3 Things Every Owner Should Do with Their Dog for Exercise

To many people, their dog is more than just a pet – he is a part of the family. This means that your dog needs to be cared for as such. And, just like people, it is important for a dog to get plenty of exercise and have tons of interaction. The following is a list of three things that every dog owner should do with their dog on a regular basis.

1. Take Your Dog for a Walk

It is important to make time in your busy schedule to take your dog for a walk. Every day is ideal, but three to four times a week will do if that is all the time you can come up with. Walks are important because they give your dog an opportunity to stretch his legs and spend time exploring. Walks will keep your dog from becoming depressed and keep him physically healthy too.

2. Play Fetch and Tug – War with Your Dog

Just like kids like to play, so do dogs. This is why it is important to spend time playing games like fetch and tug -war with your dog. These are also two of the easiest games to teach your dog, so you can use them as a starting place for play time. Once your dog has mastered these games, you can move on to more challenging games, like jumping through hoops or hide and seek.

3. Teach Your Dog Tricks

There are so many tricks you can teach your dog – everything from rollover to play dead to shaking hands. Not only are dog tricks a fun thing to show off to friends, but they are also a great opportunity for you to spend time with your dog and give praise. Dogs love to know that you are proud of them and it increases their sense of loyalty.

Safety Tips for Dog Parks

MIchela zena and phillip visiting the dog park
Image by K9 Playgroups via Flickr

Dogs love to run around and play outside, and if you don’t have a large backyard, you should take them to a dog park often so they can experience some freedom. There are a lot of potential dangers, however, at a dog park that you need to be prepared for. If you take a few precautions, you should be able to have a good time at the park without incident. Just follow the rules and be on the lookout for potential problems.

Many dog parks allow you to unleash your pet to play games like fetch, but you should keep your dog leashed when you are not engaging in such games. This will prevent your dog from wandering off or interacting with unknown dogs, which can be a potential problem.

You also should not unleash your dog in public until he has been sufficiently trained and you are confident that he will obey you, even in exciting situations. Most dogs are capable of such behavior, but it takes a lot of work to get there. You can increase the potential for success by visiting the dog park often while your dog is on a leash and gradually increase the time that they are allowed to be unleashed. Dogs are very loyal and there shouldn’t be a problem after some time.

You should also always be aware of where your dog is at and other dogs that are in the area. Sometimes dogs will react unexpectedly when they encounter a new face. This can be bad for you if the other dog shows aggression or your dog is not sprayed or neutered. Other dogs pose the most threat.

Overall, enjoy your time at the dog park and remember that dogs will be dogs. Just be prepared for potential problems. You’ll have a much more enjoyable time with your pet this way.