5 Fun Ways to Keep Your Active Dog Entertained!
If you’ve got an Active Aussie, Bored Border Collie, or Destructive Doodle, you may be looking for new ways to keep them entertained and enriched!
Giving your fun-loving pup engaging activities is one of the best ways to reduce unwanted behaviors like chewing, barking, digging up the garden. And also fulfills their mental needs! Here are 5 fun activities to try with your dog!
1. Enrichment Walks!
A normal walk can be great for your dog, but can get a bit stale over time. Mix up your walk by visiting a new area with new smells or create your own scent game with your dog! Hide some treats in the grass and watch your dog have a blast sniffing them out! (If you are worried about encouraging scavenging, try adding a cue like “Find It!” to cue your dog when it is okay to eat off the ground)
Parkour! Yes, dogs can do parkour too and in fact there are lots of places that teach dog-parkour lessons, but an easy DIY is to find park benches, downed trees and tree stumps, and other stable surfaces and encourage your dog to jump up on them. Praise them and see their confidence grow!
2. Make Meal Time More Engaging
Instead of feeding meals in a bowl, turn mealtime into a game! With your dog’s regular meal, try using
Puzzle feeders to challenge problem solving skills
Snuffle mats to encourage using their nose
Training time as meal time to build engagement!
3. Trick Training!
Teach your dog a new trick!
Trick training isn’t just for showing off to your friends. It is a fantastic way to provide mental stimulation and increase their focus and engagement with you.
Some fun tricks to consider are spin in circles, shake a paw, roll over, and bow!
Not sure where to start? Consider joining virtual Trick Dog Class for step by step guide and earn your pup’s trick titles along the way!
4. Set up an Indoor or Backyard Obstacle Course
Use items around your house to create a fun agility style course!
Have your dog weave through chairs or cones
Jump over broom handles
Balance on couch cushions
Crawl under chair tunnel
Limit is just your imagination!
5. Join a FIT DOG Class
One of the best ways to keep your dog active and engaged is with an AKC FIT DOG class! This is a structured program that focuses on fun fitness skills that improve your dog’s strength, flexibility, and confidence. Plus, it’s a great way to bond with your dog while working toward AKC FIT DOG Title points!
Keeping your dog happy and fulfilled can be FUN. Whether you try a FIT DOG class, teach new tricks, or create fun challenges at home, giving your dog structured activities will reduce boredom and improve their overall well-being.
