Woof! I'm just the messenger . . . dog information you can use! 

High drive dogs need exercise both physically and mentally! A tired dog is a better behaved dog! 

http://www.animalplanet.com/pets/healthy-pets/10-fun-ways-to-exercise-your-dog/

Physical exercise can be walking, running, hiking or bicycling with your dog. Or work your dog both physically and mentally

by doing obedience, herding, agility, or another sport or job.

Mental exercises can be anything from "finding it" to finding treats stuffed into a Kong or other treat dispensing toy.

Another good way to wear out the dog mentally is to teach them a new skill, or trick. A training session followed by a little play time,

can be the simple formula to get your dog to take a nap!  

Check out other mental activities to do with your high drive dog -  

The key is tiring the dog out mentally as much as physically. A dog having a job is a great way to keep them active mentally and physically. But if they are not working dogs, practicing obedience can be another great way to tire out a dog mentally as well as physically, and reinforces good behavior! So practice those sits, downs, stays and other commands!

I like to jog a few miles with my Tervuren as part of our weekly exercise routine, as well as go for two-to-three-mile walks on the alternate days. It is best to wait until the dog is at least one year old before you embark in a strenuous exercise routine such as running because the bones in their legs are still forming. Here are some additional articles about running with a dog - http://www.active.com/running/articles/how-to-train-your-dog-to-run-with-you
http://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/running-with-your-dog-how-to-train-fido-to-run-at-your-side

How much exercise is enough for your high drive dog? I found this online about Border Collies, who have a very high drive  - "The answer to this question is as individual as the dogs themselves. Plan on two 45-minute walks per day, snow, rain, or shine - your dog won't care what the weather is like! At least 20 minutes of each of those walks should be off leash in a safe area, and should include a game of fetch or something equally vigorous. In addition, a 15- to 30- minute daily training session (obedience, tricks, etc.) helps to keep your dog mentally stimulated and well-behaved. If you think your dog still needs more, you may be better off increasing the amount of training and/or mental exercise as opposed to increasing the physical exercise. For a dog with the Border Collie's physical stamina, working his mind is much more likely to tire him out than taking him for another run. Don't expect all this work to keep that soggy tennis ball out of your lap when you're watching television, though. Your Border Collie will still have plenty of energy to spare!"

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HIGH DRIVE IN DOGS -  Got a crazy dog with crazy energy? Learn to harness that drive into positive activities!

http://www.germanshepherdk9.com/High_Drive_Dog_Lifestyle.html

http://www.seizetheleash.net/files/calmingyourdog.cfm

http://www.vonfalconer.com/articles/3/article/8?page=highdrivedog

http://www.dogplay.com/

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UNWANTED DOG BEHAVIORS - BARKING, JUMPING, AND (HEAVEN FORBID!) - CAR CHASING -

Many undesireable dog behaviors stem from a dog that has way too much energy and not enough activities to stimulate them mentally and physically! My Tervuren is not a barker, and thankfully, since he has gotten older, is not as jumpy as he used to be. But he does have a strong desire to herd, (and chase!) and we are hours away from any real opportunity at herding. We live in the city, so having our own sheep is out of the question. Ever since he has been about six months old, he has wanted to chase cars. We enlisted professional help, and trainers suggested we try agility to channel his drive. We did agility for almost a year, and he hated it. We've also tried Treiball with no success. What does work is making sure he gets enough exercise, and making him work for his daily playing activities. We also reinforce his obedience daily. Here is some additional information about breaking some bad habits including barking, jumping and chasing cars - http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/dogs-chasing-cars

http://www.petsadviser.com/behaviors/my-dog-chases-cars-what-to-do/

http://dogs.about.com/od/dogtraining/qt/barkingdogs.htm

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/jumping_up.html

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LOUD NOISES (Fireworks, thunderstorms, etc.) Our Belgian hates fireworks. He had a very bad experience the first time he experienced fireworks, and now spooks every time he hears a loud bang. That very first time he tried to climb our 8-foot high fence to get away from them, and then crashed into the sliding glass door trying to get into the house. To get him used to thunderstorms, we just played his favorite game of tug during the thunder booms. This did not work with fireworks. If we are near to fireworks, we crate him because of his extreme fear. I turn up the television or radio to try to cover the noise. The crate provides a safe place for him during stressful times such as these. We continue to work on desensitizing him to fireworks. Here is some more info on conditioning your dog to loud noises.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/fear-noises

MORE LINKS ON FIREWORKS and DOGS!! - http://www.dogsandfireworks.com/
http://www.cesarsway.com/dogbehavior/hyperdog/How-to-Keep-Your-Dog-Safe-and-Calm-During-Fireworks

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DOMINANCE - Dominance has become a heated subject among dog people in recent years. Are dogs really dominant or not? Here are some good articles about dominance and the dog!

http://inch.com/~dogs/taming.html

http://shibashake.com/dog/the-dominant-dog-dealing-with-dominance-in-dogs

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/topdogrules.htm

http://www.joycefay.com/articles/dominantdogs.shtml

RUDENESS OR AGGRESSION?  - A good article about dog rudeness and how it applies or does not apply to dog aggression -RUDENESS OR AGGRESSION? A GUIDE

TO NEUTER OR NOT -The question to neuter or spay can always spark a lively conversation. It seems the experts are discovering although neutering and spaying can prevent unwanted litters, it also can be detrimental to dogs' health. The risk of prostate cancer is higher in an intact male dog, but the risk for other cancers is less. We decided to not neuter our boy as recommended by our breeder. Here are some articles about the subject - http://www.chicagonow.com/training-the-wolf/2013/08/do-not-spay-or-neuter-your-dog-one-size-does-not-fit-all/

http://www.chicagonow.com/training-the-wolf/2014/08/spay-or-neuter-agame-of-odds/

http://leerburg.com/neuter.htm

DOG PARKS - Everybody seems to want to take their dog to the dog park so we felt we had to say something on dog parks. Dog parks can be dangerous. My old Terv mix was attacked numerous times when we tried to visit dog parks. Not everyone has a well-behaved dog, and changes in the usual pack, females in heat, or intact male dogs, can spark a dog fight. If you want to try dog parks, here is an article about dog park safety - http://www.adoptapet.com/blog/dog-park-safety-tips/

THE VACCINE CONTROVERSY - There is a lot of controversy about vaccines; what to give, when to give, the hidden dangers within, and what vaccines to do without. There has been some speculation recently about the Leptospirosis vaccine being bad for dogs, as well as many others that may cause a host of chronic illnesses. Some think the rabies vaccine contributes to aggression. Here are some articles about vaccines - http://www.holistic-pet-vet.com/vaccinations/index.html

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/why-i-dont-vaccinate-my-dogs-at-all/

MISCELLANEOUS DOG TIPS - Mercola offers a good website on various topics about dog health, behavior and training - Check it out! http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/dr-karen-becker.aspx

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