7 Ways to Exercise Your Dog Indoors

If you don’t own a dog, boy… you have no idea what are you missing out on. I urge you to go and adopt one right now because these animals will enrichen your life substantially. There are so many benefits they bring, like keeping you in shape, always being good company, being great with your kids, offering unconditional love and much more.

I’ve been a dog owner since forever, and I can go on and on about the reasons you should get a dog, but remember, these animals depend on us and they come with certain responsibilities. Their well-being is in our hands, and proper conditioning is as important as a healthy diet.

Dogs need their exercise, and they need it all year round. Yes, that means even if it’s the coldest snowy winter and a wicked ice storm is raging outside it’s your responsibility to find an outlet for all that energy. Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting you freeze to death just to give your dog a 5-minute walk, there are actually much better solutions out there.

Here are 7 ways to exercise your dog in the comfort of your home.

Up And Down The Stairs

Do you live in an apartment building?

Stairs can be a great, quick exercise drill just make sure not to startle your neighbors. If you live in a 2-story house, you can enjoy this exercise in the privacy of your home. Grab you k9’s favorite fetch toy and just throw it up or down the stairs.

After a few turns, your pooch will be exhausted and ready for nap time. You will want to avoid this type of exercise if the stairs are too steep or if your pet suffers from Dog Arthritis. Older dogs tend to develop joint pain and lack stamina, so it’s better to stick to some of the other exercises on this list.

Peek-A-Boo, I see you!

One of mine favorite games growing up was hide and seek. I still enjoy a modified version of it with my furry family member. Instead of hiding myself, I secretly stash my dog’s favorite treats all over the house and let him snuff them out.

Dogs are natural born trackers, some breeds especially excel in it like Bloodhounds, Shepherds, and Pointers, but all canines have a far superior sense of smell compared to humans.

This is thanks to their highly sensitive olfactory system and due to their inherited traits from their cousins that live in the wild. This game is a great way to stimulate your canine pal both physically and mentally. Also it keeps that detective nose sharp!

Since we’re talking about fitness, you will want to use healthy treats that are made from quality natural ingredients in order to avoid unnecessary weight gain.

Basic obedience training and working for their food

A rainy and gloomy day is an ideal time to freshen up on some basic obedience training. Dogs are smart animals that love working for their food even if it’s a simple trick like “stay” or “sit.”

If you’re past this point, you can go ahead and explore some more complex tricks. This type of training is a great way to keep your k9’s body and mind active at the same time.

Your Own Agility Course

Pick a spacious room in your house and grab a few obstacles like chairs, tables, boxes to create your agility course. Incorporate some toys and treats and, as a handler, be ready for a workout of your own.

An obstacle course is a great way to keep your dog’s natural instincts stimulated, and helps with their navigational skills. Make sure to keep that antique vase and other valuables at a safe distance.

Tug Of War

This is a very simple exercise that, again harnesses your canines natural instincts. However, there is a risk factor involved so I would recommend Tug of War only to pet owner’s that have a very strong and trustworthy relationship with their pets.

It’s a great way to have some fun with your feisty furball and exercise his jaw muscles within the confines of your living room, but always make sure you’re the one who is in control. To play this game, all you need is a thick rope or a long, sturdy toy.

Get A Dog Treadmill

In the past decade, doggy treadmills and treadwheels have come a long way since they first appeared on the market. They are still a significant investment but are definitely one of the best ways to exercise your dog indoors. If your pet is overweight, a treadmill is an ideal solution to improve your dog’s overall conditioning.

A thing to note is that you don’t want to leave your k9 running until his heart stops while you’re glued to a giant TV screen in the living room. Supervision is a must, especially until your pet gets accustomed to the machine.

Have some of his or her favorite treats close by and hand them out occasionally. If your set on purchasing this item make sure to do some research on quality indoor dog treadmills before making your investment.

The More The Merrier

You know what’s better than having a dog by your side? – Having two!

According to a recent study, petting your dog can have a relaxing effect and lower your blood pressure, so by getting two of them, you’ll surely live twice as long! Jokes aside, adding another furry member to the family, being it a dog or a cat can be beneficial both to your household and to your pets.

It might even eliminate the boredom factor even when you’re at work or just not at home. Hopefully, they won’t tear down the entire house before you get back.

If having more than one pet is out of the question, you could compensate by inviting your neighbor over with his pooch tagging along. This way you will ensure your pup is a well-rounded and socialized pet. Let them loose in the living room, and they’ll tucker out in no time.

Remember, your four-legged friend’s health and well-being are in your hands, and there’s no excuse to skip some daily exercise.

If you don’t do it for them, they will probably find a way to exert all that pilled up energy by destroying your favorite sneakers or making a mess out of the sofa. Luckily, now you know how little effort it requires to keeping your pet in shape even if the weather conditions outside are not ideal.