Login

Register

Login

Register

12Nov 2021

Using Games To Exercise Your Dog

Maria Leindecker

Using Games To Exercise Your Dog

Dogs are not just pets but your companions. They are your family members, and you have to take good care of them. There is a need to buy them proper dog clothes, provide them with the right food, take them for regular walks, spend quality time with them, and take them for medical checkups. Most pet parents do take care of all these aspects. However, if you are a new pet parent, you might not be aware of ensuring that your new puppy or dog gets adequate exercise.

Just like you maintain your health through regular exercise, you need to take care that your dog gets a regular workout as well. Along with nutritional food, you should focus on the physical activities of your dog. You might be thinking that you regularly take them for walks, and will that not be enough? The truth is that daily walks are not a complete exercise for your puppy or dog. So how to make your dog get the required physical activity? The answer is simple — games. You need to engage your dogs in games so that their bodies get a proper workout.

If your dog is hyperactive, you have to give him instructions and train him. Such dogs usually do not require additional physical activities. But for dogs who love to be lazy, exercise is a must. Often, due to the challenges and limitations of our modern lifestyles, you might keep your dogs indoors. It increases boredom and frustration in your dogs. While planning out some games for your dog, it is not necessary that they should happen outdoors. You can have indoor games as well. The aim should be to provide exercise to their bodies.

Here are some of the games that will help keep your dog involved and provide exercise to all the body parts. When picking fun games for your dog, ensure that the games provide physical and mental training to your dog.

According to the experts, dogs by nature are social and active. You should take this factor into consideration while planning fun activities or games for them.

Here is a list of fun games that do not require any special equipment. You can try out these games with your dogs.

#1 Run Your Dog Up And Down The Stairs

Run Your Dog Up And Down The Stairs

If your home has a big flight of stairs, you can use it to exercise your dog. You can encourage your dog to run up and down the stairs. Initially, your dog will not do it on its own. You will have to run along with him. Your dog will watch you and be encouraged to follow you. Running up and down the stairs is a great way to keep your dog fit. If you are not able to run along with your dog, there is an alternative. You can put a ball or toy on the top of the stairs and give your dog a treat every time he runs up and fetches the toy. Make sure that the dog treat is a healthy one.

Usually, healthcare professionals will not suggest such activities if your dog is old, as it may strain their knees. This game will be helpful if your dog is fit and young.

#2 You Can Set Up An Obstacle Course

It is something you might have seen in the dog shows. You place obstacles at a certain distance and instruct the dog to overcome them. You can arrange these obstacles if you have a spacious room. If not, you can use the garden space for it.

You can use chairs, tables, or even balls, in the form of obstacles. When you place obstacles in the path of your dog, it will try to jump over them. It will be a fun and effective way to exercise all the body parts of your dog.

#3 You Can Play Hide-And-Seek With Your Dog

Hide-and-seek is the perfect game for your dog’s mental and physical health. For making hide-and-seek more interesting, you can hide some dog treats around the house and ask your dog to find them. The reward is to give the treat to the dog. You can change the hiding place of the treats every time you play the game. It will provide a boost to their brains and also their bodies. If you think your house is not spacious enough for hiding and seek, you can play hide-and-seek in the garden.

#4 Fetching The Ball Or Boomerang

Fetching The Ball Or Boomerang

It is the best game for all dog breeds. In this game, you have to throw the ball or the boomerang in a wide area. Then ask your dog to fetch it. You can give out instructions to the dog and let them understand what you are trying to say. It will help your dog to learn new words.

Summary

These are some fun games that help enhance the physical and mental health of your dog. You can make it easier for the dogs to play, learn and get good exercise. Although you are taking your dog for a walk, that is not enough. To keep your dog physically fit, inculcate games in their daily routine