Having a dog as a companion at home is a very rewarding experience. The dog will not only provide you with many moments of fun, but also understanding, affection, unconditional love and company With a furry friend also comes a lot of responsibility, because you will be the one in charge of covering all your needs, and among them is entertaining you and providing you with the physical exercise required to fully develop.
However, in today's world it is often difficult to walk your dog for hours, so AnimalWised presents you with this article on how to tire a dog, with multiple recommendations for your adventure partner to burn all his energy.
What do we mean by tiring the dog?
Regardless of breed, dogs need to exercise daily, or at least several times a week. Not only your physical he alth depends on it, but also your emotional well-being However, we know that today, with the multiple responsibilities of today's life, and especially for those who live in the city, it is more complicated to give your dog all the leisure time he needs.
A dog that doesn't get enough exercise accumulates too much energyand becomes hyperactive, so he will try to distract himself with the first thing that I get As a consequence of this, it is possible that he will start doing mischief in the house, destroying valuable things with his bites. In addition, you risk developing obesity problems, and over the years suffering from different ailments, such as joint problems.
However, all it takes is a bit of organization to create a proper, complete and fun routine for both the dog as for you The routine must be introduced gradually, you cannot force an animal that does not exercise frequently to trot or walk for a full hour from one day to the next. In the same way, it prefers the hours of little sun and remember to bring an extensible leash and water for you and your furry companion.
It is important to remember that exercise should not be focused on exhausting your dog, but rather on devising creative ways to provide safe entertainment, pleasant and that allow you to develop your body and exercise your mind, so activities that stimulate learning must be included. Here are some ideas.
How to tire out a dog at home?
For those who don't have much time, tiring out a dog at home is an option. Here are some recommendations for it:
1. Play hide
Dogs love to sniff and look for things, remember that many breeds were used for years as hunters, shepherds, among other trades. That's why having fun on a quest will not only exercise you, but also test your mental skills and problem solving skills.
One idea is for one of the family members to hide in a certain place in the house without the dog noticing, and then give him a piece of that person to sniff and urge him to look for it. When you find it, don't forget to congratulate and praise him.
Another method is that the whole family hides in different places and one by one calls the dog from his hiding place, rewarding himwhen he gets to the right place. This way the game can last longer.
two. Learn new commands
An adult dog should already know the basic training commands, which will make life at your side easier. However, it's never too late for him to learn new things, from fun tricks to more complicated commands.
Devoting between 5 and 15 minutes a day a couple of times a week to learning new commands will give your dog some physical exercise and put his intellect to the test. Always use positive reinforcement and play with your dog when the training phase is over.
3. Exercise on the stairs
In the city it is often difficult to find suitable places for your dog to run and exercise, so you have to be resourceful to find the best places. If you see little-used stairs near your home, play with your dog at going up and down themOf course, do not overexcite him, he could accidentally injure himself.
This exercise is also useful for days when it rains or the weather is bad and they cannot go outside to play. If you live in an apartment and the stairs are rarely used at certain times of the day, take advantage of this opportunity.
4. Race & Chase
This is another modality of the catch games, but in this one you will participate more actively. Have you ever seen cat toys that consist of a cord ending in a toy? You can make one yourself for your dog, by tying one of his favorite toys at the end.
Approach the dog and let him see the doll, and when he wants to catch it, get away from him. Let him chase you and have fun together. Just remember that you have to win some times and let him win others.
How to tire out a hyperactive dog?
Some dogs store much more energy than others, either because of age, breed, or because they aren't given much opportunity to entertain themselves. This can cause hyperactivity in the dog, which can be physiological or pathological, that is, due to a disease, hyperkinesis. For them we present several options:
1. A nice walk
Walks are an easy way to exercise your dog, and you can too. Take advantage of the outings close to home that you must do to walk with your dog, as long as you can keep it with you at all times.
Choose low-traffic hours and enjoy the outing with your dog walking relaxedLet him interact with other potential playmates and let him sniff as much as he pleases This allows them to relax and get to know the environment in which they live, which provides them with well-being.
