How To Tire Out My Dog – Different Fun & Healthy Activities

Engaging a dog in physical and mental stimulations is essential to keep it fit and healthy. Your dog releases a lot of built-up energy by exercising, which could have been channeled into undesired behaviors like chewing things or barking excessively. If you are not sure of some fun and healthy activities for your dog, keep reading.

Some effective fun and healthy activities to tire your dog out are going on long walks, playing games, teaching it a new trick, taking it to the park, setting up an obstacle course, chasing bubbles, playing fetch, wrestling, tugging, playing with the hose, and letting the dog sniff outside.

If you have a hyperactive dog, you are in for business because these dogs require lots of exercise. If you live in a small house or have limited space, there are tons of activities to keep your dog active and healthy.

Hyperactive Dog Breeds

Hyperactive dogs are filled with energy, intelligent, great companions, and always on the go. Breeding dogs like this comes with responsibility and dedication for training and exercises. Lack of regular daily exercise could make them feel bored and become destructive.

While some dogs enjoy cuddling on the couch or bed with their owners, others are in a constant need to move and be active. So, as a dog owner, you need to know what you are up for before breeding certain dogs. We will look at some hyperactive dog breeds below.

Border Collies

Border Collies is a high-energy dog that was initially bred for herding sheep. These dogs are intelligent and have excelled in different obedience, disc, and agility competitions. They make great family dogs but require a lot of daily exercise. A fully grown Border Collie has an average height of 18 to 22 inches and weighs 30 to 55 pounds.

This dog breed is a British dog originally bred as a herder; they are one of the most intelligent domestic dog breeds. The most common color pattern of Border Collies is black and white, although they can appear in almost any pattern and color.

Dalmatian

This hyperactive dog breed was initially bred to work as a hunt and guard dog. Dalmatians are very playful, intelligent, loyal, and energetic dogs. If you need a dog to accompany you whenever going on morning jogs or hiking, this dog could be a great companion.

A fully grown Dalmatian could reach an average height of about 19 to 24 inches with a weight of about 45 to 70 pounds. These dogs require a lot of training and exercise to stay active. When they lack enough exercise, they could begin to bark excessively or display other unwanted behaviors.

German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is a loyal, intelligent dog with great guarding instincts and has proven to be a good family dog. Due to their high energy level, the military and police often use them as search and rescue dogs. German Shepherds are also known as Alsatians.

Breeding a German Shepherd requires a lot of time to train and exercise to release built-up energy. The average height of a full-grown German Shepherd is 22 to 25 inches, with a weight of about 75 to 95 pounds. Unlike other hyperactive dogs, German Shepherds are moderately active.

Puppy Energy Levels By Age

One thing you need to know as a dog owner is that the dog’s energy level changes as it develops, so the energy level of a puppy is different from a full-grown dog. Understanding these changes would help you know what to expect and how to train your dog as they grow older. Below are puppy energy levels from birth to adulthood.

Birth To Ten Weeks

During the first two weeks of birth, puppies rely on their mothers for everything. At this point, their sense of sight, smell, and ear are yet to be developed. When they are two weeks old, they begin to open their eyes and gradually get exposed to their environment.

With time, they would start to walk about the house, play with each other, and explore their environment. Ensure they are always kept busy and entertained as boredom could make them misbehave.

Ten Weeks To Sixteen Weeks

At this stage of puppyhood, your puppy would still be filled with energy and could sometimes begin to disobey your commands. You need to understand this is normal. As your puppy approaches three to four months old, it will begin to experience teething. So, be prepared to get some dog toys to help the dog feel better during the teething stage.

Four To Six Months

This is the stage where a puppy interacts more with other dogs. At this stage, you need to observe your dog’s behavior well and watch out for things like anxiety or fear. If you notice any, you can seek the help of a professional on how to curb the fears and boost your dog’s confidence with more training.

Six Months To Twelve Months

During this stage, your dog would have grown bigger; however, you need to understand it is still a puppy. At this point, you need to practice more commands with your dog and ensure it responds accordingly. You should engage your dog in daily walks to keep it fit and healthy. Training and proper socialization sessions should also be continued.

One To Two Years

Once your dog is one-year-old, it has finally left puppyhood and gradually becomes a young adult dog. If you have trained your puppy well before now, you will notice it obeying your commands with ease. However, it needs to continue daily exercises and ensure it socializes well with other dogs.

How To Tire Out A Puppy?

There are many ways to tire out a puppy; puppies are filled with energy, and they need to exert that energy every time. If you have always wondered why puppies enjoy running around the house and playing with each other, here is the reason; they need to burn out excess energy.

Take It For Walks

While this is one of the most effective ways of tiring a puppy out, it involves lots of work because you need to first teach the puppy to walk on a leash. Only an obedient puppy can easily learn how to walk on a leash. You should take the puppy for at least a 20-minute walk twice a day, in the morning and evening.

Play Games With the Puppy

Dogs are social animals, and they enjoy playing and interacting with humans. You should try playing games with the puppy to tire it out. You can play games like hide and seek, treasure hunt, fetch, snuffle mats, puzzles, and treat dispenser toys. The advantage of playing games with your puppy is that they also learn obedience.

How To Exercise Dog Indoors

There are times when it will be impossible to go outdoors with your dog for exercise; there is a way out. You can engage in indoor exercises with your dog to remain fit. You can play tug-of-war with your dog, indoor treat hunts, indoor obstacle course, trick training, and flirt poles.

Dog Exercise Equipment

To exercise with your dog, you need to have exercise equipment for them. Some of the best exercise equipment you can get are a ricochet dog toy, dog pacer treadmill, GOPET treadwheel, wooly snuffle mat, varram pet fitness robot, and spring pole toys.

Learn more: Best Automatic Ball Launcher for Dogs

Final Thoughts

Many dog breeds constantly need exercise to remain fit and healthy; only a few minorities do not need to exercise a lot. However, all puppies are bottled up with energy, and they need to burn out the energy. Be relaxed; there are fun games and activities to engage in that will exercise your dog and train it.

Keep reading:

• Self-Propelled Dog Treadmill: Do You Need One? 
• What Do The Brown Spots On Your Dog’s Eye Mean?
• How To Discipline A Dog After Fighting