I confess!
Tell me, are you busy? Who isn’t, right? I am human and I love doing what I do. So much so, that I’ve been guilty of serious sin. I don’t think I could go to jail for it, but I’m sure that if there was a “bad mom!” jail, my dogs would put me there! Yes, my dogs need more exercise!
Have You Been Ignoring Your Dog Too Long?
Okay, there it is, I who tells everyone how important exercise and socialization is for Chihuahuas am human! I’ve been ignoring my dogs for too long. How do I know? I’ll share with you how you can tell if you’ve been too busy and need to pay more attention to your dog.
5 Signs That You Have Ignored Your Dog Too Long
Your dog will give you plenty of signs to let you know that you have been ignoring him for too long. These are things to look for:
- He is getting a little pudgy
- Hyperactivity
- Destructive Behavior
- Depression
- Not interested in walks or doesn’t want to play anymore
- He’s starting to annoy me with his constantly wanting attention
He’s getting a little pudgy. Sadly, overweight dogs have become so “normal” today that many people don’t know the difference. An obese dog is unhealthy and unhappy.
So, how do you know if your dog is too chubby? According to the Association For Pet Obesity 56% of dogs in the United States are overweight! 56%! That’s over half of the dog population!
I don’t have to tell you all the health risks there are for obesity. Check out this dog to human weight translator for a Chihuahua. You can find other breed translators on their website. You can also find a Body Condition Scoring chart for more ways to check your dog’s weight.
He’s getting more hyper. What may be perceived as hyperactivity is either breed specific (Chihuahuas puppies have a lot of energy, bu Chihuahuas are not hyperactive specifically) or a lack of mental and physical exercise. It’s important to recognize the difference. Does your dog do zoomies? You may or may not know what that is, but it’s zooming around the room and furniture. It may not always mean they need exercise, but for my Remedy Jane, it’s a sure sign!
If you notice that your dog is calmer and more pleasant to be around after a walk or playtime, then you can be sure that she needs more exercise, both physical and mental. All dogs need mental and physical stimulation, socialization, and change in environment daily. If you don’t give it to them, they will try to fulfill that need within their own space.
You now have chewed up shoes and he knows he’s not supposed to. This too boils down to lack of physical exercise. If he is chewing up your shoes, furniture or even eliminating in the house or exhibiting aggressive behavior toward other pets or people try giving him daily physical exercise and see if the behavior stops.
He seems to be depressed. Sadly, some dogs just retreat. They seem withdrawn and tend to hang out in their crate or another favorite place. If your dog used to be social and always wanted to be near you and was playful, but suddenly seems depressed. Consider two things.
She just needs more activity, exercise, and interaction, or check with your veterinarian to rule out any painful condition that may be causing the change in her behavior.
He doesn’t seem interested in walks or doesn’t want to play anymore. Has it been a while since he had a walk or anything activity that was physical? He may simply be stiff. Just like humans, if they don’t move, their joints tend to get stiff.
If it has been too long, start out slow. Give his muscles, joints, and tendons to gradually return to a good condition.
If after a while he continues to seem reluctant, or if you notice that he has trouble going up and down the stairs or jump in the care like he used to consider taking him to the veterinarian to check for arthritis or another painful condition.
He’s starting to annoy me with his constantly wanting attention. Constantly seeking your attention may be a plea for a walk or some physical activity. Is he constantly pawing at you for attention? Or does he bark, whine, pace, spin in circles, run or stand at the door?
