The answer
For a high-energy dog, very probably yes, and the trainers tie it to behaviour, not just fitness. On film, calm in the house is something the dog can manage only after the day's energy has gone somewhere. 'If he's pent up all day he's not going to want to do this because he's he needs an outlet he needs some type of running or walking or something' (Apollo the Bully). Of Apollo the Malinois: 'give him something to do otherwise he will be a lunatic if he's cooped up too much'. Freedom out of the crate is tied to exercise too: whether a dog can be left loose 'is usually more how much exercise he's gotten like for the day and how bored he might be', because boredom is where destruction comes from.
The outlet has to be the right kind. For a working-line or high-drive dog, a stroll is not enough: 'it can't just be a simple walk because it won't be enough for him' (Chunk). For Madam, a young Belgian, the staff member trying to calm her down before training is corrected: 'the thing with the belgian is it's not trying to necessarily calm belgian down it's using play to like to amp them up.' Impulse-control work alone won't calm her. Hard play empties the tank, and her circling and pants-biting fade once 'she has a way to get it out'. Several trainers put a play session before training for the same reason (Chunk: about ten minutes of play before work).
The outlet is the owner's job once the dog goes home, and the go-home lessons say so directly. Chunk's family is told about 10 to 15 minutes of exercise a day. Madam's family is told at least about 40 minutes, and that her old behaviour will return 'if she doesn't get the sufficient amount of exercise and play'. The Malinois's family is told at least 30 minutes to an hour, with a hard play session as the quickest way to tire him. 'If you don't play ball, you don't play tug, you don't take him on walks, he's going to lose his mind, and he's going to be a menace.' Apollo the Bully's owners are told to keep up his walks so he isn't pushy with the other dog in the house.
The opposite mistake also appears on film. Fiona's family rarely walked her because she reacts, and her trainer compares that to holding back food: the energy builds and comes out as scanning and sniffing everything. The prescription is more walks, in more places. With Lucia, a handler reports that simply walking her regularly brought the pulling down: 'the more you walk them the more they get used to walking not dragging you.'
The trainers don't agree on the amount; the figures differ by dog and by speaker (see conflicts). Our inference, not stated on film: the minutes prescribed track the dog's drive more than any house rule.
What to do
Give a high-energy dog a hard daily outlet before you expect calm: play (tug, ball, running) and proper walks, not just a stroll ('it can't just be a simple walk', watch 16:10). Follow the amount your trainer set for your dog, for example 'around 10 to 15 minutes of exercise a day' for Chunk (watch 39:39) or 'about like 40 minutes of exercise a day at least' for Madam (watch 24:46). Tie the dog's freedom in the house to how much exercise he has had that day. If you've stopped walking a reactive dog, walk her more and in more places (watch 09:01).
What the trainers say
that right if he's pent up all day he's not going to want to do this because he's he needs an outlet he needs some type of running or walking or something right
dependent on like honestly it's usually more how much exercise he's gotten like for the day and how bored he might be right because that's usually where destruction comes in is when they get bored right
have fun with him give him something to do otherwise he will be a lunatic if he's cooped up too much a dog like this is built for really really high levels of activity sometimes three four hours a day
If you don't play ball, you don't play tug, you don't take him on walks, he's going to lose his mind, and he's going to be a menace.
But the point is, if you don't play with them, you're going to have problems. And it can't just be a simple walk because it won't be enough for him.
sit sit good girl good oh so the thing with the belgian is it's not trying to necessarily calm belgian down it's using play to like to amp them up
back to that level if she doesn't get the sufficient amount of exercise and play she'll go right back to it
same thing with walks if you if you don't give them the the walks in the in the um and the things that the to release her energy she'll end up like being pent up
uh good girl lucia you you doing so good mamita her energy level on a walk has gone down by a lot um she used to want to like make a run for it and just like pull pull pull but surprisingly the more you walk them the more they get used to walking not dragging you
How it looks, dog by dog
Apollo (the Bully)
At Apollo's first owner lesson, the owners ask when he can be left out of the crate. The answer isn't about obedience: it depends mostly on how much exercise he has had that day and how bored he is, because boredom is where destruction comes from. Settling while people talk depends on the same thing: a dog pent up all day won't do it. At go-home, keeping up his walks is also how the family keeps him from pestering Rebel, the household's other dog. Most walks, his trainer says, should be free sniffing walks.
