During the first three years or life, physical activity is essential for good health and happiness. A dog's exercise needs do diminish with age but during puppyhood and the young adult years, exercise needs are very high. Dogs that do not get to move around enough tend to be overweight, frustrated, bored, destructive, willful, overly boisterous, and arthritic later in life.
Dogs that are cooped up all day get yelled at a lot! Don't set your dog up for problems - make sure to exercise your dog until it is tired, a few times a day. Big time commitment - yes, it is. Be sure you can handle it before getting a dog!
Remember that if you will not be home to spend many hours of active quality time with a dog every day, please don't get one. Your neighbors would thank you and so would the dog.
A last thought about hyperactivity - did you get the wrong breed of dog for your lifestyle? Hunting and herding dogs are extremely active by nature and that can't be changed. Talk to a professional animal behaviorist about this important question if you are feeling overwhelmed by your dog's energy level.
