Dog Exercise

The range of dog exercise options available these days is large and growing. We include these among our homemade dog remedies because you have a lot of control over this area of your dog's life and exercise is so necessary for good dog health. A positive side effect is that you get to bond more closely with your dog.

Tried and true methods such as taking your dog for a walk on the leash or playing fetch need not be forgotten. However, if you believe as we do that variety is the spice of life and should have good doses of fun, then read on!

Whatever you choose to do, remember SAFETY FIRST. If you or your dog get injured, there goes your fun, sometimes for quite a while...

Below is a list of dog exercise options we've discovered. Most activities require equipment of some kind (see Dog Exercise Equipment) Agility
Good obedience is needed for your dog to negotiate an obstacle course. Agility courses usually include bar and tire jumps with wings, weave poles, a teeter totter, a tunnel and a pause table.

Bicycle Exercise
Hook your dog to your bicycle in a safe manner and have them trot alongside you for a good workout.

Bikejoring
One or more dogs are hooked to the front of your bicycle and pull you along on command. Bruce offers good safety tips for both bikejoring and skijoring.

Canicross
Have your dog give you a boost while you're running cross country. Your dog is in front, pulling you via a line to your waist.

Dock Dog
Dock Diving basics
If your dog loves water and playing fetch, this may be the sport for you both. Also known as "Big Air," this sport started accidentally in 2000.

Dog Carting
Dog carting has a long and fascinating history. Jo often talked about making a cart so F.B. or Comet could haul our groceries home... Dogs pull people (you need a very well balanced cart and well trained dogs for this) as well as haul goods. Smaller breeds pull toy wagons in parades or at costume parties.

Dog Scootering
How about letting a dog or two pull you along on a scooter in areas with little traffic like trails and parks? Safer than a bicycle or skis and just as much fun!

Dog Powered Scooter
For urban environments where you may have to exercise your dog along busy streets, Mark Schuette offers a solution. He has developed an attachment to a sturdy scooter where a dog or dogs provide the power and you control the steering. Very little training is needed compared to regular dog scootering or dog sledding.

Flyball
Dogs compete against each other in relay teams of four. Each dog has to jump over four hurdles, retrieve a tennis ball from a spring loaded box, then jump back before the next dog starts. There are tournaments and a North American Flyball Association as well as a British Flyball Association.

Hiking
We have hiked with our dogs wherever they were welcome. Even some smaller dogs like Mitsu, the Dachshund Jo grew up with, can hike a suprisingly long way. Just remember to keep your dog's comfort in mind and have them carry their own supplies if you can.

Mountain Climbing
There's a lot of controversy about mountain climbing with dogs. We would advocate common sense. Our dogs have climbed to the top of many mountains with us, but these were climbs that did not require ropes or equipment of any kind. We also always check the weather before we set out since we don't like dealing with rain, snow or ice.

Comet has become quite an expert at scrambling up and down slopes and ledges and enjoys going ahead of us and then laughing at us slowpokes. Occasionally, we will have to boost him up or help him down if the distance is too great. He usually tries to find a way by himself, which is great for his independent thinking skills. He has also learned to deal with sharp rocks after cutting his paw the first time we ever took him on a hike.

Rollerjoring If you're an expert rollerblader or rollerskater looking for an extra thrill, this may be a fun way to exercise your dog. Again, you're going to hook yourself to a dog that runs in front and pulls you along.

Rollerskiing
This is how skijoring enthusiasts stay in shape when there's no snow.

Skijoring
Fly along on cross country skis with one or more dogs pulling you. This has become a competitive sport!

Using a Whipwhir (TM)
Whipwhir (TM) Safety
Comet's favorite toy and our preferred way to exercise him when we don't want to go outside or have limited time or he's bored. Just be careful how you use it with your dog.