You’ve got a fantastic mountain hike planned that will surely exhaust your dog! But what if it starts to rain or you twist your ankle? And you’re confined to your hotel room.
Perhaps your home is small, like an RV, boat, or apartment in New York City. When you have a small space, your dog will benefit from creative energy-burning exercises.
So, even in a small space, can you exercise your dog inside?
Table of Contents
How To Tire Out A Puppy?
1. Rotate The Toys
Do you frequently leave the same old toys out for your dog? Your dog will be much more interested in playing with toys that are unfamiliar to her, so stop it.
You don’t always need to spend money on new toys. Simply keep the ones she hasn’t been paying attention to hidden, and then after a few weeks, pounce on her with them.
She’ll do a good job of exhausting herself by jumping around with her long-lost toy if she’s an enthusiastic toy lover (like our Honey).
2. Use Frisbee
Frisbee is fetched on steroids, or more accurately, what fetch might be if I could throw reasonably well. I can throw a frisbee much farther than a ball, and the additional running distance is an excellent exercise for dogs. Throwing a frisbee while your dog handles the labor-intensive tasks is about as simple as it gets.
Using a soft disc frisbee would be a good place to start if your dog isn’t yet able to catch one. Since traditional frisbees are fairly tough, if your dog unintentionally gets hit in the face with one, it might stop attempting to catch it. To get your dog interested in the frisbee, throw it briefly or roll it on the ground while rewarding them whenever they show an interest.
3. Tug Of War
My preferred game to play with my dog Laika is tug. It is entertaining, excellent for physical fitness, and a helpful way for dogs to learn polite behavior. Just bear in mind one rule when playing tug: the game stops if your dog’s teeth touch your skin. The bite inhibition rule will be difficult for puppies who have not yet mastered it. Remember to teach your puppy not to bite before trying to tug; otherwise, you risk getting cut by those razor-sharp teeth.
The physical demands of a game of tug can be taxing on both you and your dog, especially if your dog is large. Don’t forget to put your tug toy away after your game because the majority of tug toys are made of rope or other materials that are easily destroyed by dogs.
4. Chasing Bubbles
Teach your dog to chase bubbles for one of the simplest ways to exhaust them. Laika still astounds me with how much she enjoys it, and if I had to guess, I’d say it’s probably her all-time favorite game. She starts to get excited as soon as I begin to move toward the kitchen sink, where those bubbles are.
Start by blowing a few bubbles at a time if your dog isn’t yet trained to chase them. To get your dog to chase the bubbles, point to them. Catch a few yourself to demonstrate to your dog that there is nothing to be concerned about and that the object of the game is to catch them all before they touch the ground.
We use bubbles designed for children, but there are many bubbles designed specifically for dogs on Amazon. They’re not poisonous, but if your dog eats too much of them, it may cause stomach upset. Remember to wipe your dog’s face after playing with bubbles because bubbles can irritate your dog’s eyes.
5. Play Hide & Seek
For this game, our boat is too small. But once we reach the shore, it becomes a favorite.
Wait until a treat, person, or ball has your dog’s attention. Next, hide in a closet or duck behind a large piece of furniture. Call your dog’s name if she doesn’t come running after you right away. When she finds you, make a big deal out of it and give her a treat.
If your dog won’t return from the dog park, this game will come in handy!
6. Wrestle Or Play Tug
The Kong Wubba is excellent for tug-of-war games because Honey loves to play them. My husband also kneels down and grapples with Honey. As long as it stays in check, they both enjoy some roughhousing.
You may want to steer clear of this game if your dog gets overly excited playing it. However, some dogs find it to be a lot of fun to roll around on the floor with their favorite person.
7. Feed Your Dog Using A Food Toy
Your dog won’t eat as quickly if she has to exert herself to get it because the effort will wear her out.
Ever since Honey was 8 weeks old, we have been feeding her using food toys. Her first possession was a plastic bottle with its opening balanced. Her kibble would be placed inside, the bottle would be balanced on its neck, and we would encourage her to tip it over with her nose. We would reposition the bottle while she consumed the contents that had fallen out.
8. Play The Shell Game
You’ll need two cups, some particularly pungent snacks, and the shell game. As you place the treat under one of the two cups, show your dog the treat.
Once or twice, switch the cups, then ask your dog to locate the treat. The majority of dogs will tip over the treat-covering cup.
Make the game harder as your dog gains experience. You can move the cups around for longer, use a treat with a milder scent, or add a third cup.
9. Trick Training
Training your dog is the best way to exercise its brain. Additionally, you both will enjoy teaching her new tricks!
When you train your dog using the shaping technique, you give small rewards each time they move a little bit closer to the desired behavior. Say yes and give your dog a treat if, for instance, he faces the door to teach him to shut it. When he consistently faces the door to receive a reward, wait for him to approach the door before rewarding him. To reward your dog, have him push the door with his nose after you’ve completed all the steps and he is touching it.
10. Set Up An Obstacle Course
With an obstacle course, there are many different ways to exhaust your dog. You can make limbo bars or jumps for your dog to cross over by placing tape across a doorway.
11. Give Your Dog A Stimulating Chew Toy
Honey adores cuddly, stuffed animals that squeak. But in a pinch, a fun alternative is a crinkly water bottle tucked inside of a sweat sock tied in a knot.
For some reason, the sound of a crinkly water bottle makes the majority of dogs go crazy. Additionally, your dog will get plenty of exercise from the constant crunching.
Things To Consider Before Adopting A Dog
In hindsight, my hasty decision to get a dog was likely caused by the fact that I was still in mourning over the death of my previous pet companion of 20 years. I ought to have held off on getting another pet for a while.
I neglected to take into account the dog’s temperament or breed, as well as my own level of energy and lifestyle, in my haste to fill that emotional void.
I contemplated giving up numerous times during those first, trying-too-hard weeks. But I persisted, and I’m so happy I did. Nothing compares to the company and unwavering love of a dog.
If you are considering adopting one, I strongly advise you to do some breed research so you can find a puppy whose temperament matches your level of activity and lifestyle.
Fortunately, I was able to make it work with my new pet, but things could have gone very differently. Before you make this crucial choice, do your research, speak to your vet and other dog professionals, and gather as much information as you can.
Please make every effort to find your dog a loving home if you are having trouble caring for a high-energy dog due to your work and family commitments. And remember that it’s okay to accept your limitations; in fact, doing so often requires a lot of bravery. Locate a local dog rescue group that will take your dog or assist you in finding the dog a good home.
I hope you find these suggestions useful. We are their only source of care for our animals. We should do our best for them!