Exercising the Nose
Remember, a dog’s nose is how she “sees” the world. The more she gets to smell, the more interesting her life will be.
New places have the most interesting smells
Start with fresh air. Having a fenced-in yard gives you an easy way to provide your dog plenty of fresh air. Our dogs normally sprint when they first get out into the yard, and then they spend most of their time bumming around on the deck. They clearly enjoy the fresh air.
Your dog probably likes your yard, but its smells are all too familiar. To exercise the nose, you can also get your dog off your property and out into the world. Before you leave your property, though, be sure your dog knows how to meet new people and new dogs nicely, without being threatened or threatening.
Walking around the neighborhood, and occasionally driving someplace entirely new, provides the stimulation your dog’s nose needs.
Exercising the Body
Doggie bodies are built to migrate for hours and to outmaneuver prey for food. We humans make migration easier (we have cars!) and provide ready-to-eat meals. So we have to get those doggie bodies moving!
Walking doesn’t have to be only walking on a leash in your neighborhood. Here are some other ideas:
- Hike through a park, including trails and hills.
- Jog with your dog. Just be careful not to overstress their joints on asphalt.
- Give the dog a backpack to increase the energy expended.
- Bike alongside your dog—but at a walking speed! Dogs can walk long distances, but most breeds are built only for bursts of speed, not sustained running.
- Walk on a treadmill with your dog. This is a good winter exercise and requires special training at the beginning.
- Swimming is fantastic exercise for dogs who take well to water.
- Play fetch with a Frisbee, tennis ball, stick, or whatever. This is a good option when you’re worn out but the dog still has plenty of energy.
- Clubs (for example: agility, tracking, flyball) – check our calendar to get started learning about organizations.
In order to safely enjoy the freedom that comes of being off leash, your dog has to be trained to come when called.
Exercising the Mind
Just like people and other intelligent animals, dogs get bored when their brains don’t get enough stimulation. Just like people, dogs love to figure things out and get things done.
These dogs are deep in thought
Some dogs can find a lot of interest in your property. Depends on the dog. At our house, Sage gets a lot of enjoyment hunting in our yard by herself. But Logan doesn’t like to spend much time out there without a person.
Having adventures off your property engages your dog’s mind as well as her nose and body. I can’t stress strongly enough how much you and your dog will benefit from long walks and other forms of exercise in new places.
Training is another great way to exercise your dog’s mind. That’s why, even though our dogs already have a lot of basic skills, we keep adding more—and we’ll never stop. They get so happy when the clicker comes out… they love love love it! We tend to do more training in the winter months when it is hard to get a lot of outdoor exercise.
Exercising the Teeth and Jaws
Our dogs absolutely love to lie in the sun and work on a good stick. They also love bones and bully sticks. Some dogs have been known to work on rocks as well, although I don’t like surfaces quite that hard; they can wear down the teeth. Chewing on fresh bones and other hard things comes naturally to dogs. Worrying a bone can occupy a dog for 30 minutes or more. In the process, the dog is exercising her jaws and cleaning her teeth.
