Exercise: the magic bullet to having a good dog In order for your dog to be healthy in both body and mind he must have enough exercise.  This is one of THE most important parts of owning a dog.  A young, healthy dog should have on average 60 to 100 minutes of aerobic exercise (more than human pace walking) per day.  I’m not suggesting that you take up jogging (unless you want to), as we humans cannot run as fast as our four legged friends.  I’m saying use your imagination…your job everyday is to exercise your dog in some form.  A tired dog is a good dog.   Here are some ideas: Puppy play time Do you know any friends or neighbors that have a friendly dog that would like to schedule puppy play dates with you and your dog?  Make sure everyone is in a safe enclosed area or on long lines if the dogs have not been trained off leash.   An hour of fast play can tire out most dogs, at least for a while and it’s a good opportunity for socialization for both dogs and humans. Hide and Go Seek This works well with several people in the house.  This has several attributes.  You can do it in any weather if you play indoors and it helps teach the come command as well.  Each person takes some of the dog’s treats and while the dog is distracted, goes and hides.  The person hiding calls the dog until he finds that person.  The dog gets rewarded with treats and a good rub down.  You can also bring your dog’s toy to play with when he finds you.   Make the hiding places easy at first and make them more difficult as your dog learns the game.  If you have a second floor in your home, use that too.  Running up and down the stairs (as long as they aren’t too slippery), can add to the energy expended. This is a lot of fun for a family with children. Go Find It Teach your dog to go find treats that you have hidden around the house.  At first, hide the treats in fairly easy locations.  Go with your dog and point towards the floor while saying “find it”.  Lead him to the hidden treats and praise him when he finds them.  As you practice this, help him less and less to find the treats. Play outside with your dog Tying your dog outside will not give him the exercise he needs.  You must interact with him.  Remember, dogs are social creatures.  Tie your dog on a long line and play fetch, soccer or other games that encourage him to run.   Interactive toys Toys like Buster Cubes, Kongs, Kong Wobblers and other toys that can be stuffed with food will get your dog to use his mind to figure out how to get to the special treat.  Food that you can stuff includes peanut butter, canned dog food, bananas, dog treats, cheese etc.  Feed your dog his meal in a toy to keep your dog busy. Bubbles Blow bubbles and have your dog chase them.  There are special bubbles that are non toxic for dogs to chase and ‘eat’. Laser pointer chase Just like cats, some dogs like to chase the light from a laser.  Please be careful not to point it at anyone’s eyes including your dog.  Sometimes this is too stimulating for certain dogs so use your discretion.   Swimming Swimming is a great way to exercise your dog.  If your dog has joint problems, this is a great activity. Make sure you take precautions and keep your dog on a long line so that he does not swim out too far.  A life vest may be a good addition especially if you are swimming from a boat or will be around water all day.  Even if your dog is a good swimmer he can get tired. Biking There is a great bike attachment called the “Springer”.  This attaches under your bike seat.  You attach your dog via a harness (never his collar) and the large spring prevents your dog from pulling you and making you go out of control.  Start with short distances. Jumping You can make your own jumps from materials you have. Try using cardboard boxes for small dogs. Lure your dog with treats, and start with very low jumps of just a few inches. As a general rule, it is best to keep the jump heights at the level of the dog's elbow so as not to cause stress. All jumping must be done off leash, and never force the dog. If the dog refuses to jump it might reflect a physical problem. Lunge whip Get a whip (at farm supply stores). Attach a ball or other toy to the end. Tennis balls you can buy on-a-rope are good for this. You can also use a squeaky toy in a sock and tie the sock to the end of the whip. Then twirl the whip in a big circle and let the dog chase it. Occasionally let the dog catch it too. Your dog can get tired out in a small space. Stop while the dog is still enjoying the game so he will be eager to play next time. Back Home