Oops. That’s pretty much the only thing you can say when your cute, quiet little puppy grows up and becomes a sort of maniacal beast that should be racing around a track for money instead of cooped up in your one or two bedroom apartment.

Whether you didn’t do all your research before buying your little bundle of joy or were straight-up lied to about the breed (like me), you now have a situation on your hands. It’s hard not to feel bad for this animal whose only instinct is to run run run, chew, and run some more. So what do you do?

You’ve got to find a place by your apartment where your dog can run freely. Fenced-in parks are good for this. I personally have two by my place I try to take my dog to as often as I can. Even in the winter this dog, that I’m beginning to suspect is infused with greyhound, needs to race around at top speed. Just make sure you bring a bag with you for when your dog eliminates (as the puppy-training sites so lovingly refer to it.) Especially if the park or field you’ve found is a place where children play.

Walks are also important. If for no other reason than to let your dog sniff the world outside, you’ve got to walk your dog often or it’s no fair getting mad at them when they do something restless or destructive around the house. When a creature has more energy than an entire sugar-high third-grade class, it’s no wonder they do bad things sometimes. They’re bored. If they get a little variety in life, they’re likely to be less bored.

Speaking of variety, variety in toys is also a necessary element here. I learned that the hard way. My high-energy dog is high-energy in all aspects of her life, including chewing. Toys that aren’t solid bone or ultra-thick rubber don’t last more than a few days. Still, every now and then she needs something new, and it’s another eight dollars spent on a rope she’s sure to destroy by the end of the week. Don’t want to spend the money? Then you probably shouldn’t have gotten a dog. You should also get a toy you can put treats inside of to keep them busy.

Lastly, remember, high energy is one thing, but straight-up disobedience is another. Make sure you’re training your dog to listen to you and keep the treats coming when they obey.

Have any humorous stories about your crazy little rascal?  Share them on here. And let us know if you have anything else you can do with your high-energy monster to help them get some release!

Related posts:

1. Getting Your Puppy Ready for Apartment Living
2. 3 Great Large Dog Breeds for Apartments
3. Teach Your Old Dog New Tricks (or else!)
4. Dog Toys That Make a Mess
5. Holiday Energy Levels, Avoiding the Crash

Tags: Animal, dog, Dog park, dog toys, energy, Pet, Recreation, running, walk