6 creative ways to keep your dog active

2nd July 2019

Are you and your dog bored of the same old walk in the woods? Are you looking for more interesting activities you can do to provide much needed stimulation and alternative ways to exercise? Take a look at our tips below to help you find creative ways to keep your dog active.

1. Treasure hunt

Set up a treasure hunt in your house or garden by hiding treats or pieces of food for your dog to find. This can be lots of fun and it can also slow down your dog’s feeding habits if they have a tendency to eat too quickly. It’s also a great way to test your dog’s sense of smell.

2. Dog agility classes

Dog agility needn’t just be an activity for competition dogs. It’s a great way to stimulate your dog both mentally and physically and it can be a fantastic bonding experience. If you have a large garden, why not set up an agility course at home? Or for rainy days, set up small obstacles indoors for your dog to navigate.

3. Clicker training

Use a clicker to train your dog to perform tricks such as raising their paw, rolling over, fetching or even dancing! It’s a fun activity for both you and your dog, and very rewarding. It can also encourage your dog to be more obedient in day to day life.

4. Household chores

Train your dog to help you out with household chores. It will keep him active whilst you’re at home and make chores more interesting for you!

5. Geocaching

Geocaching can make a walk with your dog much more interesting and take you to places you might not have thought to go. Geocaching involves using GPS to find hidden caches in the countryside. When choosing geocaching, select a location with a difficulty and terrain rating that is well suited to you and your dog.

6. Swimming

If your dog loves water, then why not introduce them to swimming? Allow your dog to take their time getting used to the water and find a lake or stream that has low banks so that your dog can enter and exit easily. Give them a doggie life jacket to start with if they need time to gain confidence. Once they’ve got the hang of swimming, you can make their dip more exciting by throwing balls or sticks into the water for them to fetch.