Want to know how to keep a dog active during the day? Dogs are active creatures who need plenty of exercise and stimulation to stay happy and healthy.
If your dog is stuck inside all day, he may become bored, destructive, and depressed.
Most modern pet parents have busy work and family lives, leaving their dogs alone for large parts of the day.
Fortunately, there are ways to keep your dog active during the day, even if you can’t be there!
How To Keep a Dog Active During the Day When You’re Not Home
Provide plenty of indestructible chew toys and toys filled with treats that will keep his attention for a long time.
Consider using puzzle toys and slow feeders to spread eating out over a longer time.
Give your dog chew treats that take all day to finish. If you find one your dog really likes it will keep him occupied for hours at a time.
Give him regular opportunities to run and play outside. If you can’t take him for a walk or run yourself, consider hiring a dog walker or taking him to doggy daycare.
Install a dog door so your dog can go outside for fresh air and exercise at will. Have special chew toys and indestructible dog toys outside.
You can get an automatic dog feeder with a camera and speaker that lets you check on your dog and even say hello during the day!
How To Keep a Dog Active During the Day When You’re Home
If you’re home during the day with a bored dog, get out and take a walk, visit the dog park, play outdoors or indoors with a flirt pole, or investigate some puzzle toys together.
Make sure he has plenty of toys to play with, including chew toys, and interactive puzzle toys that will keep his mind challenged.
These are fun things you can do together that will build your relationship.
Set up an obstacle course in your backyard or living room, and see how fast your dog can go through it.
Take him on car rides to new places, where he can explore and smell new smells.
Ways To Keep Dogs Active Indoors
If your dog is stuck indoors for parts of the day, there are still plenty of ways to keep her active whether you’re home or not.
Here are a few ideas.
- Install a pet door, so she can come and go as she pleases.
- Create a designated play area in your home with her toys, where she can run and jump to her heart’s content.
- Get her a food puzzle toy that will challenge her to figure out how to get the treats inside.
- Play tug-of-war or fetch with her using one of her toys.
- Hide small treats around the house for her to find.
- Invest in an indoor pet treadmill (yes, they really do exist!) for those days when the weather outside is just too nasty to go for a walk.
There you have it – plenty of ways to keep your dog active and entertained even when you can’t be there with him.
With a little bit of creativity and some effort, both you and your pup can stay happy and healthy.
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to get bored during the day, for humans and dogs.
Some of the best ways to keep a dog active are ones that help you have fun and get exercise too while bonding with your furry best friend.
We love to play puzzle games, tug-of-war, take walks, and play hide-and-seek with treats indoors or out to keep our dogs active and spend time with them so they’re less anxious when we leave.
