Keep your pet active without straining yourself!

Most pets enjoy being active. If we don’t keep up their exercise routines, they may become overweight and they may also keep themselves amused by digging up our gardens, pulling washing off the line or pouncing on us!

Those of us who are less active may be pleased to know there are ways to exercise and amuse your pets, many of which you can carry out from the comfort of your armchair…

1.     Hallway fetch

Clean a corridor or passageway of all furniture and knick knacks and use this to toss your dog’s ball or cat’s favourite toy. Your pet can fetch their toy, getting their necessary daily exercise.  An alternative to this game is the wall bounce. Outdoors, bounce a ball up against a wall. This will cause it to bounce in all directions, encouraging your pet to chase it.

2.     Search & find

Keep your dog (or cat, if they enjoy this) enclosed in an area of your home while you hide food or toys around your home or garden. Then with the command “Find”, send them off to find the hidden goodies.

3.     Helping paw

Teach your dog to give you a helping paw. Drop a sock and ask your dog to pick it up. It helps to put the sock in your dog’s mouth first, then give a treat when they release it into your hand. You can extend this training to fetching a newspaper or picking up your keys. Some cats also enjoy fetching lightweight items.

4.     Teaching tricks

Physical exercise is beneficial for our pets but mental exercise is just as important and equally likely to tire your pet. Teach your pet to shake hands with you by offering them a treat when they lift a paw. Move on to rewarding them for rolling over or fetching an item. Dogs are generally willing to learn at any time, with a little motivation from a treat or your praise. Cats may take a little more persuading but can also be trained.

5.     Food-releasing treat ball

Food-releasing toys should be in every dog’s life. Dogs eat quickly and within 30 seconds their meal is devoured! Putting food or treats in a treat ball can give your dog something to occupy their time. Some cats may also enjoy treat balls.

There are many other puzzle toys that dogs can also work from, to obtain food. These may be great occupiers when dogs are left alone, although some, with smaller pieces, require owner supervision.

6.     Rotate toys

Invest in a collection of good quality and interesting toys for your pet. Rotate these around on a daily or even hourly basis. Then your pet will retain interest in the toys. There are even some automated toys available that move unpredictably or release food every so often.

7.     Park visit

We know dogs love to sniff and a visit to the park gives them the opportunity to investigate their neighbourhood and perhaps socialise with other dogs. Find an off-leash park with adequate seating, for yourself, then let your dog run free. You should ensure that your dog will come back to you when called, so practice this at home.

8.     Play date

If your dog loves other dogs, then a play date can be great fun. Find a friend with a dog and ask them over. An hour’s play should exhaust your pet. Cats will not be so keen on other cats visiting!

9.     Wheelchair exercise

Cats love to chase moving objects. Attach a cat toy, on a string, to the back of your chair and let your cat follow you around, pouncing on the toy. If you are not wheelchair bound, you can attach the string to your waist band. This is very useful for encouraging cats to attack toys, not human flesh.

10.  Enlist other help

If your pet is extraordinarily active, you may benefit from the services of a dog walker or a doggy day care centre. Or have a pet sitter come to your home for an hour. Although these services do cost money, an hour or two of dedicated pet care each week means your pet is more likely to settle down and have cuddles with you.

Alternatively your family, friends and neighbours may like to help out occasionally. Many people love pets but cannot, for many reasons, own their own. Perhaps they would like to help you out? Or, if you are fit and able, perhaps you could volunteer to help someone less mobile.

Keeping our pets active and entertained equals an enjoyable, long and healthy life together. Enjoy your pet!

How do you keep your pet active? Do you take them for walks or play with them at home? Tell us in the comments below…