National Canine Fitness Month For The Dog With Endless Energy: When Physical Exercise Isn’t Enough

It’s widely understood that all dogs need exercise, but some dogs just seem to require more than average. At times, it seems as though nothing quite burns off enough energy. While this trait is often associated with certain breeds, it can be found with any type of dog regardless of breed.

I’d like to share a story of one of my clients and her dog Archie.

Archie is an adorable bundle of energy that was non-stop all day. He’s a small mix of unknown breeds. Upon meeting him he enthusiastically jumped like a living pogo stick and greeted me like I was his best friend! Despite having another dog in the house to play with, a good sized backyard to run around in, and walks, he never seemed to run out of energy. It quickly became clear that Archie needed much more than just physical exercise. He needed a combination of physical exercise that incorporated mental cognition, unstructured physical exercise, mental exercise and activities that would help him settle down when his session was over.

I created a simple “formula” that combined activities from each category, with the goal of practicing them two to three times a day. I provided her with a menu of activities within each category and encouraged her to choose one activity from each.

Photo: Training Caption:

To begin each session, she selected an activity from physical exercise with mental engagement, such as:

Flirt pole

Fetch

Frisbee

Hide and Seek

Homemade agility course, obstacle course or texture path

Cookie in a corner (see note)

Scent trails (see note)

Cookie in a corner game: Take a few pieces of kibble and toss them into a corner where two walls meet. The “cookies” will bounce unpredictably, sending your dog racing over to track down every last piece. For an extra cardio boost, try tossing the kibble down a long hallway instead!

Scent trails: Dip a cloth in any type of broth. Without your dog present, drag the cloth around the yard so it leaves a scent trail. For an added challenge place some treats along the to help guide them and complete the path. The longer the trail, the more the scent fades, making it an extra challenge for your dog to follow!

Next, Archie was offered some unstructured time options:

Free time in the yard

Playing with toys of choice

Playing with his brother, Andre

Then, she chose from the mental exercise menu:

Puzzles

Treat dispensing toys

Snuffle mat

Find it game

Training session

Teach new tricks

Lastly, Archie was offered “cool down” options.

Licking or chewing helps dogs settle down and relax. Most dogs would be tired after all of the above, but Archie struggled with settling down and relaxing.

Lick Mat

Frozen Kong (stuff with yogurt, applesauce, pumpkin, etc and freeze)

Chew Stick of choice

Photo: Training Lick Mat  Caption:

Many of these activities could be done inside so even if it is raining or too hot, your pup can still get the exercise he needs!

Age and health play an important role in determining how often to do these activities and how intense they should be. For example, a puppy may need a little more mental exercise to tire them out. Senior dogs or dogs with health issues might need less intensity with the physical activities. You can supplement them with more mental engagement, such as feeding meals through puzzles.

While not every dog is an endless vat of energy like Archie, all dogs of any age can benefit from this “formula”.

April’s designation as National Canine Fitness Month is a timely reminder that every dog, like Archie, benefits from activities that challenge both body and mind. A thoughtful fitness routine can make a meaningful difference in a dog’s behavior, health, and overall happiness.