Also, just because the dog might run full tilt for an hour each day doesn't mean he's getting sufficient exercise. In this case the quality of exercise is lacking and the dog may still be frustrated and could become destructive as a result. All those dogs which people advertise in the newspaper saying ‘needs a home in the country with room to run’, would benefit far more from the mental stimulation of an obedience or agility class or other activity in which they can interact with their owner.
It should be mentioned that one should be cautious about exercise with growing puppies. While they certainly still need outlets for their energy, exercise should be tailored to the pup's age and ability, and care should be taken not to overdo things which could potentially damage growing bones, muscles, and joints. Jumping should be kept low, running should be at the pup's natural pace, and when playing you should always remain aware that this is a growing puppy and not an adult. Throwing a ball for the pup to chase, for instance, is fine, but don't make it a contest to see just how fast a baby puppy can run. Playing with older, larger dogs too, can be fine, but be aware and step in if things get too rough or the chase too fast, as it's easy for a youngster to strain themselves by pushing too hard.
Beardies are wonderfully suited to the sport of agility, and it is a great confidence builder for puppies and young dogs as well. In a nutshell, agility is like an obstacle course for dogs, and provides great exercise and fun for both dog and owner. For more information on agility, visit the following sites:
The main thing is that they get some form of exercise each day, ideally a combination of mental and physical stimulation. Beardies are not a low-maintenance, sit around all day and just look cute dog (well, they do the cute part very well!).
