05/23/2026
It has been rainy and nasty after the storms went through. So you ask if your dog is getting enough exercise? YES! They are chilling under their 10’ covered runs while its raining and getting some exercise in the rock bed -500sq ft run between rains as well. (Helps keep them from the mud)
ALSOOOOO ‼️💙👀Let me explain‼️Other than our nature inspired environment, dogs need CHEWS!
Dog chews can help relieve built-up energy for several scientific and behavioral reasons — and it’s not just because they “keep a dog busy.”
1. Chewing activates calming brain chemistry
Chewing is a repetitive, rhythmic behavior that can stimulate the release of calming neurochemicals in the brain, including dopamine and sometimes endorphins, which are associated with pleasure, reward, and stress reduction. This is similar to why repetitive activities (like fidgeting or gum chewing in humans) can feel calming.
For dogs, chewing can lower arousal levels and help shift them from an overstimulated state into a calmer one.
2. It uses mental energy, not just physical energy
A lot of what people call “built-up energy” is actually mental under-stimulation. Dogs were biologically designed to spend time foraging, tearing, gnawing, and problem-solving.
When a dog works on a chew, they are:
* focusing attention,
* problem-solving (“How do I get this apart?”),
* using scent and taste,
* engaging instinctive behaviors.
Mental work can be surprisingly tiring. In behavior science, 15–30 minutes of focused enrichment can sometimes tire a dog similarly to a walk, especially for intelligent or working breeds.
3. Chewing satisfies an instinctive biological behavior
Wild canids (wolves, foxes, ancestral dogs) spend significant time chewing on bones, hide, and carcasses. Domestic dogs still have this instinct.
If that urge is unmet, energy can spill into behaviors like:
* pacing,
* destructive chewing,
* jumping,
* excessive barking,
* hyperactivity.
Providing an appropriate chew gives the brain an outlet for a natural behavior pattern, which often reduces restlessness.
4. Chewing can reduce stress hormones
5. Jaw muscle work is physically tiring
Chewing uses the jaw, neck, and facial muscles continuously. While it’s not the same as aerobic exercise, sustained muscle use does create a mild form of physical fatigue.
Think of it like how a puzzle plus light exercise can leave a person feeling “pleasantly tired.”
Why some dogs seem dramatically calmer after a chew
A chew is doing multiple jobs at once:
1. Meeting an instinctive need
2. Providing mental enrichment
3. Reducing boredom/frustration
4. Creating a calming repetitive action
5. Mildly fatiguing the body
That combination is why a dog that seemed “full of energy” may suddenly nap after working on a chew for 20–40 minutes.
One important thing: chews don’t replace actual exercise. If a dog is consistently hyper, they may still need enough physical activity, training, sniffing opportunities, and sleep — especially puppies and high-energy breeds.
