a tired dog is a happy dog

giving your dog plenty of exercise might mean a big walk, playing with their friends at the park, brain teasers in the house, or all three!

exercise is often seen as a way to tire your dog, but the physical exertion isn't the main factor there. instead, a dog's main form of exertion is cognitive! think about cramming for an important test, giving a big presentation, or building that IKEA furniture! each task can leave you drained, but feeling accomplished! it's a similar path for dogs!

when a dog is enjoying a big walk, it's often the smells that fill them up! whereas humans tend to use vision to observe the world, dogs instinctually "see" the world with their nose. to give your dog the best walk, focus on the quality of sniffs rather than the number of steps.

the next time you are around dogs who are playing, be sure to watch them. like, really watch! dogs communicate with each other through body language. notice the invitation bow: their front legs on the ground, their rump in the air. notice the shake off after a big tussle which is their way of saying "woah, that was a rush!" notice how dogs "speak" with their body! you might even notice a dog off to the side who is observing rather than playing; they might be new to the dog play language and are still picking up the lingo!

brain teasers are a great way to exercise dogs when you're staying inside. they use critical thinking; your dog has to figure something out!

for some dogs, the motivation to participate might be finding their favorite toy, others are food-motivated, and some love that physical aspect!

finding their toy

use the "place" command while you hide their toy in another part of the house, then have your dog "find it"! you can start out easy by placing the toy in the next room, in sight. each time, make it more challenging by placing the toy behind or under layers and adding more distance from your dog's "place."

food-motivated

set up paper towel rolls through a hallway, creating a cost-efficient maze for your dog to navigate in order to get to you (or a small pile of treats) on the other side! can you create multiple paths or dead-ends?

for the athletes

see how high you can set a stretch of painter's tape across a doorway for your dog to jump over! when you try it for the first time, how long does it take your dog to figure out what you are asking? at what height do they try to go under the tape?!

check out some encouraging pet parents in this YouTube video as their dog, Puddy, tries the "Painter's Tape Challenge"

share your pup's favorite form of exercise in the COMMENTS and i'll add it to a future post!

are you cat parent? share your cat's favorite games and puzzles!

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