How to Exercise Your Dog Inside

Just because it’s cold out, it doesn’t mean that your dog should stop exercising.

Although exercise requirements will vary by size, breed and your dog’s health, most dogs require a minimum of thirty minutes of exercise every single day, and that fact doesn’t change when the weather gets cold. Winter is not an excuse to stop exercising your dog, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have to brave the cold. There are actually many ways to help your dog get their exercise indoors, and the following is a list from our veterinary clinic in Levittown of just a couple of those ways:

#1. Run up and down the stairs with your dog. 

It takes different muscles for your dog to get up and down the stairs than the muscles they use for regular running or walking, which makes running up and down the stairs with your dog a great way to physically challenge them. You can either do this by putting their leash on and running up and down with them, or you could stand at the top of the stairs and throw their favorite toy down for them to retrieve.

#2. Invest in a laser pointer.

Cats aren’t the only animals that love to chase lasers. In fact, laser pointers are a great tool when you want to tire your dog out inside. Let your dog get their energy out while they chase the laser all over your home. Just be careful not to shine it in their eyes, as this could damage their retinas.

Would you like to learn about more fun ways to exercise your dog inside? If so, please stay tuned for our next blog.

Dogs need to exercise every single day, no matter how cold it is outside. 

When the temperature drops, the last thing you probably want to do is brave the cold to take your dog on a walk, and luckily, you don’t have to. With a little creativity, your dog can still get the exercise that they need inside. If you haven’t already, read our North Merrick veterinarian’s latest blog to learn about a couple of ingenious ways to get your dog moving inside. Keep reading to learn more creative ways to exercise your dog inside:

#3. Play hide-n-seek with your dog.

Hide-n-seek isn’t just a great game for kids, your dog will love it too! Tell your dog to stay, then run and hide. Once you are hidden, call to your dog until they find you, then give them a small treat. Not only does this game help your dog to move around a bit, it is also a fun challenge for their brain.

#4. Encourage your dog to walk on the treadmill. 

If you have a treadmill at home, you already have a wonderful tool for exercising your dog indoors. Your dog is likely to be nervous around the treadmill at first, so be sure to introduce it to them very slowly and with lots of treats. Once your dog is confident enough to actually get on the treadmill, keep the speed low until they have a chance to adjust to it.

#5. Build your own obstacle course. 

You don’t need access to a fancy obstacle course to teach your dog agility. There are many things around your house that will work perfectly for building your own makeshift obstacle course in your home.