You’ve planned an awesome hike in the mountains that’s sure to tire your dog out! But what if it rains? Or you sprain your ankle? And you’re stuck in a hotel room.
Maybe you live in a small space, like a boat, RV, or New York City apartment. When your square footage is limited, getting creative will help your dog burn off energy.
So, can you exercise your dog indoors—even in a small space? You bet!
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We live on a boat that is ten feet wide at the broadest part. And we have a Golden Retriever. Since we’re not always hanging out on a cool beach, we’ve found ways to tire out a dog in a small space. Even if you’re not a sailor, you can make use of the same skills!
Our bluewater sailboat is narrow so you’re never far from a handhold. But it’s also too narrow for a golden retriever to turn around in the aisle.Whether your small space is an apartment, hotel room, adventure van, RV, or vacation rental, you’ll have enough space to tire out any dog.
Here’s what you need to know:
The key to a happy and tired dog is being a creative owner!
11 Ways To Tire Out A Dog In A Small Space
These are some of the best ways we’ve found to work your dog’s body and brain indoors:
Do you keep your dog’s same old toys hanging around all the time? Stop it! Your dog will show much more interest in playing with toys that are new to her.
You don’t need to spend money on new toys all the time.
Just hide the ones she hasn’t paid attention to for a while and then surprise her with them a few weeks later.
If she’s an enthusiastic toy lover (like our Honey), she’ll do a good job of tiring herself out just by jumping around with her long, lost toy.
Pro tip: Add “Hide dog toys” to your trip planning to-do list a week or so before leaving on vacation. Then pack the toys your dog has been missing for your trip.
READ MORE ⇒ How To Take A Cross Country Trip With PetsHoney’s favorite bear has been hidden away for two weeks. As soon as we put it in reach, she sought out her old friend.Our boat is too small for this game. But it’s a favorite when we get to shore.
Wait until your dog is distracted by a treat, person, or ball. Then slip into a closet or duck behind a piece of large furniture. If your dog doesn’t come looking for you right away, call her name. Make a big fuss and give her a treat when she finds you.
This game also comes in handy if you have trouble getting your dog to come back at the dog park!
There are tons of ways to tire your dog out with an obstacle course. You can place tape across a doorway to create jumps for your dog to go over or limbo bars for him to go under.
Pro Tip: Pack a roll of blue painter’s tape in your dog’s travel gear to use in hotels and vacation properties.
You can also rearrange the furniture for them to wind around. Have them jump up on and off the couch and other furniture if it’s allowed. Remember to be respectful – not all lodgings want pets on the furniture.
All of our furniture on the boat is pet friendly. So we use Honey’s favorite stuffed toys to encourage her to jump on and off the settees and climb the first few steps of our ladder.
We can’t move furniture around on the boat. But there are plenty of obstacles for Honey to jump on and off.
To play the shell game you’ll need a few extra-smelly treats and two cups. Show your dog the treat and let her watch you put it under one of the two cups.
Switch the cups once or twice and ask your pup to find the treat. Most dogs will knock over the cup hiding the treat.
As your dog learns the game, make it more difficult. You can add a third cup, use a milder smelling treat, or spend more time moving the cups around.
C’mon, Honey, make your choice. Which cup is hiding the treats?
Dogs with a strong prey drive love chasing bubbles. Just whip out your wand and let your dog pop bubbles until she’s tired!
Make sure you use a bubble mixture that won’t hurt your dog’s eyes. You can get bacon-scented or peanut butter-scented bubbles (yes, really!). Or make your own – which is less interesting, but safe – using glycerin and water.
Pro Tip: If you need your pup to be entertained while you’re on a conference call, the automatic bubble blower is a good investment!
Feed Your Dog Using A Food ToyIf your dog has to work to get her food, the effort will tire her out and keep her from gobbling down her meal at the same time.
We’ve been feeding Honey out of food toys since she was 8-weeks old. Her first was a plastic bottle balanced on its opening. We’d put her kibble inside, balance the bottle on its neck, and encourage her to knock it over with her nose. While she was eating what fell out, we’d set the bottle up again.
From there she graduated to more advanced toys, including the Kong Wobbler which requires her to work the toy all over the room to get her full meal.