You may also want to mark your territory with urine. He prefers an extensible fixed leash so that the dog can explore as much as he wants, without losing the certainty that he will not get lost.
With something as simple as a walk, your dog will exercise its muscles, create resistance for other higher-impact activities, while testing its sense of smell with everything in its path and putting on in contact with other dogs and people.
two. Running or jogging
If you are a person who likes to go running, your dog can accompany you in that routine. If he is not used to it, you will have to increase the intensity and duration of the jog little by little. Choose places that are safe and have little car traffic.
You can also make it run with different games. Searching for the ball or chasing a disk or flying saucer are among the dogs' favourites. It will allow him to run, jump, practice commands (fetch, release) and exercise his search and calculation skills, both when finding the ball and when waiting for the puck to be in a suitable distance for him to reach it.
Of course, the game with ball or fresbee in some dogs can cause the opposite effect showing them tireless and nervous. If this is your case and you think that your dog increases his stress levels with the game, opt for another type of exercise
3. Take a dip
Most dogs enjoy the water, so teaching them to feel calm in a pool or lake is usually not difficult. Swimming is an excellent exercise for dogs, as many muscles are put into motion.
If you have somewhere close to home where your dog can swim and the day is hot, don't think twice! In the water you can also teach him to look for and catch objects, so exercises with the ball are also recommended.
4. Interaction with other dogs
Many dogs love to run around and play with others of the same species, so on walks or in the park your dog may want to make friendsEverything will depend on the character of both dogs (since some can't stand the company of their peers) and the disposition of the owner, but in general you will always be able to find someone with whom they can play.
Monitor the interaction of the two animals to detect any hostile behavior and avoid a possible accident. Over the days, your dog will have several friends, with whom he will burn a lot of energy.
Remember that it is advisable to stop play sessions between two dogs every 5 to 10 minutes to avoid excessive stress caused by play. Every once in a while, pick him up and do a short spin to relax him.
5. Jump Practice
Jumping does not only mean a simple jump for your dog, but the dog must calculate the appropriate height that allows him to either overcome the obstacle or catch something that is in the air. Frisbee play involves jumping, but this is not the only way to perform this exercise.
Obstacle jumping, whose professional practice is Agility, is very popular in the canine world, but your pet dog can start with something simpler if you are not used to that game. Place different objects that he is able to jump in a space of the house and start a game with him; You can also use the attractions offered at dog parks.
If you're thinking of getting started in Agility, don't hesitate: this activity is very complete as it combines sport, obedience, mental stimulation and reinforcement.
How to tire a dog mentally?
When it comes to tiring and exercising a dog, it's not all about running or jumping, there are also activities to put his mind and intelligence to work, fundamental for a wellness complete:
1. Test your sense of smell
Dogs know the world through their sense of smell more than any of their other senses. Believe it or not, sniffing for a while is considered a physical and mental exercise.
There are several ways to play with your dog in this way, but the most effective is to use treats or dog treats. Hide several in the house or garden and let your dog have fun finding them.
To make the game more dynamic, purposely add some obstacles between the dog and the places where the treats are, for him to figure out how to get to them. This activity, known as searching, is widely used to improve the dog's well-being and teach the "search" command.
A variant of this activity is to s replace the treats with your dog's favorite toy, and ask him to look for it after you hid it.
two. Train your jaw
The dog's jaws or jaw is an area that we often ignore when it comes to training, but it is vital for its he alth. An exercised jaw not only stays strong, but certain toys also help clean your dog's teeth, removing food debris and protecting him from plaque and tartar.
As if that weren't enough, many of the toys on the market, whether made of fabric or rubber, are designed both for the dog to chew and for you to pull the toy from the other side. In addition to teaching him to drop objects, with these types of toys (chews and the like) the dog will learn to modulate the power of his jaws.
Remember that in this type of game you both have to win, sometimes one, other times the other.
3. Take him to new places
An unknown place represents an infinity of new sounds and smells for the dog, so he will go crazy looking around everything he finds around him. Allow him to explore, look and sniff as much as he wants, always under your supervision. See how tired he comes home!
