When I first got my puppy, what amazed and shocked me at the same time was the endless and boundless energy my puppy held within that small body of his. It was as if our daily walks were child play to him and nothing seemed to have exhausted him out. So, I went online to find ways other fur parents had attempted and tried out different suggestions and ideas to figure out what did the trick for him. And, here are 10 of the best ways that worked for my high energy pup:
Play Tug of War
You may have heard that playing tug of war encourages aggression in your dog but this is not true. While they might go crazy tugging at that rope, it is a healthy way to express their hunting nature and channel their endless energy into a good physical and mental workout. Playing tug of war with your dog is also a great way to nurture a strong rapport and bond with your pet.
Remember it is not the tug of war that encourages aggression, it is how you play with them that might lead to aggressive unwanted behavior. Not to fret, it is easy to stay on the right path. First, you have to establish some ground rules with you and your dog before playing the game. These rules will prevent the game from getting out of hand.
These are the 3 simple ground rules I use with my pooch:
- You say when the game starts
- “Drop” command – your dog should drop the rope at this command
- No touching– the game ends when your dog’s mouth touches any body part
Puzzle Games
Fun fact: Did you know boredom is the cause of destructive behaviors in dogs?
Mental stimulation and your well-being is so important for your pup. Like humans, dogs need to be mentally active to improve cognitive function and critical thinking. Mental and physical stimulation come hand in hand. Challenge your fur baby’s mental capabilities by giving him/her a puzzle to play with.
For example, the popular treat dispensing toy OurPets IQ Treat Ball, is a fun brain game that requires your pooch to figure out how to get the treat out of the ball. And the best part is, it keeps them mentally stimulated for a couple of hours! Another fantastic way to occupy your pooch’s mind while you’re at work.
Read more: 7 Practical Ways To Mentally Stimulate Your Dog
Go On Long Hikes
If you find your pup especially hyper that week, going on long hikes might just be that magic pill your dog needs. Drive to a nature park and walk your pup in the woods using the “scenic route” aka the longer route. Dogs have an innate love for exploring nature, especially breeds that were trained for hunting. It is a great way to break out of the usual routine and mentally stimulate your pup’s brain as he/she sniffs around the new path.
Did you know that dogs’ noses have 60x more receptors than humans? Their nose contains about 300 million scent receptors! They experience the world through scents and smells which causes their brain to actively form connections and process information of their surroundings. Besides this bonus point, obviously going on long hikes would require more physical effort on your pup and you so while it is a great physical workout for your pup, your pup will also get some important mental stimulation as well!
This is a fab option for high energy dogs who require lots of exercise and stimulation before they get tired. Oh, this is a bonus for you as you will be getting a good workout and experience nature and its beauty.
Create An Obstacle Course
If you have the luxury of a backyard or an open space in your house, be creative and build an obstacle course for your dog. Yes, it does take quite a bit of work but a simple obstacle course would be good enough! If not, you could also build one in a living space. That’s the versatility of having an obstacle course. You could use anything from cushions, chairs, benches, tree branches or anything really to create a challenging and exciting course for your pup.
Another great mental workout for your dog as he/she would need to think of navigating through the course. And if your dog really loves the obstacle course, he would automatically play by himself till point of exhaustion while you sit and enjoy a drink of choice. Sounds like a win-win situation to me 🙂
Teach Commands And Tricks
Learning new tricks and commands will get your pup’s brain juice going and that will tire them out mentally and physically. Dogs love learning new things as this will keep them mentally active and prevent boredom. We want to avoid that because boredom can lead to some destructive behavior. If your pup is bored of the same tricks, teach him/her new ones. Or if you want to tire your pooch even more, teach them more difficult tricks because the more complex it is, the more tiring it will be.
Better yet, teach them tricks that will help you in your household chores such as fetching the mail or putting their toys in the right place. These will do wonders to mentally exhaust your pup. If you’re going to teach them something new, might as well have it work in your favor 😉
Read more: How To Mentally Stimulate My Dog?
Use the stairs
One indoor game that I read off the internet was creating stair games. It is basically playing fetch while you sit at the top of the stairs. Or, you could throw a treat onto the floor and when they collect the treat, call them back up and repeat the process again till your dog is panting hard enough. Voila! Easy game.
Go For a Swim
Fun fact: Did you know that 1 min of swimming equals to 4 mins of walking for dogs?
With that in mind, swimming is one of the best exercises for your dog as it works almost every major muscle group in the body. There are numerous health benefits such as improving cardiovascular health, increasing metabolism, relieves stress and improves circulation. It is also a low-impact and non-weight bearing workout which is perfect for dogs to get in a great workout without laying stress on their joints.
Also, paddling against the resistance of the water requires every major muscle group to work thus more energy is burnt with every stroke. Not only is swimming good for your dog’s physical health, it also enhances your pup’s mental health. Swimming provides that outlet for your pup to release his/her pent up energy with the freedom of being without a leash and swimming everywhere he/she pleases to. A solid 30 minute swimming session should be enough for a good night’s rest.
Play Date With Other Dogs
Let other dogs tire your pooch out if you can’t do it! If your pooch is bursting with energy most of the time, scheduling a play date with some dogs might be a good way to burn off the excess energy of your pooch. Meeting other dogs also helps engage her brain and also improves your pooch’s social skills to be more comfortable hanging around other dogs. And for you, it is a great opportunity to socialize and meet new dog owners.
Use The Treadmill
Ah, the classic treadmill. Seems like it now caters to both humans and dogs alike huh. Walking on the treadmill is not a substitute for a walk outside but it helps your pup burn off energy in the event of a rainy day or a blizzard. I mean, your dog could technically use a human treadmill but dogs treadmills are specifically designed for dog walking making it a safer and better option for your pup. Nevertheless, always monitor your dog and be nearby for safety purposes.
Add Weights On Your Dog When Out For A Walk
Sometimes, your energetic pup needs more intensity to shed off that excess energy. You can consider adding weights to a dog pack for your dog to carry on walks. The weights will add resistance and help improve your dog’s muscle tone and most importantly, tire him/her easily. Remember, add a maximum of 10% of your dog’s body weight to prevent any injuries.