The result of feeding Honey from food toys? She takes a deep nap immediately after eating.
If you’re concerned about the noise your dog might make while playing with the KONG Wobbler, try a snuffle mat instead.
And, if your dog is particularly clever, get a food puzzle that makes them solve problems to release their food.
The mental energy required by food toys paired with the arousing scent of food stimulating the brain will tire your dog out faster than a long romp at the dog park!
Play FetchSome dogs love to fetch. But it’s not always convenient to take them outside. Don’t worry, fetch is also a great game inside. If you don’t live in a museum, that is.
We’ve played fetch on the stairs, using toys that make weird bounces like a Kong Wubba. Using the stairs for a game of fetch keeps the game contained while forcing your dog to run up and down — using more energy.
Honey loves playing tug, and the Kong Wubba works great for this, too! My husband also gets down on the ground and wrestles with Honey. They both enjoy a little roughhousing, as long as it’s under control.
If your dog gets overexcited with this kind of game, you might want to avoid it. But for some dogs, rolling around on the floor with their favorite person is loads of fun.
Nothing works your dog’s brain better than training. And teaching her to do tricks is fun for you both!
Shaping is a training method in which you reward your dog for getting closer to a behavior, one tiny step at a time.
For example, to train your dog to shut the door, say yes and give him a treat if he faces the door. Once he’s reliably facing the door to receive a reward, wait for him to move closer to the door before giving him a treat. Work your way through the steps until your dog is touching, and then pushing the door with his nose for a reward.
The best part is, you’ll never run out of things to teach your dog!
READ MORE ⇒ Training Your Dog To TravelOne of Honey’s favorite tricks is “high five.” And learning it really tired her out.We took a great class on playing nose work games at our local SPCA and Honey LOVED it. Now we use nose work games to tire her out when we’re stuck on board the boat in bad weather.
When she hears me say, “Find it,” Honey knows to start sniffing out the treats I’ve hidden around the boat. Using her nose tires her out better than anything else we do.
You have to train your dog to understand what you want him to do when you give the command, “Find it.
” But it’s worth the effort because nose work is a fun way to tire out your dog no matter where you are.
Honey loves soft, stuffed toys with a squeaker. But in a pinch, a crinkly water bottle inside a sweat sock tied in a knot is a fun substitute. (And it gives you a way to use unpaired socks that come out of the dryer!)
For some reason, most dogs go crazy for the sound of a crinkly water bottle. And the crunch, crunch, crunching is a great way to tire out your dog.
You can also make your own “chews” by mixing up a dehydrated dog food like the The Honest Kitchen, stuffing it in a West Paw Zygoflex Tux toy and freezing it overnight.
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Hopefully, you’ll find at least a few of these ideas work well to tire out your dog out the next time you’re stuck indoors.
Most of all, keep it fun! You might find that your dog is as happy to hang out inside with you as he is to roam the mountains or go swimming on a beach.
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Last updated on By Puppy Leaks 23 Comments
Does your dog have a lot of energy? Do you struggle trying to give your dog enough exercise each day? If so you’re not alone.
When my dog was younger I struggled to keep up with her. Our daily walk didn’t even come close to tiring her out; if anything it seemed to hype her up even more. She made it quite clear to me that a 2 hour walk just wasn’t going to cut it. She needed a lot more exercise.
So I started experimenting with different exercises, trying to figure out which ones came close to tiring her out, and luckily I found a few. And the best part? These activities will give your dog a lot of physical exercise in a short amount of time, so perfect for a few quick exercise breaks throughout the day.
Here’s 5 quick ways to tire out your dog.
If you want to really tire out your dog quickly a flirt pole is the way to go. A flirt pole (also called a flirt stick) is a long pole with a lure attached by rope to the end. As you move the pole around the lure moves, enticing your dog to chase. Flirt poles provide great physical exercise, and they’re quite mentally stimulating. (here’s a great video of one being used)
Flirt poles utilize your dogs instinct to chase in a non destructive manner. And for those of us who have a hard time keeping up with our dogs it’s great because it’s an activity where your dog does all the work. Your dog will be running around like crazy while you stand there moving the lure around for them.
