Many dog owners are mystified by their dog whining, pacing and circling. Their first thought is that he is in pain. The fact is, the dog is suffering, but not necessarily with physical pain. Your dog might have anxiety.

Don't worry, this is easy to fix.

A dog that does not get sufficient exercise will have energy to spare. That usually means that odd behaviour or bad behaviour are ways that the dog has found to release that energy. How would you react to being cooped up indoors all day with nothing to do? Wouldn't you get excited and happy when someone comes to the door or when you hear voices outside? That's exactly how a dog feels when he is left alone for extended periods.

Your dog is a social creature who loves company so it's reasonable that any movement will trigger a happy response. Add to that a lack of exercise and your dog will be overwhelmed at what to do next. This can lead to bad behaviour and other responses.

Dog whining, pacing and circling are 3 common behaviours that result from a lack of exercise. But you must remember that dogs need a lot of exercise, probably far more than you think. A quick walk around the block might be a lot of exercise for a dog the size a Chihuahua, but for anything bigger, a longer walk is needed.

If time or physical conditions restrict your walks, there are other alternatives that will ensure your dog gets sufficient exercise.

One excellent outlet is agility training. This exercises not only your dog's body, but his mind. Such a course requires the dog to think constantly as he makes his way through the various obstacles. In their natural environment, dogs run, jump over things, dart under objects, and where reasonable they will venture into caves, down rabbit holes and through fallen logs. This takes a lot of concentration and focus which is replicated through agility training.

At the end of the course, a well-deserved treat and praise from you will keep your dog interested and anxious for more agility exercises.

If this type of training is not possible, there are still other things that you can do. Enrol your dog in a dog social club if you can find one in your area. If there isn't one, consider starting one. The idea is to provide a social setting where dogs can mingle and communicate with their own kind. This stimulates the dogs minds and teaches them how to get along with other dogs. Dogs that lack social interaction often become aggressive towards other dogs and even to people.

Is your dog whining, pacing and circling? Is he showing other odd behaviours such as getting overly excited when someone comes to the door? Start by increasing his exercise and you are sure to see an improvement quickly.

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