Getting your dog enough exercise is an important routine for us pet parents so that we can help prevent our pets to have health issues such as obesity, muscle loss, diabetes, muscle loss and many others.
In a previous study, dogs who are likely to exercise for 30 minutes to an hour each day are less likely to suffer from obesity than those who don't. There are several risk factors associated with overweight dogs such as orthopedic disease, higher chance to get neutered, and increased body condition score (BCS)
There are many situations that prevent you from going outside to exercise your pet such as extreme cold, heat, and in situations that you simply cannot go outside to walk, jog, or play with your pet. Thus, exercising your dog is a better option than not doing exercises at all. So here are some of the ways we can exercise our furry friend indoors.
Run Up and Down the Stairs
If your house has stairs, running them up and down can be a great indoor exercise. The steps add an additional workout to your pet as it engages different muscles compared to just walking. Simply stand at the top of the stairs and throw a toy down for them to pick it up. When they grab the toy, call his name to bring the toy back to you. Do this several times until they get tired.
Get Your Pet on a Treadmill
A treadmill is a great way for your dog to get plenty of exercises. If it is their first time, you need to let your dog be comfortable with the sight and sound of a running treadmill. When they are acclimated to using it, you can start with the lowest setting first and let them run for a few minutes. Standing in front of the treadmill and rewarding them with treats can make them feel more comfortable. When your dog is adjusted, increase the speed gradually for a more challenging workout.
Setup Obstacle Courses
If your home is spacious enough, you can easily set obstacle courses like jumping around chairs, circling around pillars, running up and down the stairs, etc.
Play Hide and Seek
Tell your dog to go sit in a room and then you hide. Call your dog and let them find you. This game can even be more exciting if you have other members of the family play the game as well.
Fetch
All you have to do is throw the object and let your dog bring it back to you. If you have a spacious enough room, this will be a great indoor exercise and can easily tire them out.
How Many Minutes of Exercise Does My Dog Need?
Depending on the dog's breed, age, and condition they need to have at least up to 60 minutes a day. Less active dogs such as Bull Mastiffs need at least 30 minutes of exercise, for example. While active dogs such as Doberman and Dalmatians need more than that. Puppies are more energetic than adult dogs therefore short exercises can easily tire them. Adult dogs can exercise longer, but be mindful of their medical conditions. Senior dogs, on the other hand, may have weaker joints and may get tired fast; thus, slowing down the pace of their activities might help.