How do I properly exercise my dog?

For many dog owners, providing their dog with adequate exercise is a key concern. If a dog seems restless or unfocused, a lack of exercise is often suspected – but in fact, insufficient sleep could also be the cause. Dogs sleep an average of about 20 hours during the day, including naps and resting. Puppies and senior dogs often need even more rest, up to 22 hours. These breaks are essential for processing experiences, especially for young dogs who can quickly become overwhelmed.

Comfortable orthopedic dog beds as well as custom-made blankets and mats from EMMY & PEPE support your four-legged friend's restful rest periods.

Besides physical exercise, mental and social stimulation is also important, as is breed-specific activity. A varied daily routine prevents boredom – whether during walks or when searching for treats. A healthy balance of rest and activity ensures a happy dog.

What should I pay attention to?

1. Fun

The most important thing, of course, is that your dog enjoys the activity. Some dogs can be enthusiastic about many different types of activities. Others might thrive on tracking training but aren't good companions for a morning jog. Observe your dog and, if in doubt, seek expert advice.

2. Mental & physical activity

Mental stimulation can also be tiring for your dog. You don't always have to just give your four-legged friend physical exercise; many dogs greatly enjoy mental challenges. Breed-specific activities: Some dogs have been bred for specific reasons. These dogs particularly enjoy breed-specific activities. For example, hunting dogs and hounds were bred specifically for hunting and often have a lot of fun with dummy work.

3. Social employment

While dogs don't have to greet every dog they meet during a walk, social contact can be very important for our four-legged friends.

4. Challenging, but solvable

Especially with search and intelligence games, it's important not to overwhelm your dog. Start small and work your way up step by step with your four-legged friend. Just like in training, focus on small successes and be patient.

5. Age-appropriate employment

It's probably obvious that most senior dogs are simply no longer suitable as jogging companions. However, puppies, or dogs with little stamina or motivation, shouldn't be forced to do anything either. Senior dogs, in particular, still need mental stimulation even in their later years; puzzle games, search games, or intelligence games are especially suitable.

Physical activities for the dog

Dogs primarily get their physical exercise outdoors. However, there are also a number of physical activities that can be done indoors.

Dog sports

Besides walks, dog sports are among the most popular physical activities. Agility, canicross, bikejoring, and rally obedience are particularly popular. Tracking or mantrailing promotes concentration and stamina, as the dogs follow scent trails over longer distances. Cavaletti training and hoopers are especially suitable for senior dogs, but should be adapted to their health condition. Cavaletti exercises from agility training can also be done at home or in the garden. Ensure non-slip surfaces and safe obstacles – alternatively, low jumps can be simulated with smooth branches.

Run

A long walk in nature is good for many dogs. They can sniff, romp, and run around, and explore on their own for a bit. Sporty dogs also enjoy it when their owner hops on a bike or rollerblades . Finally, the two-legged companion can match their pace. Of course, the dog shouldn't be exhausted to the point of collapse, but most dogs enjoy a brisk pace for a change during their walk. Make sure your dog has opportunities for breaks.

To swim

If your dog likes water, swimming in a lake or the sea is also a good form of physical exercise. A particular advantage of regular swimming is that it offers numerous benefits for your dog's muscle training.

Play

Playing with other dogs is not only a physical activity but also a social one. However, some dogs are more solitary, and other dogs aren't always available. Exuberant play with your human companion brings most dogs great joy and provides them with additional physical exercise.

Mental activities for your dog

There are a number of activities that will keep your dog mentally stimulated. Many of these activities can be done both indoors and outdoors, however, many dogs find it difficult to learn new tasks outside. This is because there are so many distractions outdoors. Therefore, it's usually easier for both you and your dog to start new exercises indoors.

Commands and tricks

Perhaps you've also wondered why there are so many dog tricks that don't actually add much value to training. Learning new commands challenges your dog and presents them with new tasks. But it's not just new tricks that can provide good mental stimulation for your dog. Reinforcing commands they've already learned can also require mental effort. In addition to verbal communication, you can also practice exclusively non-verbal commands, communicating with your dog only using hand signals. Non-verbal communication can be particularly beneficial later in your dog's life, for example, when their hearing deteriorates over time.

Impulse control and frustration tolerance

Impulse control is meant to help your dog manage their emotions and actions. This work not only demands a high level of concentration from your four-legged friend, but it can also greatly benefit your relationship. For example, you can throw your dog's favorite toy, but don't let them chase after it. The goal is to resist the urge and follow the command. Building your dog's frustration tolerance can be very demanding. They not only need to concentrate intensely, but they also need to practice patience. If you haven't worked on frustration tolerance with your dog before, it's important to proceed in small steps.

Nose work

Most dog owners already know that our beloved four-legged friends' noses are far more sensitive and better than our own. Did you know that dogs can smell stereoscopically? This means that both nostrils can perceive different scents simultaneously because they operate independently. To challenge your dog's nose, you can play hide- and-seek . For example, you can hide treats or your dog's favorite toy behind a bush or in tall grass and let them find it. This activity works just as well indoors. Snuffle mats are also very popular.

Intelligence games

There is now a very wide selection of puzzle toys for dogs. This type of activity can be particularly helpful on rainy days or stressful days for humans. Most puzzle toys are designed so that the dog has to retrieve a treat from the toy. Depending on the difficulty level, this requires a high level of concentration and excellent thinking skills from the dog. Many toys also encourage the use of the nose. Our four-legged friend needs to work in a solution-oriented way and be patient, as too much stress impairs their ability to concentrate.

Fetch

Retrieving is especially enjoyable for many hunting dogs and hounds, but other breeds can also be enthusiastic about training. You can work with a dummy , for example, or even a simple toy . Retrieving training should, of course, be built up gradually, but it quickly becomes an activity that challenges the dog both physically and mentally. Throwing the dummy out of your dog's sight also encourages them to use their nose. Are you still looking for a dummy or a new toy for your furry friend? Then you've come to the right place!

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ACTIVITIES FOR DOGS