Sometimes, it seems like dogs have endless energy. If not channeled properly using healthy canine exercise, that energy can turn into obnoxious and destructive behavior.
Depending on the breed, some dogs may require more exercise than others, and sometimes, it’s hard to fulfill their needs. But certain classics are sure to use up some of your dog’s pent-up energy.
Certain games and healthy canine exercises, like fetch and swimming, are synonymous with dogs.
Being so associated with dogs, you would think those activities would come as naturally to them as breathing.
Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Some breeds are more inclined to get the concepts independently, such as Labrador retrievers, who were bred specifically for those two activities.
Other dogs, though, may take a little training.
Fetch
Fetch is a classic healthy canine exercise because it’s a great and simple way to exercise your dog without exerting too much energy.
There are three typical ways that dogs react to fetch. Some dogs get the game right away and will fetch and bring it back until they are crawling on the ground towards you with the toy in their mouth, too exhausted to stand.
Other dogs are so excited by the toy that they won’t let it go and just run around with it with no rhyme or reason.
Then there is the dog who sits and stares at you and the toy once you’ve thrown it, perhaps scandalized that you threw their toy away from them.
Play with a toy-crazy dog
If you’ve got a toy-crazy dog, there are a few steps you can take to get your dog to fetch reliably. The most vital step is to have two toys the dog loves equally (perhaps the two of the same toy).
Having one in your hand when your dog has the other, you can easily convince him to drop the toy he has in exchange for the other toy. This will help you teach the command “drop it” and give them a reason to return to you.
If you consistently train with this method, the dog will learn to naturally come back to you and drop the ball over time.
If you’ve got a sit-and-stare dog, this video addresses that. It starts getting your dog interested in the toys by marking any interaction with the toy.
Once the dog understands the toy is fun to play with, start teaching him to pick it up, hold it, and then drop it. Then, teach him to bring the toy to you by walking away, increasing the distance.
Swimming
Swimming is an excellent exercise for dogs (and humans!).
It expels a lot of energy in a shorter amount of time while still being low-impact on joints.
It’s also a huge lifesaver in the summer, as it’s too hot for dogs to do many other forms of exercise for too long, like walking or running.
Not all dogs are natural swimmers; some breeds can’t swim.
Training a dog to swim is pretty simple, but it does take some preparation and supervision.
First, you want to get your dog comfortable in the water.
Start with shallow amounts, and encourage your dog to paw around in it. The rate at which you gradually make the water deeper will depend on your dog — some will love it, and you can do it faster, and some will be cautious of it and require it over a longer period.
Once comfortable in a decent standing depth, encourage them to go deeper with a toy. You will want to watch them closely to see how they handle it and be ready to get in the water with them and help if needed.
Soon, though, they will figure out the “doggy paddle.”
Mental exercise
Never forget that mental exercise for a dog is just as important as physical exercise.
If your dog gets into trouble and destroys things when you’re not around or even when you are, perhaps they aren’t getting enough mental stimulation.
Daily training sessions are the best mental exercise that helps build a strong bond between you and your dog.
But, when you’re not home or need to get something done, food toys are a great way to occupy your pup mentally.
Probably the most well-known food toy for dogs is the Kong. They are easy to fill with many different things that create different difficulty levels.
For your dog to keep interest in a challenging Kong, you must introduce them to it correctly.
Start simple: just dry kibble and small yummy treats, so the dog gets the yummy stuff from the toy.
Challenge your dog
Slowly increasing the difficulty from here will ensure that your dog will stay interested even when they have to try harder.
Since dogs can smell up to 100,000 times better than humans, a food search game is another great game to give them some mental exercise.
Hiding treats under different doggy-safe objects throughout your house or yard will keep your dog busy and entertained.
Like with the Kong, increasing the difficulty is essential for keeping your dog interested, so start by having it all in the same room or small area before you spread the treats out farther.
Hopefully, these tips for healthy canine exercise will help you train your dog. The more energy your dog uses, the happier you both will be.
Mila Sanchez is a writer with a BA in English Linguistics living in beautiful Boise, Idaho. Her ambitions include traveling the world, studying languages, and taking pictures of her dog, Baymax. Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram.