As we approach almost the fourth month of quarantine, you may be looking at your dog and thinking, “Man, we really have got to get out of this funk.” Creating new habits and a healthy environment is essential for keeping yourself (and your pup) sane during these odd times. Many pet owners have claimed their pets are responding differently to their owners being at home all the time. Michael Waters’ article on Vox stated, “Some pets are growing clingy, others are pouncing on exercise equipment, gliding across countertops, or hiding in corners and shooting their owners concerned stares.” In order to combat these new strange behaviors, here is a list of activities (Tiki approved of course!) that you and your furry companion can do to keep each other busy.
- Exercise, exercise, exercise!
Staying active during this time is as beneficial for you as it is for your pet! If you’re going on walks, make sure to social distance (6 ft.), but even if you prefer to stay inside, there’s still so much you can do! Stretch and do some yoga, move the furniture around and play tug-o-war, or, if you have a backyard, run around with them and play chase. A little bit of exercise everyday could help you and your pup stick to a schedule and routine.
- Play some mind games!
Mental stimulation! We all need it, and so do our dogs. If you ever find yourself lounging on the couch- watching tv with nothing to do- look up how to teach your dog some tricks. There are so many helpful YouTube videos and articles online. It can be a great use of your time and also a fun way to impress your friends! (Take it from Tiki- he loves doing some tricks with us and showing off to other people too!)
- Baking dog treats!
Rosanna Pansino is an expert baker on YouTube, and has a very informative video on how to make DIY Dog Treats at home. The products she uses are all organic, and she offers substitute ingredients for any allergies your dog may have. Watch her video and give it a try for yourself! Baking these treats keeps your mind busy and will make your dog incredibly happy. https://youtu.be/l3Mb9RyW3V4
- Get creative!
Set up an agility course for your pup using everyday household objects! Examples include using boxes, laundry hampers, blankets, tunnels, and small forts for your dog to explore. Mix it up and even get your kids involved! Train them with treats and positive reinforcement. It’ll be a fun experience for everyone involved. (Safety permitted.)
Take some time out of your day to enforce some new habits into you and your dog’s lives, and everyday will start to feel a little more productive. Exercise, Watch YouTube videos for inspiration, and mix things up at home. In the end you and your dog will enjoy the new changes, and learn more about each other in the process.
Does your pooch need exercise? Check out these fun dog exercise ideas you can do indoors when it’s too cold (and dangerous) to be outside.
Our guests are getting some good exercise, playtime and socialization at the Good Dog Hotel & Spa during a cold, winter day.
This winter has been a brutal one so far, with lots of single-digit days spent indoors keeping warm. And while this can feel comfy and cozy for both humans and dogs, it can also mean that your dog isn’t getting all the exercise it needs.
The good news is there are plenty of ways to make sure your dog stays active without exposure to the harsh elements. Here are some of The Good Dog Hotel & Spa’s favorite suggestions. (For ideas on keeping your dog safe from frigid temperatures, read our blog Dog Safety Tips for Extreme Winter Conditions.)
Doggie Day Care. Of course, this is one of our favorites on the list, because we get to see first-hand how beneficial it is for dogs to socialize, play and burn off some energy. You can also treat your canine kid to a spa visit, where we offer a full range of grooming services – from a sudsy bath or relaxing hydro massage to complete professional grooming.
Play games. Playing games with your dog is a great way to combine mental and physical exercise. You can also reinforce commands or help them learn new ones. For example:
- Play hide-and-seek by hiding a treat or a favorite toy. Or you can even hide yourself. First, throw a treat so your dog will run away from you, and then go hide in another part of the house. Your dog will have fun finding you, and you can practice using the “come” command.
- Combine your workout (like doing sit-ups) with fetch. Throw a toy with one sit-up, and continue doing repetitions while your dog fetches.
- Get into a squat position with your dog’s favorite toy in hand. As you squat down, tap your dog with the toy. Then, as you rise, bring the toy above your head so that he jumps for it.
Make an obstacle course. Be creative by combining exercise with your dog’s great sense of smell. Hide treats or even dinner in an unexpected place, and then make a maze with boxes, blankets or other household objects that make it challenging to get to the food. Treat toys are also good ways to combine mental stimulation with favorite snacks.
Turn on the treadmill. While there are treadmills specifically designed for dogs and exercise, you can also use a human treadmill for the same purpose, given appropriate precautions and a little training. Follow directions available online by a trusted source, and know that you’ll need to be patient, help familiarize your dog with the equipment, and allow a few days to adjust and increase speed and time.
Take a class. Checkout local businesses offering indoor agility or swimming classes especially for dogs. And if you haven’t had any official obedience classes, this might be a good time to try one. While Flyball and Doga are popular types of courses, there are plenty of other training options to choose from.
Practice targeting. Being indoors gives you a great opportunity to practice targeting with your dog. For example, teach her to touch her nose to the back of your hand on command (in this case, your hand is the target). For more information, check out this ASPCA resource that explains how you can teach your dog to hand target.
Take the stairs. This idea will provide plenty of exercise for both of you, and it’s simple to boot. Put your dog on a leash and walk up and down the stairs (if you don’t have any, find a dog-friendly venue or a willing friend’s home with stairs). Take two steps at a time for a bigger challenge, or vary the speed with each flight.
What are your favorite indoor dog exercises?
Do you have indoor dog exercise ideas you’d like to share? Do you know of any dog-friendly places that are good escapes during the winter months? We’d love to hear about them! Please leave your comments and suggestions below.
