7 Effective and Fun Exercises for Highly Active Dogs

Keeping highly active dogs engaged and fulfilled is essential for their overall wellbeing. Dogs need regular exercise to maintain their physical health and mental stimulation. Keeping your dog active can also help with behavioural issues. If you do have a highly active dog, such as a border collie, it’s important to provide them with activities that cater to their energetic nature. Here are 7 effective and fun exercises to keep your extra active companion happy and healthy. 

Agility training for your dog  

Agility training is a fantastic form of exercise for dogs and also mentally stimulating for them as an activity. Set up an agility course in your backyard or visit a local agility class or park where there are free ones already set up. These courses typically include obstacles such as jumps, tunnels, weave poles, and even seesaws. Not only does agility training improve your pet's physical fitness, but it also strengthens your bond as you work together and navigate the course. 

Playing fetch with your dog  

A classic game of fetch can be a favourite for our highly active dog breeds. Find an open space such as a dog park or the beach and throw a ball or frisbee for your dog to retrieve. Fetch engages your dog’s natural instincts to chase and retrieve objects, providing them with a great workout while also allowing them to burn off excess energy. Playing fetch also provides the opportunity to teach them to bring the object back to you and ‘drop it.’ Teaching new cues is highly rewarding for dogs and learning something new is great mental stimulation. 

Take your dog swimming 

Swimming is an excellent low impact exercise option for highly active breeds, especially during the hotter summer months. Whether it’s in a pool, lake, or the ocean, many dogs love to swim. Swimming provides a full body workout but is gentle on the joints making it ideal for pets with arthritis or other mobility issues. Just make sure to supervise your pet and provide them with a life jacket if needed. 

Interactive Toys and Games for your dog 

Interactive toys and games are perfect for keeping highly active pets mentally stimulated and entertained. Puzzle toys that dispense treats when solved are a great way to challenge your pet’s problem solving skills while providing them with a tasty reward for all their hard work. You can also try hide and seek games where you hide treats or toys around the house for your pet to find. This is great if you can’t go outside because the weather isn’t suitable. These activities tap into your dog’s natural instincts to hunt and provide lots of fun and mental stimulation. 

Walking trails with your dog 

If you enjoy spending time outdoors then take your highly active dog on a long walk or hike. Hiking allows you and your dog to explore new trails, experience different scents and sights, and get a good workout together. Be sure to choose trails that are pet friendly and consider your fitness level before embarking on a trail. It’s also important to bring plenty of water, snacks, and poop bags, and always keep your dog on a leash for their safety and the safety of others. If you are looking for pet friendly camping options, we have a blog post about the Top 10 Dog-Friendly Camping Spots In Australia.  

Obstacle courses for your highly active dog 

You can create your own obstacle course in your backyard using household items such as cones, hula hoops, and tunnels. Design a course that includes a variety of challenges such as jumping over hurdles, weaving through cones, and crawling through tunnels. Encourage your pet to navigate the course using verbal cues and rewards. Not only does this activity provide physical exercise, but it also helps improve your dog’s coordination and agility. 

Highly active dogs thrive on regular daily exercise and mental stimulation, especially our working breed dogs. By incorporating these seven effective and fun exercises into your dog’s routine, you can help keep them happy and fulfilled and reduce boredom behaviours. Whether it’s agility training, fetch, swimming, interactive toys, hiking, or obstacle courses there are plenty of ways to keep your energetic companion engaged and entertained.  

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