You’re stuck at home, but your dog still needs physical and mental stimulation.
A bored dog is a naughty dog. The solution is simple. Break the cycle with healthy activity in the form of floor exercises with your dog.
Together, you and your dog can make a productive and dynamic duo!
1. Safety first
Start with a padded, non-skid surface such as a foam yoga mat, or carpet runner. Never exercise on a wood or tile floor. Make sure your dog’s nails are trimmed and long hairs between the paw digits clipped. Don your yoga or sweat pants so you are comfortable and can move freely. Start all movements slow and work up to a comfortable level of activity for 5 to 10 minutes initially. An average “duo” exercise session is about 15 minutes.
2. Use Sensory Enhancement
Music, small bite healthy pet treats and dog toys to facilitate movement and enjoyment of the exercise experience. Clap, sing and converse with your dog during the activity. Dogs love to hear your excited, happy voice!
3. Functional exercises
3. Combine stretches, balance and core strengthening for the efficiency of time and maximum functional outcomes.
Start with exercises you are familiar with and find ways to have your dog join in.
4. Tricks
Learn a new trick or 2!
Use your imagination and try some new movements or modifications to your usual routine. Observe your dog participating in the activity and don’t be surprised if it teaches you some new moves!
Get started
Spinal muscles strenghtening
My “tweenie” Dachshund Penelope and I are in our basement on a red foam exercise mat. I am holding a favorite toy overhead, while she looks up and extends her neck and spine, with a slight turn to the right.
This helps strengthen her spinal muscles, while I use my shoulder deltoid muscles and stretch my hips. We stay in this position for 1-2 seconds and repeat it several times. I switch to using my right arm and Penny moves to the other side, using the left spinal muscles.
Hip and stifle muscle strengthening
Here is a combination of human core stabilization with canine hip and stifle muscle strengthening. While I perform a partial abdominal curl and double leg lift, Penny walks under my raised limbs, forcing her to bend her hips and knees to a degree greater than with normal locomotion (even for a Doxie!).
With every repetition I lower my legs further, challenging both of us. I use a small treat for Penny to follow. While I tone my abs, Penny strengthens her quadriceps and gluts.
Coordination
Combine leg stretching (me), with dog coordination, having Penny make a series of circles and loops under, over and around my knee (following a toy or treat), while I hold a sustained hamstring and thigh adductor stretch. Do this several times in a row, and then switch sides.
Hip and thighs exercise
Okay, I admit that this one is more challenging for the dog than me! With a larger canine breed, the human will stand and achieve nice exercise for their hips and thighs, but with a small dog, there is only some upper spine involvement.
Dancing is a good exercise for many dogs and can start with a “static” held position for a few seconds at a time, then add shifting from side to side and forward to back, with the dog’s paws making constant contact with the mat. Further progress by “dynamic” dancing, guiding the dog forward, backward and sideways as they take small steps with their paws. Always hold the dog by their upper arm, instead of the paw.
Balance
Use a visual aid to get your dog’s attention, while you passively and gently lift one limb up, forcing the dog to balance on three limbs. Hold each paw up for 3-5 seconds.
Workaround the dog’s body to lift each paw. You can position yourself in a double kneel or a half-kneel with one knee up and one down, to challenge your core and equilibrium.
Balance and core strength
Throw in some love and affection at the end! As I do my double leg lowering with core stabilization, Penny performs dynamic core work while balancing on my torso. I provide some light manual contact with my hands near her hips to “check” her against falling. The nose rubs and kisses are the rewards for the workout!
Suggestions for exercise with larger breeds
Modify exercises so that you are in a standing position, with your feet placed widely apart either side by side or front to back. Contract your core and pelvic floor muscles and bend your knees slightly. This will allow you to exercise your body while you move with your dog.
Use chairs placed a few feet apart for the dog to circle around while following a treat or visual cue, and then reverse the direction.
Raise one of your legs up or out, for the dog to walk “under”, thereby strengthening its thigh and hip muscles, while you maintain your balance!
Kneel on the mat or carpet with one of your knees up and the other down, having the dog circle around you and even climb over your “raised up” knee.
Endless possibilities
There are endless possibilities for exercising with your dog indoors!
I hope these examples give you inspiration for creating a fun routine with your dog this winter! Please feel free to comment and let me know what your favorites are!
Other games and activity suggestions:
- Teach new tricks
- Doga
- Canine freestyle moves
- Hide and seek
- Scent games
- Obstacle courses
- Chasing bubbles
- Indoor fetch
- Tug games
Related articles:
Canine Post-Op Physical Therapy: Best Practices After Your Dog’s Surgery
Further reading:
8 Creative Ways to Exercise Your Dog Indoors
16 Ways to Exercise Your Dog Indoors
11 Ways To Tire Out A Dog In A Small Space