A couple minutes of this are extremely tiring for your dog. When first starting out keep the sessions short to avoid injury since this is a high impact activity. You can make your own flirt pole with some pvc pipe, some bungee cord and a dog toy.
There also available at many pet stores, and there’s plenty available on amazon.
Frisbee is like fetch on steroids, or really what fetch could be like if I could throw worth a darn. I can toss a frisbee way further than a ball, and that added running distance for dogs is great physical exercise. It doesn’t get much easier that standing there tossing a frisbee while your dog does all the hard work.
If your dog doesn’t know how to catch a frisbee I’d start out by using one that’s a soft disc. Traditional frisbees are pretty hard, so if your dog accidentally gets hit in the face with one it may discourage them from trying to catch it. Get your dog excited about the frisbee by tossing it short distances or rolling it on the ground and encouraging them anytime they show interest in it.
Tug is my favorite game to play with my dog Laika. It’s fun, it’s great physical exercise, and it’s a good way for dogs to practice good manners. When playing tug just remember to follow one rule: the game stops if your dog’s teeth touch your skin.
Puppies who haven’t learned bite inhibition will struggle with this rule. If you want to save your hands from those sharp teeth remember to teach your puppy not to bite before attempting tug.
A game of tug can be physically demanding for your dog, and if your dog is big it’s great exercise for you as well. Since most tug toys are made out of rope or other materials that can be easily destroyed by dogs don’t forget to put it away after your game. (I’ve made this mistake a few times, hence why we’ve had so many different tug toys over the years)
One of the easiest ways to tire out your dog is to teach them to chase bubbles. It still surprises me how much Laika enjoys it, and if I had to guess I’d say it’s probably Laika’s all time favorite game (if she could talk I could confirm this). As soon as I start walking over to the kitchen sink where those bubbles are she starts to get excited.
If your dog doesn’t know how to chase bubbles start by blowing a couple at a time.
Point to the bubbles and encourage your dog to chase them around. Catch some yourself to show you dog that there’s nothing to worry about, and that the whole point of the game is to get them before they touch the ground.
We use bubbles made for kids, but there’s plenty of bubbles made for dogs on amazon (bacon scented is the most popular choice). They’re non toxic, but they can upset your dogs stomach if they ingest too much. And because bubbles can be irritating to your dogs eyes remember to wipe off their face afterwards.
If your dog doesn’t mind the water using the hose (or sprinklers) can be a great way to give them exercise. I found this out by accident the first time I tried to bathe Laika outdoors after she rolled in something gross. Rather than standing still for her bath she went crazy trying to chase the stream of water.
Some dogs love chasing (or in Laika’s case biting) water that’s coming out of a hose or sprinkler. She’d run back and forth chasing the hose hours if I let her, and it’s one of those activities where your dog (or water bill) is doing all the work.
A good balance of mental & physical activity can keep dogs busy & entertained. A lot of your dog’s physical demands and need for mental stimulation will depend on his breed and age. Laika (being a German Shepherd mix) needs plenty of both mental & physical activity, so I added in a new play and exercise sessions each day until I found the routine that worked for her. You’ll know you’ve found the right balance when your hyper dog starts to relax throughout the day.
If you’re giving your dog plenty of physical exercise and they’re still hyped up try adding in some mentally stimulating activities. Playing some fun games with your dog and using food puzzles are two of my favorites. Stuffing a Kong with frozen peanut butter might seem too simple, but it’s an easy way to keep dogs entertained for 30+ minutes.
Looking for some more ways to tire our your dog? Here’s some more articles with plenty of suggestions for tiring out your dog;
Is a walk good enough for your dog? Does your dog get a mix of mental & physical exercise? What are your favorite ways to exercise your dog?
Please share with your friends 🙂
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Dogs, being bored, always do mischief. We are the main dzherel of rozvag, to that, so as not to give your vikhovants anyhow, the stink to start an independent search for ideas - and even then we will be mortified, or torn fіranki.
Playing with your creature sprat once a day, you can change the way someone has destructive sounds, such as an overworld bark or chewing.
Axis is a list of 9 ways to get your dog into a home.
