Are you ready to get moving? If so, your dog would undoubtedly love to join you. Most dogs are down to exercise at any given moment, after all, especially if you’re going to go well beyond your regular walks. Wondering just how to get in a good workout with your furry friend by your side? Try these five activities to work up a sweat while enjoying quality time with your pup.
Go Hiking
If your dog loves walks, they will go wild for hiking adventures. You’ll also get in a great workout due to the terrain’s uneven surfaces and elevation changes.
As a beginner, it’s best to research the hiking trails in your area to find ones rated easy to start. Begin with a single-mile loop and then gradually ramp things up to get an even better workout each time.
Allow for plenty of extra time to walk the trails, so your dog can take in the sights and sounds of wildlife all around. Just remember to always keep them on a leash to preserve the natural landscape and keep your dog from getting lost.
Try Bikejoring
With bikejoring, you and your dog can team up and go on a ride of a lifetime. This sport mimics dog sled racing by allowing your dog to pull you on a bike. You’ll need to bring in the assist from time to time, though, especially while riding through hilly areas.
To get started, you’ll need to equip yourself, your dog, and your bike with the right bikejoring gear, such as:
- Helmet
- Bike antenna
- Bungee leash
- Y-shaped harness
- Dog booties
Once you’re all geared up, it’s time to find a great place to exercise with your dog. Ideally, you’ll want to start in a large open field instead of on the road. You could also ride down biking trails if they’re not too busy or have rugged terrain.
Do Yoga
When Suzi Teitelman first introduced the concept of dog yoga in 2001, the exercise community was skeptical. But since then, it’s definitely taken the world by storm, and for good reason. Dogs love to participate in yoga sessions and they find the movements just as calming as their owners do.
To enjoy yoga with your dog, take turns doing fun poses like:
- Savasana
- Heart to Hound Mudra
- Quiet Lotus Pose
- Child’s Pose
- Tree
Don’t forget the downward dog pose, of course, which is essentially a play bow for your dog. Over time, your dog will learn the poses, allowing you to perform each one side by side.
Enjoy Agility Training
Agility training takes your dog on a whirlwind trip through the obstacles while you run alongside to give them direction. If you have a dog park with agility equipment nearby, you can just go there, although it might be best to set up your own course if you have the room.
Popular dog agility gear includes:
- Jumps
- Tunnels
- Weave poles
- A-frame ramps
- Hoops
Don’t forget the training treats to reward your dog for a job well done. You’ll want to work through the course slowly at first. Once your dog masters all the obstacles, speed up as much as you can each session.
Play Treibball
Treibball is a fun game that takes fetch to the next level by encouraging your dog to use their noggin. To play this game, your dog will push an oversized ball with their nose, moving it across the field and into the goal.
Although it’s well-known in the herding dog community, any breed can participate if they’re winning to learn. You’ll teach your dog this game by getting an oversized ball and rewarding them with treats every time they bump it with their nose.
Keep moving backward to get them to bring you the ball, and jackpot them with treats when they do. You don’t want to run out of training treats as you teach your dog this fun game, so get a bundle pack to say flush with goodies while you exercise with your dog. Before you know it, you and your dog will be running toward the goal together.
Keep Things Moving for Better Health
When you and your dog get out the door for exercise on the daily, the health benefits will come your way. You’ll both feel a lot better and more relaxed, too, creating a rather chill ambiance upon returning home. If that sounds like just what you need, you know what to do! Go hiking, bikejouring, agility training, treibballing, or do yoga to get moving with your furry friend by your side.
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