Dogs love to exercise and spend time with their owners. So here are some activities that will not only help your dog stay fit but will also be enjoyable for you and your dog.
Backpacking: dogs like people are adventurous and love to go on trips, so going backpacking with your dog is a good idea. Condition your dog properly before the trip so that it is well adjusted to the strenuous exercise involved and check with your local authorities to see if dogs are permitted to go to that area. You must also carry a first aid kit and enough water for both yourself and your dog.
Dog parks: these places allow your dogs to roam freely and they also have different sections for toy breeds and big dogs so that the big dogs don’t injure the small dogs accidentally while they are playing. These places are also securely fenced and the dog owners are supposed to clean after their dogs. These parks allow dogs to socialize with each other and make friends and the same goes for the dog owners.
Freestyle musical dance: if you think that dancing is just for humans think again. This is a type of sport where the dogs perform in synchronization with their owners. This sport is just as difficult as it looks and the dogs and their owners put in a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve perfection.
Dog trips: dogs love to travel by cars, so the next time you are going grocery shopping or to visit a friend take your dog along with you. Your dog will love to choose his/her own treat and you will have a lot of fun shopping with your pet, but before you decide to go to a particular store make sure pets are allowed in that store.
Frisbee: dogs which love the Frisbee are called disc dogs. It is great form of exercise and it helps your dog stay active. Frisbee is also a competitive sport in many areas so before you enroll your dog for a competition and start rigorous practice make sure you consult a vet to see if your dog is physically fit for the Frisbee competition because this game requires the dog to jump around a lot.
Flyball: this game is a sort of relay race for dogs. The dogs are required to catch a ball after crossing over four hurdles and then come back crossing those hurdles again. Each team consists of 4 dogs. This is a great way to help your dog stay fit by burning some extra energy.
Obedience: obedience is very important in order to train your dog. This helps you to spend more time with your dog too. Some owners like to enroll their dogs in obedience trials others just want their dogs to know the basic commands like ‘sit’ ‘stand’ ‘roll over’ etc.
Tracking: a great way to have fun with your dog is to hide a sock or a cap with your dog’s favourite treat in it and then to tell him to track it. This will not only improve your dog’s tracking skills but it will also help you spend some quality time with your dog.
Vacations: this is not a dream anymore. People can actually go on vacations with their dogs. These days a lot of restaurant chains, hotels, beaches and condos have opened up which allow dogs. There are also various camps which not only let your dog stay with you but also provide the owner and dog with fun filled activities which help the dog and the owner interact with each other and have an awesome holiday.
Grooming: dog owners spend a lot of money taking their dogs to professional groomers, but the owners can also learn to groom their dogs themselves. There are many books which provide step by step instructions on how is it that you can groom your dog. It helps you to spend time with your dog and is a great bonding experience.
Doga: this means doing yoga with your dog, it involves the normal yoga postures with some modifications like dog massages which help you bond with your four legged friend.
Build a strong bond with your dog
The word bond is often taken lightly by people who own dogs. To them the love and affection their dog shows them is equal to a bond but this is far from reality. Love is when our dog welcomes us home at the end of the day but a bond stops your dog from chasing a rabbit when you tell him not to. The bond between you and your dog is tested when he/she listens to your commands. So try and develop a bond with your dog. Nurture it and make the bond stronger by spending quality time with your dog and by training it well.
There are several ways by which you can bond with your dog for example instead of petting him absentmindedly while watching a movie talk to him about your day . Your dog needs to know that he has your full attention. You could also give your dog a massage by scratching him behind the ears and under his chin. All these things make your dog feel loved and appreciated.