Activities to Drain Your Dog's Energy

Hunting, retrieving, herding, guarding and companionship: These are just some of the jobs that dogs were bred to do. Happy, healthy dogs have active minds and get plenty of exercise. Physical and mental stimulation is necessary to drain away a dog's excessive energy, so as a dog owner, your responsibility is to help your dog get the exercise it needs. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, too little exercise can lead to poor impulse control and destructive behaviors, such as chewing or scratching, hyperactivity, and barking or whining. There are any number activities you can do with your dog to help it shed that extra energy.

  1. Daily Walks

    • Take your dog for walks every single day. This will have a number of benefits for your furry friend. First, it gets the dog out of the house. The change in scenery and environment will help to stimulate your dog's mind and give it a mental workout. Walks require dogs to process new sights, sounds and smells, as well as practice manners. Walks also give your dog physical exercise. The length and frequency of your walks will largely depend on the breed you own. Smaller or less energetic breeds may do well with a single five-to-10-minute walk each day, whereas larger, more active breeds might need two walks a day at 30 to 40 minutes each. Research your breed to find out how much walking is recommended for your dog.

    Aerobics

    • For the more active owner, aerobic activities, or more strenuous activities such as swimming, jogging, hiking and biking, can provide other outlets for a dog's energy. If you are a runner and you know your dog has the endurance and energy to keep up, take it with you on your morning jogs. Take water and a portable dish along for your dog, though, to avoid dehydration. Try taking your dog and its favorite toy to a pond on a hot day. Many breeds, especially retrieving breeds such as labradors, love the water and will enjoy a good swim. Take it slow and throw the toy in a little bit further at a time. Not all dogs know how to swim instinctively, and some might take a few minutes to warm up to the idea.

    Games and Toys

    • Games of tug-of-war and fetch can burn extra energy and give you and your dog a chance to bond. Play time has other benefits for your dog as well. According to the ASPCA, games can help your dog learn impulse control. They give you a chance to teach your dog not to play with its teeth. Second, many of the behaviors (chasing, shaking, tearing or tugging) exhibited during these games are instinctive for dogs, and by playing you give your dog a chance to practice these instinctive behaviors in a non-destructive manner. Aside from games, give your dog puzzles to solve. Puzzle toys, such as Kongs, hold treats inside that your dog must learn how to get. These can keep your dog entertained and help it exercise its mind and instincts. The same goes for chewing on bones, so provide a few of those as well.

    Training and Sports

    • Training your dog helps it to burn off extra mental energy while keeping its mind (and behavior) in top shape. Give it a job to do by continuously teaching it new things. If your dog has mastered basic commands and every trick you can think to teach, train it to compete in a canine sport such as agility, disc dog, dock diving, rally or flyball. Canine sports can be both physically and mentally challenging for dogs. They also require constant interaction between the handler (that's you) and the dog, so they also provide an opportunity to bond as well. Research canine sports as well as training facilities in your area to see what might be a good fit for your dog.