6 Ways to Exercise Your Dog

If you have a canine companion at home, chances are you have noticed how much energy they have. Exercise is important for your dog to stay healthy and happy. Explore six tips on how to exercise your dog. Whether you have a small lap dog or a large energetic breed, there's an activity on this list that's perfect for every pup.

1. Walking, Running, Jogging, or Hiking

Taking your dog for a walk provides them something to look forward to and allows them to expend some of their energy. A jog or run with your dog raises their heart rate and can help them improve their endurance. Hikes are a terrific way to explore and discover new areas, and it can also be a great way to bond with your dog. All these activities contribute to your dog's health, strength, and happiness.

2. Game of Fetch

A game of fetch with a Frisbee, tennis ball, or other fetch toys can help your dog exercise because it challenges them to run, leap, and move fast to recover the item. This exercise works their muscles and raises their heart rate, as well as psychologically stimulate them as they seek and return the item to you.

You can even train your dog tricks like catching or retrieving many items at once, depending on how you play. This training can assist enhance your bond with your dog while also providing a fantastic workout.

3. Nose Work Games

You can conceal treats about the home and have your dog look for them, which will both mentally and physically stimulate them. Nose work games that include stairs might improve this fitness activity even more. This type of activity encourages your dog to find the treats with their natural sniffing talents, which helps them strengthen their sense of scent and keeps them cognitively busy.

Also, movement around the house to find the rewards provides physical activity for your dog, which helps to keep them in shape. Snacks and praise for finding the treats also help to keep them interested.

4. Swimming

Swimming is a low-impact exercise that can boost your dog's muscle mass and range of motion, which makes it particularly good for dogs with mobility concerns like arthritis. Swimming is also a weightless workout, making it an easier kind of workout for your dog.

Note that not all dogs enjoy swimming, so make sure your dog is at ease in the water before bringing them for a swim. If your dog enjoys swimming, you can take them to public swimming pools, hydrotherapy facilities, public beaches, or dog parks with a water feature.

5. Hide and Seek

Hide and seek is a great way to get your dog moving. The game motivates them to use their innate scent-tracking talents to find you. This game aims to improve their cognitive capacities by having them use their brains to remember where you have hidden in the past.

Furthermore, hide and seek is a terrific way to burn off physical energy as kids run about the home looking for you. Finally, hide and seek is a good activity that you and your dog can indulge in together, which makes it a terrific opportunity to bond and exercise your canine.

6. Tug of War

Tug of war is a terrific game to help your dog develop impulse control since it hinges on them understanding and respecting the rules — if their teeth touch your hand, the game is over. This activity is also a terrific type of workout because your dog will tug against your strength to win. Tug is an excellent technique to tire out your dog, and you can even use it as a kind of reward-based training.

Another aspect of your dog's health is a regular veterinary visit for regular checkups or medical intervention if they fall ill or get injured. Visit us at Alta Vista Veterinary Clinic for canine veterinary services.