1. Thimblegrass
Thimblegrass is a simple solution for trapping a dog. To join the group with your Vikhovanian, you will need 3 cups and one smakolik, which you will use with these cups. Show a bunch of weasels, and then we’ll see how you eat under cups. Sweat you will mix the cups and you will want your vihovantsa "knowing contentment." Grab your lover with a lot of rosy stimulation and help you to practice over your skills to solve problems.
Іz tsієyu thunder even better cope with cats.
2. Grab in tow.
Tug of war is one of the best ways to take part in understanding the game with our dogs. Tse vіdmіnniy sposіb rozumovo and physically zadіyati your domestic creature. Shards do not mean great space;
Contrary to what other people say, you can’t make your dog aggressive with a tug, but you can’t make your dog dominating. Allowing you to remake your cheating, you just make a bigger group of hoots for the new one, and you will be able to make your chotir-like friend grow bigger. Dogs, like playing at the tugboat with their hairmen, turned out to be more hearing.
Tugboat - a miraculous way to also win your love, dorimuyuchisya basic rules of the game, for example - "the game is attached, as if the teeth of a dog are sticking out of my hands."
3. Train your dog to help with work.
Dogs are like mother robots, it's easy to find out how to bring your captions.
You can make them feel more embroidered, by naming your lovers by naming certain objects, as if you don’t mind helping them.
If you want to deal with all your friends, learn how to bring you something from the refrigerator. To teach your dog how to open the refrigerator, wind the towel around the handle, so that it is easy for you to open the door.
4. Mush the dog to “get it” zhu.
We give our domestic creatures a life of comfort - stench without cost otrimuyut warm bed, great respect and eating. But our dogs were popular, so that they could keep order with us, many of them miss out on respect for deacons rozumovo stimulating diy.
One of the simplest ways to send a call to your mind is to make them eat for eating. You can make your dog vikonate and do some tricks, first of all take away your insults, or you can make your lover happy with toys for handing out hedgehogs.
5. Teach your dog "shukati" your toys
Just like your dog knows the names of his own toys, learn his "go and find" yoga.
Promote your favorite toys in a pack or in a container and tell you that you know your love. Your oskelki become right at your cіy grі, you can work more її more collapsible, more number of toys, like you need to go over.
Tsya gra to give your dog a mindfulness training.
6. Work out with the dog at the same time with the clicker.
Since you don't have a clicker, you can get yoga on our website. If you teach your dog chomus, the skin second is important. It's so easy to miss the opportunity to talk to our chotiripami vikhovantsy at that moment, if you behave like you know. If you hit the clicker, you can tell the exact moment if your dog has learned the right choice or hit the right command.
7. Greet with a dog with a dog
Grace with a dog of the breed Laika, and other breeds of dogs can be honored. As your dog doesn’t have enough room for repair, you can ask someone to help you to get your dog out if you go to get help.
8. Gras for all motherland.
It is good for a group to work with a partner or for a great company. We sit for you, or we stand in one side of the room with a toy, or weasels. Huck the dog along the devil and drink wine if you come. Reconsider that your lover will take a lot of positive reinforcement every now and then, if you get drunk. This is a simple way to help you understand the pokirnist nature of the creature.
9. Wick the Kong, to take your dog for a trival hour.
Kong - my favorite toy for dogs, which is boring. If you want your creature to be occupied for one hour, try stuffing Kong. You can freeze the peanut butter triplets or the broth in the middle, or just put some sweets in there and give your vihovantsi.
Stuffed Kongu's Vikoristan - a wonderful way to keep your dog busy, while you're on the robot, or you can borrow it. Put your Kong stuffing in the freezer for a night and give it a spin if you're going.
Frozen Kong continue to be satisfied for 30 more hvilin more for more dogs, and then you remember to burn it down, or even more richly.
I need to beat the classic Kong, because the stench is non-toxic and safe, you can put it in the dishwasher.
OO training
Most of us like to spend time lying on the couch and looking at the TV or laptop, but, unfortunately, dogs do not enjoy this pastime. Pets prefer joint activities - walks, games and teaching teams. If it doesn’t immediately occur to you what to do with a dog, then we suggest reading our selection, learning how to play with a dog at home or on a walk, and have a great time with your pet tomorrow.
Doors that open inward are a challenge. Let the dog find a way to open the door on its own. 
At the same time, be sure to monitor the safety of the dog. 
