September 16, 2019
There’s no question that exercise is an important part of your puppy’s daily life. It gives your puppy all the physical and mental stimulation they need to be healthy and happy! Unfortunately, the weather doesn’t always agree with our plans.
Some breeds require regular exercise to be content; otherwise, they become anxious or bored. Because of this, it’s always important to make some room for puppy exercise, even if it takes place indoors! Here are a few ways you can exercise your fur-baby when there’s bad weather:
- Play a game with your puppy. From hide-and-seek to scavenger hunts, there are many fun games you can play with your cuddly friend. To play a scavenger hunt, just hide your puppy’s favorite treats in spots they can reach and encourage them to search the house. With hide-and-seek, you can distract your pup with a treat and then hide in another area of your home. Check out our list of 10 Fun Games to Play with Your Puppy for other games you can play with your pooch!
- Engage in training sessions. Take the opportunity to further train your puppy to follow certain commands. You can try basic commands like sit and lay down, or advanced tricks like speak or roll over. It may not be rigorous exercise, but it will give your puppy the amount of mental stimulation they need. It will also further build your bond with them.
- Build an indoor obstacle course. Make indoor exercise more exciting by building an obstacle course! With proper puppy agility equipment, you can help build up your puppy’s agility and obedience skills while they have fun. Many agility and obstacle course equipment are available for use; just make sure they can be set up indoors. If you want to sharpen your puppy’s agility skills, check out our Top 9 Best Agility Lessons For Your Puppy for our tips.
- Challenge your puppy’s nose. A dog’s sense of smell is far more powerful than a human’s. You can put your fur-baby’s smelling ability to the test with certain exercises. For example, you can build an obstacle course that your pup needs to get through to find their favorite treats. You can even create a scavenger hunt game that encourages your puppy to use their nose.
- Try introducing your pup to a treadmill. When it comes to treadmills, you can either purchase one designed for dogs or use a human one. If you can’t afford a dog treadmill, be sure to use extra precaution with a human one. Do not force your puppy to go on it the first day; instead, take a few days to get them used to it. Once your puppy is comfortable, use a slow speed while holding a treat in front of the treadmill. Repeat this process while gradually increasing the speed and walking time.
Now, remember that puppies are at a young and tender age. They do not need as much exercise as adult dogs. Before you begin an indoor exercise routine, be sure to limit your fur-baby’s exercise time based on their age. You should also always be patient with your puppy when playing a game with them—remember that they’re learning. And of course, don’t forget to join in on the fun! We hope these tips help you and your puppy relieve boredom during those rainy, hot, or snowy days.
Does your cute and cuddly pup have a bug-eating habit? Read our 5 Reasons Your Puppy Shouldn’t Eat Bugs for our tips on stopping the behavior.
