Jax is a boxer / lab mix who belongs to a good friend of mine. He is extremely smart and playful, and I want to share a few things I've learned from watching and working with him. His owner has done so many things right in order to encourage him to be a loyal and hard working dog, and one of those things is mental stimulation. Jax is a high energy dog who is more dominant around other dogs than submissive, but because his owner has made it clear that certain commands and cues please her, he isn't busy trying to assert his dominance in every situation as a dog would do who doesn't have guidance and leadership. 

I have watched them work hard on mental exercise and also stay consistent with physical exercise, and these two things are the solid foundation for a healthy and happy dog. Whenever I'm working with a high energy dog, I recognize that it may take a little extra work to wear that dog out, but it will be ten times more worth it than if the dog never gets his needs met in that way. Dogs will find a way to channel their energy, whether that be in a destructive or constructive way, so it's our job as their owners to direct the energy being channeled. Sometimes they have an outer layer of excess energy that needs to be shed over a period of time in order to discover how much of what type of exercise they really need, and that is why working with them from a young age (if possible) is key. 

Jax's owner acquainted him with several forms of physical exercise in order to learn what worked best for him. I worked with him with my Land Rollers, and he did great with them! He has been exercised with a bike and by jogging, and he has taken to all of these forms very well. Physical exercise is absolutely vital to a dog's life and health, which is why I put a heavy emphasis on it during my training sessions. Once the right amount and type of exercise is in place, everything else can come right. Great job, Jax!