On film
dependent on like honestly it's usually more how much exercise he's gotten like for the day and how bored he might be right because that's usually where destruction comes in is when they get bored right
that right if he's pent up all day he's not going to want to do this because he's he needs an outlet
bit for if he's not getting his walks and he's not like getting the exercise he could be more pushy with her
Apollo (the Sharkie)
A Belgian Malinois. On a trail walk the trainer turns to the camera with a message for the family: take him on walks like this as often as possible, carry a tug or ball, and play during walks. Dogs like him are built for hours of activity a day; the family doesn't need that, but at least 30 minutes to an hour, and a hard play session is the quickest way to tire him. He can chill in the house, as he's been trained to, only if he has outlets. At the end of the program the trainer adds a second tactic: when he's about to get amped, for example coming out of the crate, give him a ball first, 'almost like a binky', after asking for one command.
On film
he needs to do this as many times as possible so when he comes home
quickest way to tire him out is to do a hard play session otherwise he's gonna
please play with this dog play with this dog a ton he's a really really really good boy he's
Another one is I just give him a ball.
Chunk
A higher-energy dog whose trainer hasn't yet found a toy he'll play with. The trainer addresses whoever owns Chunk directly: play with him and burn his energy, because a simple walk won't be enough. In the program, about ten minutes of play comes before each training session, and at night he runs off his zoomies before place. At the first owner lesson the family is given a number: around 10 to 15 minutes of exercise a day at home.
On film
But the point is, if you don't play with them, you're going to have problems. And it can't just be a simple walk because it won't be enough for him.
what I've been doing to start the training with him is I usually will have like a 10-minute play session with them before
but um but you know just rotating the dogs and chunky monkey had to zoom me so we just ran it off
he needs around 10 to 15 minutes of exercise a day
Madam
The fullest version. Madam is a young Belgian, and one staff member was trying to calm her down so he could train her. The trainer corrects him: with a Belgian you use play to amp her up and burn the energy, because impulse-control work alone won't make her calm, and unspent energy ends in destroyed kennels and accidental bites. At an update, the trainer shows her walking without the old circling now that she 'has a way to get it out'. His own routine is about 45 minutes of play, then a 20-minute walk to cool down. At go-home the owner is told at least about 40 minutes a day, that the pants-biting comes back without exercise, and to keep every command inside the game.
On film
sit sit good girl good oh so the thing with the belgian is it's not trying to necessarily calm belgian down it's using play to like to amp them up
her down because she's like burning but just working on impulse control is not going to
chewed them all off she crazy and so what we do after that is I I usually do that for about 45 minutes and then just to like cool her down just like 20 minute walk
always like walk in a circle and now did she has a way to get it out
get enough exercise she starts like biting any part of my pants
to go later that day yeah she needs a lot I'd say I would recommend about like 40 minutes of exercise a day at least
Fiona
The case of too little outlet. Fiona reacts to people, so her family rarely walked her. At go-home, the trainer compares that to holding back food: the energy builds up and comes out as scanning and wanting to sniff everything. The prescription is more walks and new places: other neighbourhoods, pet-friendly home-improvement and pet stores. Her intake's 'Walks: Never' (source: intake) matches the premise.
On film
as much because of her reactivity yeah so it's like it's like holding back food you know and
that the to release her energy she'll end up like being pent up and she'll and
Lucia
The modest version. On day seven of her program, Lucia's handler reports that her energy on walks has dropped a lot. She used to try to run and pull, and the handler credits walking itself more than any technique. It's an observation from one handler, not a method.
On film
uh good girl lucia you you doing so good mamita her energy level on a walk has gone down by a lot um she used to want to like make a run for it and just like pull pull pull but surprisingly the more you walk them the more they get used to walking not dragging you
Why it works
As stated on film: energy that has no outlet comes out as unwanted behaviour. It shows up as destruction from boredom (watch 12:39), pushiness with the other dog (watch 12:48), circling, mouthing and pants-biting (watch 06:39; watch 22:50), scanning and sniffing everything on a walk (watch 09:09), and in the trainers' warnings, destroyed kennels and accidental bites (watch 05:16). Soothing and impulse-control work don't remove the energy; spending it does (watch 00:35). Fiona's trainer compares walk deprivation to withholding food, then bingeing (watch 08:46). Inferred, not stated: the outlet doesn't replace the settle work but makes it possible. Madam and Chunk both do play first and positions after (watch; watch 02:55), and one trainer explicitly warns that the dog still has to learn to manage his energy in the house.
Where the trainers differ
How much exercise a day?
One view
About 10 to 15 minutes a day (Chunk).
On film
he needs around 10 to 15 minutes of exercise a day
Another view
At least 30 minutes to an hour (Apollo the Malinois); at least about 40 minutes (Madam); the trainer's own routine with Madam is 45 minutes of play and a 20-minute walk.
