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acceptance of both security and a rightful place in the home is extremely helpful. But, if you do not have a second dog that will play with the energetic bundle of joy, then the rescued dog needs to run, for at least a few miles, at least two to three times a day. Now, this means running, not just waling alongside her owner. Playing ball, or fetch of any sort for an hour or two each day will help in reducing the energetic nature of the dog and help in calming it down. Running alongside a medical scooter, bicycle or any other mode of transport that you are comfortable with will also help greatly with an energetic rescue dog. All that pent-up energy needs to be released in a natural way, before it is expelled in your home.

How to help an energetic rescue dog always starts with the showing of love and affection, with no rage or manifestations of bad-natured moods. Rescued dogs are, implicitly, scared that you will do the same thing that their last host did, to just leave them outdoors to fend for themselves, be left at the doors of an SPCA shelter, or any other forms of abandonment. Imagine being seven years old and your parents leaving you in the woods and going back home without you, because they could not afford the time or money to care for you. Keeping that in mind, care for and show the animal constant love and acceptance, and you will be rewarded ten-fold.

Personally, I run my dogs at least two to three times a day, for at least an hour at a time, on a medical scooter at about 11 kilometres per hour, no matter how I feel. Constantly tethered to a 75 foot leash (three 25-foot leads tethered together), as beagles are, by nature, prone to running off in chase of an odour or any distant movements. My beagle is now in the shape of a small pit bull, and at least as strong. The love that she is starting to show is manifesting in leaps and bounds, but it has taken over 14 months of daily care and constant attention. The rewards that she shows me are reward enough for all the problems and anxiety that were caused by having to give her back to her abusive owners (who were, at the time, trying to get me to pay them for allowing me to keep the dog) five times.

If you are somewhat like me in your feelings towards wayward animals, then you can understand the emotional rollercoaster ride that I was on while going through this completely insane adoption process. No matter what type of dog that you rescue, they will be needing constant attention, affection and exercise. Running your energetic rescue dog for a couple of hours a day, and a couple of walks each day, preferably at about the same times of day, will help to expel all of that pent-up energy, and will lead to your energetic rescue dog rescuing you.

Healthy meals and cuddling will also be required, as will a certain level of patience for the energetic bundle. If you have a job that keeps you from your home for over 8 hours a day, leaving the energetic rescue dog at home, alone, will not exactly help in the reduction of the amounts of energy expelling inside the home. It is best for the energetic rescue dog to be with a family, or person, that is home most of the day, and/or can have someone who loves dogs take care of them while you are working. Each day that you leave, the dog is re-living the experience of being abandoned. So, if you do not have someone at home at all times of the day, to reassure the energetic rescue dog, and to exercise it, then maybe it would be best to buy a dog from a breeder.

A little over 18 months after showing up at my door for the sixth time, I can not imagine life without my beagle.

God bless her, and God bless them all.

Learn more about this author, Marc Phillippe Babineau.
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