by Jessica Steele

Created on: April 15, 2009   Last Updated: January 19, 2011

Popular school of thought proves that dogs do best in a calm, assertive, and structured environment. Where a person lives should have no bearing on whether they should have a dog. Living quarters may affect the breed, or at least the size, of the dog which you choose, but the rest, is merely a consequence of the intentions and behavior of the owner.

What better tool does one have for instilling structure and routine in a dogs life than daily exercise? Walking your dog, while following pack mentality, allows your dog to bond with you as a pack leader. It gives an opportunity to teach your dog that you will protect him in unwanted situations (like when an off leash dog approaches your leashed dog, and your dog gets defensive). With the right training leash and regular walks and you can cure just about any behavioral problem your dog may have, whether it is aggression or boredom, your dog needs exercise to be healthy and happy!

Pack dogs exercise before eating. A wild dog must roam and roam to find food. Food is a treat they earn by working for it. This is how dogs think, so regular walks with your dog, directly before meals, also help to ensure a balanced dog.

When choosing a dog for apartment living, you must be careful not to assume that a smaller dog needs less exercise. I live in a two bedroom, second story apartment. I have two sixty lb. dogs in my little apartment, and they are very content. I know many small dogs that require much more exercise than my two medium sized dogs. They apartment complex I live in regulates that all dogs must be on leash, and all waste must be cleaned up. As with any other public place you can go these days; parks, ball fields, city streets, etc., it is the law and common courtesy to leash your dog and pick up after them. Most people who walk their dogs daily do follow these rules. My dogs go out on a regular schedule. They know when it is time for potty, when it is time for play, and when it is time for exercise. If I miss one of the regular, daily outings, they become restless and make it clear that their schedule is off.

As someone who struggles with depression, sometimes quite debilitating, I can tell you first hand that my dogs get me out of the house several times every day, which I would not otherwise do in the bout of a serious depression. If I had a backyard, I imagine that there may be days when I would turn my mutts out and leave them for the day, but as someone who understands the importance of structure, discipline,

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