On film
of activity sometimes three four hours a day now you don't have to do three or four hours a day but you got to do at least 30 minutes 45 minutes an hour
to go later that day yeah she needs a lot I'd say I would recommend about like 40 minutes of exercise a day at least
How to read it
Different dogs (a Malinois and a young Belgian against Chunk) and different trainers. No house figure is stated.
Is walking enough?
One view
A simple walk isn't enough for a high-energy dog; it has to be play or running.
On film
But the point is, if you don't play with them, you're going to have problems. And it can't just be a simple walk because it won't be enough for him.
Another view
Walking itself does real work: more walks for a reactive dog, regular walks bringing pulling down, most walks as free sniffing walks.
On film
uh good girl lucia you you doing so good mamita her energy level on a walk has gone down by a lot
same thing with walks if you if you don't give them the the walks in the in the um and the things
How to read it
Probably dog-dependent: the 'not enough' statements are about high-drive dogs (Chunk, the Malinois); the walking statements are about a reactive dog and a puller.
Amp up or pacify before the energy builds?
One view
Use play to amp a young Belgian up and burn it off, not to calm her.
On film
sit sit good girl good oh so the thing with the belgian is it's not trying to necessarily calm belgian down it's using play to like to amp them up
Another view
Give a ball before the dog gets amped, 'almost like a binky', rather than trying to make him stop.
On film
Another one is I just give him a ball.
How to read it
Not a direct disagreement: one is a play session to empty the tank, the other a moment-of-arousal tactic. Both avoid trying to calm the dog by force.
Common owner mistakes
- Walking a reactive dog less because she reacts, which builds pent-up energy.
On film
as much because of her reactivity yeah so it's like it's like holding back food you know and
Watch at 8:46 ↗ - Relying on a simple walk for a high-energy dog.
On film
And it can't just be a simple walk because it won't be enough for him.
Watch at 16:15 ↗ - Trying to calm a high-drive puppy down before training instead of letting her burn energy in play.
On film
belgian down it's using play to like to amp them up to get okay see i was trying to get her i was
Watch at 0:22 ↗ - Letting the exercise lapse after go-home, so the old behaviour returns.
On film
back to that level if she doesn't get the sufficient amount of exercise and play she'll go right back to it
Watch at 15:43 ↗ - Giving a dog house freedom on a day he hasn't been exercised.
On film
dependent on like honestly it's usually more how much exercise he's gotten like for the day and how bored he might be right
Watch at 12:39 ↗
Questions owners ask
How much exercise does my dog need?
It depends on the dog, and the trainers give different figures on film: about 10 to 15 minutes a day for Chunk, at least about 40 minutes for Madam, and 30 minutes to an hour for a Malinois whose breed is 'built for really really high levels of activity'. Ask your trainer for your dog's number.
On film
he needs around 10 to 15 minutes of exercise a day
to go later that day yeah she needs a lot I'd say I would recommend about like 40 minutes of exercise a day at least
Isn't a walk enough?
For a high-energy dog, the trainers say no: play or running is needed, and a hard play session is the quickest way to tire him. For a reactive dog who is hardly walked, though, more walks in more places is exactly the prescription.
On film
But the point is, if you don't play with them, you're going to have problems. And it can't just be a simple walk because it won't be enough for him.
quickest way to tire him out is to do a hard play session otherwise he's gonna
Should I calm my hyper puppy down before training?
With a young Belgian, the trainer says no. Use play to amp her up and burn it off, then ask for positions. Impulse-control work alone won't make her calm.
On film
sit sit good girl good oh so the thing with the belgian is it's not trying to necessarily calm belgian down it's using play to like to amp them up
When can my dog be left out of the crate?
His trainer ties it mostly to how much exercise he has had that day and how bored he might be, because boredom is where destruction comes from.
On film
dependent on like honestly it's usually more how much exercise he's gotten like for the day and how bored he might be right
The lesson
The goal
Set a dog's daily outlet so the trained calm is available, and know which kind of outlet fits which dog.
Learn first
The drill
As run with Chunk at night: let him run off his zoomies, then 'place', 'down', 'keep down' (watch 01:36). As run with Madam: amp her up in tug and ask for positions inside the game; play follows each command (watch 00:04). Trainer's routine for Madam: about 45 minutes of play, then a 20-minute cool-down walk (watch 06:13).
Watch out for
- A stroll for a high-drive dog.
- Walking a reactive dog less.
- Trying to calm a puppy before she has burned anything off.
- Letting the exercise lapse after go-home.
Check yourself
Your Malinois is wild in the house every evening. What do you change before you work on his settle?