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10 Unconventional Ways to Exercise Your Dog

David Adams photo

David Adams

July 07, 2020

Dog Enrichment

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* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

Every dog is a unique and wonderful creature, but they all have something in common: They need to exercise. No matter what breed or how old your dog is, exercise is a vital part of keeping them healthy and happy. If you're bored with long, leashed walks or just looking for unique ways to help your furbaby let out their seemingly boundless energy, look no further. We've compiled a list of 10 unconventional - but totally effective and, most importantly, fun - ways to exercise your pup.

1. Dog Agility Courses

What is agility: Think of agility training as dog obstacle courses. You've probably seen these before - the dog show-esque setups where a trainer guides a precision-focused dog through various obstacles. Dog agility courses can include poles to weave, hoops to jump through, and mini hurdles to clear. You may have seen this in actual American Kennel Club (AKC) dog shows too - it's part of the organization's competition. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8c2TrwJCFL/?utm_source=ig_embed

Why is it good for your dog: In addition to being a great form of exercise, the American Kennel Club notes that agility courses can help dogs master self-control and even overcome anxiety. According to Arlene Spooner, an AKC Executive Agility Field Representative, participating in agility training benefits dogs in a number of ways. 

"For the dogs, there's the exercise, the social aspect, and the feeling of having a job or a purpose," she says. "And working with their person (rather than just fetching a thrown ball) builds teamwork, trust, a deeper level of communication, and a stronger bond."

How can you get into it: You can set them up in a gym using professional equipment like you see on Instagram, but you can also set them up in your backyard using things you have around the house. One of the great things about agility training is how customizable it is. 

And, if you want to get into agility training but don't have the space or the equipment to get started, you can check out Sniffspot and search for hosts with agility equipment available for use. Just go to www.sniffspot.com/listings and select "Agility" in the filter to see spots that have agility equipment. You can also search for agility courses and equipment available to access or rent for a fee in your area.

2. Dog Swimming

dog resistance walking

Why it's good for your dog: Resistance walking ups the benefit of a regular walk by increasing the cardio benefit for both you and your pup. 

How to get into it: Getting into resistance walking with your dog is easy. All you need is an area that's difficult to walk through. Walking your dog through snow, sand, shallow water, or even a layer of fallen leaves can add natural resistance to the walk.

In the end, there's no wrong way to exercise your dog. The important thing is that your dog gets the time they need to be active so they can stay healthy - physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Trainer Review of this Article

There is so much misinformation out there, we want to make sure we only provide the highest quality information to our community. We have all of our articles reviewed by qualified, positive-only trainers.  

These is the trainer that reviewed this article:

Danette Johnston
Owner - Dog's Day Out, Ballard, WA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
Licensed AKC CGC Evaluator
NW Coordinator, Doggone Safe

David Adams photo

David Adams

July 07, 2020

Dog Enrichment

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