How to Get Your Lazy Dog Up and Active

If your canine is a couch potato, it needs to get some exercise. The only way to do that is if you’re a regular yourself – or if you at least acknowledge the fact that spending all your days lounging around and relaxing isn’t the way life was supposed to be.

Dogs are supposed to be upbeat and happy companions. You don’t want them just eating, relaxing, and chubby-ing their way through life. The laziness will only end up unfolding itself into major health problems down the road.

It’s important to note here that some dogs, mostly older ones, may have joint problems and arthritis that may affect their ability to be active. Nutritional deficiencies can also be one of the reasons for making them lazy. 

However, if you’re certain that your dog has none of the aforementioned issues and they’re turning into an eating-pooping machine, it’s high time that you make some changes to their lifestyle. Here are a few ideas to get you going:

Play More Games

Fetch, tug-of-war, floating toys, hide-and-seek, and more – there are all sorts of games you could introduce your dog to.

If you’ve got a small indoor space, tug-of-war and hide-and-seek may just be exactly what you need. If you’ve got any doubts about these games working; watch a video or a compilation where people are playing hide-and-seek with their dogs. By the time you’ll be done watching, you’ll be a very happy person. The point is that dogs love these games, especially hide-and-seek, and the element of surprise really gets them the stimulus they need to keep moving!

If you’ve got a swimming pool, get some floating toys and they’ll keep your pooch moving and jumping. If you’ve got a nice place outdoors, there’s no laziness and boredom that some fetch between a dog and his pal won’t fix.

Go for a Hike

Sometimes just taking your dog on a nice morning hike can do the trick. If you can incorporate hiking into their routine 2-3 times a week, it’ll be enough to keep them healthy. For safety, always keep them on a leash when you’re taking them out.

Food-Dispensing Toys

Dogs love treats and if you can get them chasing treats, you’ll be set. One of the ways to do this is by getting them toys that have a small hole in one end. When you fill the toy up with small treats and hand the thing over to your pooch, the food will easily fall out of the toy, allowing you to train your pet with very little effort.

Once they’ve grabbed the concept, fill the toy up with slightly larger treats to make the process a bit more difficult. The struggle will keep them engaged and the frequent treats will keep them coming for more. 

Toys of this sort are called KONG toys, are made up of rubber, and must be regularly and thoroughly washed. 

Partnering in Workouts

While regular walks are a must and games help keep your dogs on their feet whilst engaging all their senses, another way to get them moving is through dog treadmills. 

If you’re a runner yourself, you both can team up on your dedicated treadmills. To make the process more rewarding for your pooch, introduce them to a treadmill, followed by rewarding them as soon as they step on the thing.

Some dogs will be natural and will get familiar right away. However, with some, you may need to keep rewarding them with treats and affection. Once they’ve been trained enough to get on the treadmill, you’ll find them excited as soon as you say the word. 

Before you invest in a dog treadmill, make sure it is of the right size for your pooch. If it has side boundaries, consider removing them to make it more appropriate.

Schedule a Playdate

If you know somebody and they’ve got a dog, it’s not such a bad idea to set up a meetup and allow your pooch to be sociable. Most dogs will be responsive to other canines by marking their territory, sniffing, and playing with them.