-etiquette—but remember; consistency and reward are the keys to success!"

The PDSA gave us some great news that, yes, it actually is possible to teach an old dog new tricks, despite the adage. There are some caveats, though.

"It might take a little bit longer than a puppy who hasn’t already developed any undesirable habits. Training should remain the same for a pooch of any age—this should be rewards-based and positive, but they might need shorter, less intensive sessions. Learning new things helps keep the brain healthy and active so older dogs can and should learn new tricks! It’s also important to have regular training sessions for pups of any age to help them remember what they’ve learned." Meanwhile, here's a link to the PDSA's advice on dealing with unwanted behavior in dogs.