Consider taking your dog to doggy day care (or play care) while you are at work. Regular play with other dogs in day care will build your dog’s confidence and improve your dog’s ability to communicate and interact. It will help prevent shyness, fear, and aggression. Plus, instead of coming home to a dog that has excess energy, your dog will be tuckered out- and your house will still be standing.

The dog park is a great place to exercise your dog and give it the chance to socialize with other dogs. Be sure to adhere to leash laws and/or off leash rules. Some parks allow off-leash dogs, but only at certain times of the day. Watch your dog closely and do not let it ingest anything.

Agility is a sport for a dog and a handler. Following the handler’s directions given by voice, body and signals, the dog negotiates a course filled with obstacles. The emphasis is on speed and accuracy with the ultimate goal of a ‘clean run’. Competitions test the handler’s skills and the speed and accuracy of the dog. Dogs burn off excess energy and learn to be part of a team. It builds a dog’s confidence and encourages a strong bond between handlers and their dogs.

Flyball is a team sport for dogs that involves a relay-style race. Each dog races to a flyball box, where it must step up on the flyball box pedal to release a mechanism that flips a tennis ball from the cup. The dog retrieves the ball and returns over four jumps. As each dog crosses the start/finish line, another dog from their team is released. The first team to have four dogs successfully complete a run wins. Dogs like to have purpose-a task to do. Trained for and competing in flyball competitions gives your dog such a purpose. Plus, it’s an activity you can do together, thereby increasing your bond.