Mental VS Physical Exercise
What is better mental or physical?
As a dog trainer I am constantly being asked for ways to “wear them out.” This statement is a lot easier to say then it is to answer because just like humans they build endurance to things they do frequently; so it is very important that we mix it up.
We have all heard that saying “a tired dog is a good dog” while I don’t always agree with that statement, there is a little bit of truth in it. When a dog is given the correct amount of physical and mental exercise they are happier and healthier .
Mental Exercise
I am putting this one first because as a trainer you can imagine it is my most favorite of two and is also easy to incorporate with physical exercise (more on that below).
So lets first talk about ditching that dog food bowl.
That’s right I said I want you to ditch it, throw it away, donate it, whatever just get it out of your rotation of how you feed your dog.
Instead lets feed your dog in a way that gets their brain working so they are mentally wearing themselves down! Try hiding your dogs food in puzzle toys (Kong, Nina Ottoson, Starmark to name a few) and watch their brain fire up!
Don’t have a toy handy? Use the grass in your yard like a giant snuffle mat! Or better yet buy one! Snuffle mats are a great way to hid food so that your dog will spend after mealtime napping.
You can also make your own puzzle toys for your dog with things around your house. That package you just got from Amazon? Use the box and the packing paper to hide the food under. Do you have leftover containers? Clean them out and cut a hole in the top and have your dog chase that around trying to get the food out, you can make it
Physical Exercise
Physical exercise is important too but be careful not to over do it. Dog's, like humans, build endurance with exercise. The more you work them out the more you will have to work them out. This is why I recommend more mental exercise then physical. With physical exercise for your dog always check with you vet to see if your dog if physically healthy enough for the activity you have in mind. Believe it or not running your puppy is BAD!
As far as exercise goes I would recommend sniffing walks. This way you are getting that mental enrichment as well as the physical exercise.
Fetch can also be a fun way to work on out your dog but we need to make sure that we are not causing any harm. Some dogs can actually get obsessive with fetch and there have been new study on the damage to the front limbs of dogs who do repetitive quick stops to catch a ball while fetching. So make sure you are play fetch on a soft surface and mix in some obedience with every throw.
Treadmills for dogs. This is something else I get asked about and again if you are going to go this route make sure you buy a dog specific treadmill. Human treadmills are too short for most dog’s natural gate and this can cause issues in all of their limbs.
Workouts for dogs. There are trainers out there that specialize in canine fitness! These trainer’s have taken courses and continuing education to help put together custom exercises for your dog’s current fitness level and age. Use this website to find one near you! Also some of these trainers work remotes so you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home! Certified Professional Canine Fitness Trainer