Your tiny dog isn’t meant to stay all day inside the home. With his active nature, he deserves to venture into the outside world and have fun. After all, what’s worse than seeing a sad or bored dog?
Once you learn how to walk a dog, you should take the next step and allow your pooch to go out and play. Not only does it make your pup happy, but it’s also good for keeping him healthy.
While toy breeds cannot handle long-distance running and high-impact jumping the way their bigger counterparts can, they can certainly enjoy the following activities with you, their human:
1. Playing fetch
A humble game of fetch is enough to help your small dog meet his daily exercise requirements. It’s easy to do and you can squeeze it in your busy schedule since you don’t have to go out of or beyond your house to play the game.
Plus, once your dog learns to fetch beyond the stick and ball, you can also train him to retrieve other things for you.
2. Going hiking
Your dog deserves to explore more than just the space within the four walls of your home. Grab your backpack and take him with you on easy hike trail to experience nature’s marvels.
This activity is great for eliminating monotony in your dog’s daily activities. It also allows you to divert your pup’s energy toward much-needed exercise while being surrounded by fresh air and unique sights and smells.
Before you rush to your adventure, make sure he has received the proper pet vaccinations, and bring enough water, food and adventure dog gear for the trip.
3. Hitting the beach
Regardless of whether you take him to a sandy beach or a pebbly one, your dog will love the new play environment. Allow your dog to splash around the shore and roam free while you relax on your beach towel and enjoy the serenity of the waves. This is a great opportunity to beat the summer heat and plunge into the refreshing water with your beloved pooch.
4. Camping
Let your dog experience sleeping in a new setting. But first, make sure to choose a campsite that is dog-friendly to avoid ruining the experience for him. Your pooch will definitely enjoy stretching his legs outside, sitting around a campfire (enjoying his delicious dog food while you roast marshmallows), and sleeping with you in a tent.
5. Dancing freestyle
Another entertaining activity that you can enjoy with your pup is dancing to music, and in particular, participating in a sport called musical canine freestyle or freestyle dance. You will become each other’s dance partners, with you setting obedience training techniques to music.
This activity can be a dog obedience training exercise that involves teaching the dog how to follow your actions. It’s a great physical and mental exercise that enhances your bond while you get entertained together.
6. Entering a Rally-O (Rally Obedience) event
This is a team sport for humans and dogs where both aim to navigate an obstacle course challenge. It’s a great idea for testing your dog’s agility and obedience while your friends and family cheer you at the sidelines. Furthermore, your pooch can become familiar with other dogs who are as active as he is.
The competition is not only exciting, but it also encourages well-behaved pups on the course and at home. This leads to a great reward – you get to share your home with a well-mannered pooch.
7. Enjoying a disc game
This is a popular sport where you throw a disc and your dog will catch and return it to you. Don’t worry if your pooch is short on the legs because small dogs enjoy it as much as the big dogs do. The disc comes in many sizes, so make sure to pick one that fits your pup’s mouth perfectly.
Take note of the following tips when doing this fun activity:
- Practice your throwing skills so that you can control the disc and avoid tossing it too high
- A high-impact landing can injure the front legs of your small dog, so throw the disc low
- Once you’ve perfected your disc toss, you can already invite your pooch to join you
- Teach your dog to sit as you prepare to throw
- Learn to be patient as your pup learns to grab and return the disc to you
The primary goal of engaging in fun activities is to provide an avenue for you and your dog to bond together while you both stay fit. For your next adventure with your pooch, consider the activities above, and follow this helpful dog gear guide for an ultimate experience.
AUTHOR BIO
Farah Al-Khojai is the Managing Partner of Pet’s Delight. A passionate entrepreneur, Farah holds a Bsc in Government from the London School of Economics. She is always on the lookout for new opportunities to develop and grow the pet and equestrian retail and wholesale market in the UAE and beyond, and is proud to be at the helm of the first and the largest pet care provider in the market representing world-class brands including Orijen, Applaws, Hunter, Savic, Flamingo, Ruffwear and Rogz.
