Dog Exercise Ideas Beyond Walking

It’s a new year and my neighborhood is flooded with people determined to fulfill their New Year’s resolution of fitness. One thing I’ve noticed is not many dogs are walking alongside them. We have an issue of loose dogs in our neighborhood (like so many other folks), and it’s becoming an epidemic. I’ll refrain from ranting, but I’ll share some unique dog exercise ideas that can keep your dog moving and mentally enriched.

Now, I’m not saying your dog must be a hermit. You can certainly walk him outdoors at parks that enforce leash laws, but give these dog games a try, especially if you’re short on time. Soon, you’ll notice your dog’s waistline shrink and trim. He’ll also be mentally tired, which is always a good thing!

Kong Wobbler

This food-dispensing toy is a lifesaver! Fill the Kong Wobbler with a portion of your dog’s daily meal and give it to your dog. To dispense the food inside the dog toy, your dog has to swat, push and shove the toy around. If your dog empties the Kong Wobbler too quickly, apply a strip of duct tape at the bottom of the opening where the food falls out. By making the hole smaller, your dog must really work to get the food out of the smaller opening (I promise food still easily fits through it :)).

You can make it even more difficult for quick learning dogs by adding a ping-pong ball inside with the kibble or find a heavier ball (lacrosse balls work really well for large dogs), so he can get a good workout too. Honestly, my dogs eat all their meals from their Kong Wobbler. They totally enjoy the game and, of course, their food.

Nose Game

Hiding delicious treats inside boxes, behind furniture or across the yard is a really fun game for dogs, but it can be difficult and mentally draining for them too. Remember the shell game? You hide something under a shell, move the shell around and then the other person must choose the shell that has the prize. Well, you can most certainly play this game with boxes.Your dog already has a huge advantage–his nose!

Take frequent breaks and keep sessions under five minutes. Sniffing for his food is hard work for your dog. If your dog is watching his waistline, use low-calorie treats, such as Cheerios or even bits of his kibble.

Tug

Oh, tug is a very physical game and it’s a workout for the pet owner too because he’s tugging right along with his dog. You can either play with a traditional tug toy found at most pet stores–just make sure it’s soft enough that it won’t damage your dog’s teeth–or your hands.

If you and your dog are looking for a full body workout, try playing tug with a flirt pole. It’s similar to fly fishing, but your dog is on the other end. Check out this video for a quick demo on how to play with a flirt pole. The video will also show you how to teach your dog to let go (yeah, it’s that much fun). You can purchase a flirt pole online. Kong makes a really good one.

Treadmill

Teaching your dog to walk on a treadmill is not hard; it just takes patience and many yummy treats. Even though your dog has probably watched you walk on a treadmill before, he may still get a bit nervous when the ground starts moving underneath him while standing still.

Start slowly and reward your dog while he walks on the treadmill. Stand in front of him and keep sessions short in the beginning. Once your dog is comfortable walking on the treadmill, increase dog exercise sessions slowly. Start with five minutes per day for a week, and increase one minute per week. Usually, 20-30 minutes is sufficient. Always supervise your dog while he’s walking on the treadmill. He could jump off and hurt himself. I don’t recommend leashing your dog because he could easily choke himself or the leash could get caught in the treadmill.

Keep an eye out for a treadmill tutorial.

Good Ole Fetch

A good game of fetch is always a great dog exercise idea, and most dogs absolutely love it. Fetch is a great way to play with your dog, as it builds a strong bond between you two as well as gets you moving.

When choosing a fetch toy, find something soft and flexible like a tennis ball. This minimizes injuries and damage to your dog’s teeth. If your dog is new to fetch, check out these tips on teaching your dog how to play fetch. It’s fun and always a great way to exercise your dog.