Why is my dog so lazy? My dog is getting fatter, how can I help him to shred off the extra weight gained? My dog used to be so excited when it’s time to walk but not any longer now, why is it so? Does any of the above rings a bell? Some dogs, no matter how hard you try to get them to do things, are the canine equivalent of couch potatoes. While sometimes dogs aren’t lazy, it is us pet owners who aren’t engaging our dogs and motivating them to exercise. Regardless of which reasons, it is vital to ensure our dogs exercise and maintain a healthy weight to prevent serious health issues and live a longer life. So, how to encourage my dog to exercise? Here are some tips for you.

How To Encourage My Dog To Exercise

Before starting any exercise regime with your dog, it is advisable to understand the medical condition of your dog. Could medical problem be the reason why your dog doesn’t engage, suddenly loses interest in activities, or isn’t acting like himself? It is also a good idea to have a sense of the activity level – ‘high-energy’ or ‘low-energy’ – that is best suited for your dog in order to ensure you do not over- or under-exercise your dog.

Using Treats and Playmates

Food dispensing toys

This is one good method to be used when your dog is not motivated to move around or looks bored, get him occupied and engaged as they push around the food dispensing toys –  example a rubber Kong – in an attempt to get the food inside. If your dog is new to such toy, begin by stuffing the toy with kibble or treats that will come out easily so your dog learns how the toy works. Once your dog can easily empty the you, you may increase the challenge by using larger size treats such that it is more difficult to get the treats out.

Treasure Hunt

Play ‘treasure hunt’ with your dog! What I meant by ‘treasure’ here is your dog’s kibble or dog treats. Hide his kibble or dog treats around the house and then encourage him to go on a ‘treasure hunt’. Start by making the kibble or dog treats easy to find so your dog gets the hang of the game. Once he is familiar with the game, you may increase the challenge by finding the ‘treasures’ in spots which are harder to be located.

Playmate

Most dogs enjoy the presence of other dogs. It is not surprising that your dog will respond to other dogs by circling, sniffing, and perhaps playing with them. Help your dog to expand his network – make friends with another dog in the neighborhood perhaps? Then arrange a date whereby the dogs can play together. This will motivate your dog to run around.

In case your dog may be shy, you can encourage your dog to play with the other dogs by using positive reinforcement – use treats to motivate your dog to your dog to play fetch with his playmate and reward him when he interacts with his playmate. Alternatively, bring your dog to the dog park whereby he could also have the opportunity to play with other dogs. There is a saying, “The best forms of exercise for any animal are the activities they would naturally do.” Playing with other dogs is definitely one of such exercises.

Playing hide-and-seek

Similar to ‘treasure hunt’, hide-and-seek is another alternative form of exercise which aids in heightening your dog’s sense of smell in a fun and rewarding manner. Do note that if you tend to play this game with your dog, try to change your location occasionally to keep the game fun and fresh for your dog. Also, if you are going to let your dog run off leash, be sure that he is properly trained and keep the game within an enclosed area to avoid losing him.

To begin, commend your dog to sit and stay then proceed to a nearby hiding place. Hiding in a nearby area is recommended in order to not make it too difficult for your dog to find you in order to keep the game fun and accessible for him. Once ready to be sought, call your dog and signal him to start searching for you. As your dog is searching for you, occasionally let out a verbal signal. Once he finds you, praise him enthusiastically and reward him with a treat. Repeat as necessary.

Sign up for an agility class

Agility is a dog sport in which a handler directs the dog through a series of obstacles – such as tunnel, tire jump, weave poles and more – in a race against time. This high-energy sports is not only a form great of exercise, it also improves communication between handler and their dog, develops confidence and new skills!

Create an obstacle course

An alternative to an agility class is to set up an obstacle course at home or in your backyard. Check out the three common types of obstacle which you can set up for your dog.

Jump

There are various ways to create your own dog jump. One way is to use two flowerpots or stools and place a broomstick on top of them. However, do ensure that the pole can be easily knocked down so your dog doesn’t injure himself by hitting on something solid if he doesn’t jump high enough. Alternatively, you can tie a hula hoop between two chairs to create a jump-through loop.

Tunnels

Going through an enclosed dark space could be a scary experience for your dog so you need to make the experience a good one! In order to do so, you may like to ensure that the tunnel you set is wide enough for your dog to pass through comfortably and sturdy enough that id doesn’t collapse while your dog is inside it which may create a negative experience for your dog. To make your own tunnel, you can use low tables and cover it with blankets. Usage of cardboard or cushions could be a replacement of low tables.

Instead of building a tunnel from scratch, you may prefer to buy those flexible children’s play tunnel which can be bought at an inexpensive price and is also a less time-consuming option!

Weave

Weave obstacle course can be lining up traffic cones and have your dog weave through.

Run your dog up and down the stairs

Stairs climbing is another high-energy exercise as steps helps to add additional challenge to your dog’s workout with the change in elevation. Run your dog up and down the stairs or stand at the top of the stairs and throw a toy down signaling for your dog to fetch the toy and bring it back to you.

Using the treadmill

Need a run but it is pouring outside? A treadmill would be the great alternative! Start by placing your dog on the treadmill with the lowest speed, allowing your dog to get comfortable with running on the treadmill. Standing in front of the treadmill and rewarding him with treats for running will keep him motivated running on the treadmill. Once your dog gets the hang of it, you may gradually increase the speed to provide a more challenging workout.