Activity ideas for your four-legged friend

Now that winter is over and the weather is nice, we no longer have any excuses not to go out and play every day, even if just for half an hour.
Some activities that our four-legged friend will surely appreciate.

1) Walks whether they are in the neighborhood, at the park, on the street or wherever we have the opportunity, they are beneficial for both us and our dog. Slow walking allows the dog to smell places of interest.

If the walk is done in summer, make sure the temperature is not too high. At high temperatures the asphalt becomes very hot and can injure the puppy’s pads. In case of high temperatures, choose to do the walk very early in the morning or in the evening after sunset. For the cold season, if the temperatures are very low, shorten the walking time or equip the dog with a coat to protect him. In winter you must be careful to wash your puppy’s cushions every time you return home, because salt or other non-slip materials can hurt the dog

2) If we stay in the city, we can frequent the parks or enclosures specially set up for dogs. This way we can make new friends by helping the dog learn to socialize with other dogs.
It is advisable to speak to the owners of the other dogs first and to make sure before entering the enclosure that the dogs present are sociable. Do this to avoid altercations between them.

3) I swim. Most dogs love water. Swimming consumes their energy and is always a joy for furry friends. If you also have a toy that floats and can contain water, that’s even better.
Make sure balaceala locations are safe!

4) Running next to the bicycle. The cycling that some of us love can now become even more fun. Our dog can accompany us. This operation can be carried out simply with the dog free next to the bike or with the aid of a special device attached to the dog.

Leave the dog free only in places where this is permitted and above all if the dog is trained in such a way as not to risk losing it. Make sure you attach the connected device to the bicycle correctly and above all that the quadruped tolerates it and is taught how to ride it. Establish a walking pace that your dog can also sustain.

5) Play with ball or Frisbee. One of the favorite games of most dogs is fetching the ball. Go to a larger place where the leash is not mandatory. He will only need half an hour of sustained running after the ball until the next half of the match.
Make sure that the place where you play with the ball is not near busy roads and only let the dog loose if it is allowed in that place and if it knows the basic commands so as not to run the risk of it running away and losing it.

6) Jogging. Don’t hesitate to take your dog with you when you go jogging. With the leash attached to the collar you will have a very competitive running companion.
Choose a park for jogging instead of the streets. If you are jogging on the street, make sure to keep your dog on the right side and not exposed to the road.

7) Agility club. In recent years, more and more agility clubs have appeared led by people who specialize in canine agility. The advantage of the clubs is their equipment with different courses/obstacles that will keep your dog on alert and which help a lot to expend energy and above all to develop a harmonious relationship between you and your four-legged friend. Agility develops control over the dog without a leash and teaches you to control it through body language, being a very fun way of training.

8) Training. Dog training is never enough. Speak to a licensed trainer to evaluate your dog and attend training sessions weekly if possible. While training doesn’t require much physical movement, it will require a lot of physical movement from the dog, even more than a simple walk. The benefits are even greater because in addition to tiring the dog, training helps create a better and more solid bond between owner and dog.
Attention – Training must be carried out by an accredited trainer and must always be carried out in the presence of the owner. Avoid leaving your dog during training without your presence

If the weather is bad and doesn’t allow you to go out, the fun can continue inside the apartment.

9) Search for items or rewards. Hide treats or toys around the house and encourage your dog to look for and find them. As soon as the dog understands what it is, he will search the house to find what you are hiding. Over time you hide objects or rewards better and better and you will be surprised at how quickly your dog will evolve to find the most difficult hiding places. Don’t forget to praise the dog every time he finds what he is looking for, this way you encourage him to search further

10) Frozen toys. Toys from various companies have appeared on the market that can be filled with various pastes/foods that can then be frozen. Such an ice cream toy will keep your dog busy for a long time until he manages to remove all the composition from the toys. The composition can be made from fresh cow’s cheese, boiled vegetables, various express trade pastes made for such toys. On the Internet you can find many recipes for such compositions.

11) Tug of war. A game appreciated by our four-legged friend. At PetMax you can find different variations of toys for this game. The owner holds one side of the toy and resists when the dog wants to take it.

It is very important to note how the dog interprets and handles such a game. If it seems to you that this game indicates a form of aggression in the dog, stop. The toy with which you play this game is also important to prevent a possible bite on the hand, so it is best to only use toys specifically made for this type of game. The toy must be strong enough not to break and must not hurt the dog’s teeth. Manage the level of resistance well so that the dog does not suffer injuries to the teeth/gums. it is preferable to let him win in the end. This way the dog will be satisfied and will continue to want to play

12) Toys to stimulate intelligence. Toys to stimulate intelligence are usually with the release of rewards/food. As soon as the dog understands how it works, he will be unstoppable in taking all the rewards. These toys are very useful not only because they keep the dog alert and tire him out, but they will make him become more and more perceptive.

13) Red toys. These toys also help clean teeth. Keeping teeth healthy is very important for our four-legged friend.
Always supervise your dog while he gnaws on the toy, so that if he manages to break it, he does not swallow parts of it. If your dog manages to break the toy, throw it away immediately.