Looking for puppy activities and exercise tips to keep your puppy out of trouble and beat boredom? 7 ideas, games, and activities you can do with your pup starting today.
But wait… did you know that unwanted behaviors like biting, barking and jumping can all stem from a lack of proper exercise?
Did you also know that mental exercise is just as effective, if not more effective, than physical exercise when it comes to draining out your pup’s energy?
Physical exercise can over-excite a dog and keep adrenaline pumping through your dog’s body for a long period of time.
This is why your dog may seem more energetic when they come home from a walk.
Puppy Activities and Exercise Tips
Puppy Entertainment
Activity #1: Decompression walks, also known as Sniffaris, not neighborhood walks
You know that most puppies are not ready for neighborhood walks just yet? Neighborhood walks can be very overwhelming for puppies. All the sights, sounds, smells, people and things like moving cars, bicycles and kids playing can be a lot for a puppy to handle.
This kind of walk is very unnatural for puppies who are kept on a shorter leash and aren’t really allowed to sniff and explore, which is what they really want to do when they go out for a walk.
A decompression walk, also known as a sniffari. These walks are done on a 20-30 ft leash with a back clip harness in locations where you’re not going to run into other people or dogs.
Ideally, the best locations are quiet hiking trails and Sports fields when there are no other people around. Even business complex parking lots, church and school parking lots, work great after hours too.
Pro tip: anytime you are going out the door with your dog, or you’re working on dog training, be sure to always have your treats readily available! Every moment is a training moment and you never want to miss an opportunity to reward your dog for behaviors you want to see more of.
The training pouch makes carrying treats convenient and easy. It can be worn around the waist or as a crossbody bag. It has plenty of space to store your keys, phone, even a small umbrella and poop bags. There’s a little spot on the side where you can feed the poop bags through the slit for easy access. It even has a pouch on the outside for the tennis balls that get slimy after play.
Activity #2: Food Puzzles and Enrichment Games
Puppy mealtime = an enrichment opportunity. Use things like Kongs, West Paw Toppls, or snuffle mats to make meals last longer and challenge their brain. Use food-dispensing puzzle toys to help your dog learn to problem solve as well as build confidence. This is one of the easiest ways to sneak in mental exercise every single day.
You can try things like building a busy box. A busy box is just an ordinary shallow container or an Amazon box that’s easy for your pup to get into or put their head into. Fill it with old towels or raggedy old clothes that aren’t even worth donating anymore. Sprinkle in kibble or a few higher-value treats.
Another DIY activity is called the puppy onion. Make a cool layered activity for a more intense enrichment opportunity. Take some kibble and roll it in some paper and then fold it in some towels, sprinkle in a little more kibble and tie it into a blanket. Call it the puppy onion because it has lots of layers like an onion. This is a great activity for pups that like to dig and use their nose to unfold the layers.
But wait… Speaking of naps, did you know that your puppy needs multiple naps throughout the day? Maybe you’re wondering how much sleep they should be getting in a 24-hour window, or how long their wake window should be before you need to put them down for a nap.
Ensure they’re getting the right amount of sleep and not getting overtired and cranky and biting and Barky and jumpy. If you’re seeing a lot of unwanted behaviors, the first place to look is the schedule, because an overtired puppy that does not get the right amount of sleep is going to display a lot of unwanted behaviors.
Activity #3: DIY Obstacle Course
This doesn’t have to be fancy! Use couch cushions, tunnels, chairs, and broomsticks. Let your puppy climb, crawl, and problem-solve their way through. This is a great confidence booster AND energy burner.
Activity #4: Chase with a Flirt Pole
The flirt pole is a great toy/tool to use for dogs that love to chase and bite. Use this toy a lot to redirect Landshark puppies from biting hands and feet. This tool gives your puppy the opportunity to fulfill the species-typical need to chase and gives you the opportunity to engage with your puppy without getting bitten.
When playing with this toy with your puppy, be sure to keep the lure low to the ground. Don’t want to encourage a puppy who isn’t fully developed to jump to reach the lure. This could cause injuries to your growing puppy.
Activity #5: Tug Games with Rules
Yes, tug can be a great game when done right. Teach a reliable “drop it” cue and use tug as a reward for good behavior. When you play tug with puppies, it’s important not to shake the toy back and forth excessively.
You’re just the toy holder, so allow your puppy to do most of the work. Keep tug sessions short at about 30 to 60 Seconds per round. In between each tug, be sure to create a play pause. Toss kibble on the floor, a snuffle mat, or in the grass as a way to disengage from the tug toy and give them a decompression opportunity.
When playing with your puppy, it’s important not to accidentally overdo it during play. Puppies get easily overstimulated, very quickly. By giving your dog a few minutes of play followed by a few minutes of sniffing, licking, or a decompressing activity, you can actually make play and exercise more effective. Otherwise, your puppy quickly becomes overstimulated, and this leads to excessive biting and barking during play. It makes it a lot harder for them to rest and relax after you’re done playing, too.
Activity #6: Training Games
Games like Go Zone that help your puppy learn how to stay at your side while on a leash. Or let me in the game to build Comfort and confidence in the crate. Or the Fred Flintstone game to establish a rock solid recall or the come cue with your puppy. That’s right, there are games you can play to work on all of these skills.
So your puppy can walk nicely on a leash, feel comfortable in their crate in your absence, and come when called, No Matter What distractions are going on around them.
Activity #7: Scent Work
Sent games are great for mental and physical exercise. Did you know that your dog’s sense of smell is 40 times stronger than yours? This game allows you to bond with your dog while also fulfilling their need to sniff and explore. The kids can play a hide-and-seek game with your puppy. There really are lots of ways to get your dog both mental and physical exercise.