Do you have an Active Puppy or Dog who can't sit still, gets into trouble a lot, or likes to dig, chew or destroy things? Here are some helpful tips for keeping an active, intelligent puppy or dog well exercised and entertained!

Training- all dogs need some form of training. Training teaches self-control, reinforces your position as a competent leader, and works your dog's brain. 5 minutes training is worth about 15 minutes of exercise. If you want to have some fun and build a positive relationship with your dog, try Clicker Training. Clicker Training is a humane and pet-friendly training method that provides a great brain work-out for your dog or puppy. More information can be found at the end of this article.

Exercise- all dogs require regular exercise. Dogs with 'behavior problems' are often found to be lacking an appropriate amount of daily exercise. For most dogs, half and hour of walking each day is an acceptable minimum and will even do wonders for your health too. An alternative is to throw a ball around for 20 minutes, go for a jog, or take up an activity which combines training with exercise such as Agility, Flyball, Scent Hurdles, Tracking or Schutzhund.

Give a Dog a Job- the exercises just mentioned are only a small selection. There are other physical activities such as Search and Rescue, Weight Pulling, Sledding, Retrieving, Herding and Therapy Work which might appeal to you and your dog. Some breeds are better suited to certain activities, but almost any breed can have a go at any of these activities. Try to find a group, class or club which teaches any of these activities and ask if you can join in with your dog.

Environmental Enrichment- most dogs enjoy having toys to play with, particularly while left alone. Some toys are designed to dispense food when played with and are probably the best toys to keep an active dog busy. Alternatively, try mixing some of your dog's normal meal to a mushy consistency (you may need to soak dry food in water) and stuff it into a 'Kong'. Freeze overnight and give to your dog while you are out for the day. This is particularly good for teething puppies.

Massage and Touch Therapies- these are great for calming a dog down at the end of the day. You can learn a special technique for dogs called Tellington Touch from trained practitioners.

Sleep- although you may have an active dog, uninterrupted sleep is still very important. Make sure your dog has a quiet, safe, dry place to sleep - preferably inside the house.