According to the association of pet obesity prevention, 52% of dogs are obese. Studies have shown that if you exercise a dog regularly, it will keep the dog fit and healthy. Having a dog in your house and taking him for exercise regularly can sometimes be tiring but if you plan things out correctly, you will be able to give your dog everything they need and still have time for your job/tasks. Exercising a dog is important. It instills discipline in a dog.
Dogs need physical and mental activities for a healthy life so it is always recommended to exercise a dog. Spending some time with your dog to get that extra energy out can make a big difference. To do this, it is important to exercise a dog. If you have a busy lifestyle, make sure, time spent with your dog is efficient and engaging for him. The great part about these exercises is that your dog will not be making bad choices around your house anymore. In this article, we are going to discuss how to exercise a dog which includes walking, staircase running, fetch game, tug, etc.
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Walking
Having your dog walk you instead of you walking them is a great way to exercise a dog. Freedom walks allow your dog to sniff around in a free manner and tire them mentally as well. But, obedience during walks is equally important.
Make sure, you’re not walking in one lane continuously. Walk in zigzag patterns. Walk at different speeds. Practice commands like sit, stop, walk, or run. This way to exercise a dog will help them pay attention and they will learn to follow you quickly.
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Staircase Run
This exercise is easy but can help a lot to tire your dog out. If you have a staircase in your home, walk up and down the stairs with your dog. It will be interesting for your dog if you do it with him/her. Make it extra challenging by racing your dog. It will keep your dog hyped. And it will burn a lot of energy.
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Fetch
Fetch is one of the oldest yet most effective games to exercise a dog. Find your dog’s favorite toy and toss it across the room. Let your dog fetch you the toy. Be sure to reward with cheerful words or by showing excitement. It will help reinforce good behavior. Keep repeating this for some time.
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Tug
This is a great fun game to exercise a dog and tire it physically and mentally. You need a rope and a piece of cloth to play this game. If your dog is not interested in tug, make sure you are using the right tug and techniques while playing.
Once your dog’s prey drive gets activated, let it win on the first try. Make it more exciting after the first win. Now take the tug again and make it difficult for your dog to reach it. This game will also induce some self-control in your dog. You need to be a bit attentive about it as well because it can induce aggressive behavior in some dogs.
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Hide and Seek
Have someone hold onto your dog or make it sit in its place when you run and hide. First, hide in a place where your dog can easily find you. Call your dog’s name when it starts finding you. Praise it after your dog finds you. It will motivate them to find you again. Then hide in difficult places to make it more interesting for your dog. This game will help the dog focus on your voice command.
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Frisbee Throw
This is a great outdoor game. You can play it in the park or in your lawn. Frisbee is more fun to play with because it flies in one direction smoothly. It covers great distances, so your dog can run more and utilize his/her energy more.
You don’t have to go to a park nearby necessarily for a frisbee throw game. You can improvise according to your comfort and circumstances. For instance, if you live near a beach, you can enjoy playtime with your dogs on beaches. A beach is one of the best places to play frisbee throw with your dog.
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Nose Work/Find the Treats
Make sure your dog’s nose knows what to do with the smells around. If you control the nose, you control 60% of the brain’s reaction. So, exercising a dog using the sense of smell is important. You can train your dog to use its nose to uncover treats that you hide at different places in your house.
Start by showing your dog three small treats. While you hide the three treats make sure your dog isn’t watching. Put them in different places. If your dog struggles to find a treat, give him/her a hint. Let your dog enjoy the treats after he/she finds them.
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Indoor Obstacle Game
Clear out the living room to turn your house into an indoor exercise center. You will have to create hurdles yourself. You can use so many things you have like cushions, blankets, chairs, etc. You can place broom handles across chairs for jumps. Place chairs in line, in one direction so your dog can pass under them like a tunnel. Place some plastic glasses in long-range to make your dog jump over them. Now you show them what to do by doing it yourself. The dog will try to repeat it.
Afterward, you can start by giving commands to cross the hurdles themselves. This is a great activity to exercise a dog’s intelligence. Reward your dog with a treat to encourage it.
Conclusion
Make sure to exercise a dog daily for 30 minutes to 2 hours depending upon the age and energy of your dog. Exercising a dog will give it strength, flexibility, and a long healthy life. You can try hiking and swimming to exercise a dog. If your dog is old, don’t tire him out by exercising too much. Keep your dog hydrated while exercising to avoid heatstroke.