Walking your dog daily is great exercise for you and your pup. Sometimes, though, these daily trips can start to feel a bit mundane for you and your canine companion. The team at Union Lake Pet Services is here with some tips on spicing up your dog’s daily walks so it’s easy to continue making them a part of your everyday routine.
Try a New Location
Sometimes, all it takes to add something new to your walking routine is to find a new place to explore. Look for different walking paths in your area, or drive to a nearby park or lake to experience some new sights, sounds, and smells. Expanding your walking area is a quick and easy way to add something new to your walking routine, and it also helps you explore your town. As you and your dog get fitter, you can even start to do longer walks. If you think it will be a good idea for your dog, you can even check out a local dog park.
Invite a Friend
If your dog has a best friend, consider inviting him or her and their owner on your next walk. Walking with a friend is a great way to socialize your dog (and yourself). It also allows you to work on training your dog in a new environment with different distractions. This can help the dog learn the skill and be able to recreate it in any environment. This also gives you a friend to talk to as they walk beside you with their pet.
Play Some Games During Your Walk
Add more entertainment to your walks by playing games with your pup. Games keep your dog mentally and physically engaged, which adds a new level of enjoyment to your walking time. Here are a few ideas for games that work well during walks:
- Scent games
- Fetch
- Tug-of-war
- Hide and seek
Vary Your Pacing
Instead of taking a leisurely pace, walk a little faster for a while, then slow down, and then speed up again. You can work up to light jogging, increasing the physical benefits of your exercise efforts. Changing the pacing will also give you something to focus on, which can make the time more mentally stimulating for you as well.
Work on New Tricks
Bring your training session with you on your next walk to keep things interesting. Pack some treats so you can work with your dog on basic commands and new tricks. You can even take advantage of the time by working on some leash training with your dog. Bringing your training sessions outside can help your dog learn how to overcome distractions and focus on the task while spicing up your dog’s daily walks.
Union Lake Pet Services has a variety of pet services that can help you enhance your dog’s life with you. From doggy daycare to training and behavior modification, our expert staff provides a loving and safe environment for your dog to learn and grow. To learn more about our services and how they can help your dog, please call (248) 363-6262.