Indoor Exercising Your Dog Some Do's and Don'ts

Indoor Exercising Your Dog Some Do's And Don'ts

“Oh the weather outside is frightful……..”

Well you know how the rest of it goes. Sometimes awful weather prevents us from being able to walk our dogs and use products like dog throw and fetch toys, etc. What do you do in this case?  The dog still needs its exercise, otherwise it will be crawling up the walls. What about if poor weather is going to be more than a day, how about as it seems more the case, it is not going to let up for a few days, or weeks? How about the situation where you are at an age in life where you are less mobile than you used to be. Maybe you are wheel chair bound or even bed ridden? Maybe you live in an apartment or condo complex with little or no facilities for pets? Maybe a medical condition is preventing you from being able to walk very much, or be outdoors very much?

Can you still own a dog and receive all of the benefit’s that come with that relationship? Recently Dog ownership has been shown through scientific study to be one of the best relationships that a human can have. Dog ownership can extend the life span of a human by a number of years, the friendship and companionship of a dog are second to none. A dog is always there for you. The health and wellness benefits and the psychological benefits are exponential for the dog owner versus a non-owner.

A Dogs Basic Needs.

A dog needs some basic things in order for it to live a happy and healthy life. Good food, proper and professional vet care, good hygiene care, a safe place to live out of the elements, dog toys and chews, and a regular and active exercise schedule. 

Some Challenges That May Seem Un-surmountable.

Unfortunately, the last item - a regular and active exercise schedule - can be a challenge for some folks.

Whatever challenge that may exist then should this be a reason for not having a dog, or for having to give up an existing dog? ---- Especially when all of the reasons are so good and positive for dog ownership.

But when all is said and done, the very basic need of a dog is exercise. It must have an outlet for all of that energy that it has, otherwise it will develop physical problems, health problems, and psychological problems, and dog ownership will be a misery for both you and your dog.

An Illusion Challenged.

When a home is advertised for sale, it is usually described as x-bedrooms, x-bathrooms, plus a front and backyard for the kids and dogs. The suggestion has always been that in order to have a dog you should have a house with a front and backyard to exercise the animal in. Now, I am not saying that this would not be the ideal set-up in order to have healthy thriving pets, but I am saying that this is not the be all and end all in regards to owning a dog.  Today we are more likely to live in a built up urban area in high density housing that may not offer the convenience of a front or backyard for a dog. There may also not be a local park in order to bring our dogs too for their daily exercise requirements. The local neighborhood may not be safe to walk around for neither you nor the dog, so all in all the question may be:

How can I have a dog, and exercise it properly if I have some of the challenges as mentioned above?

The Answer:

Yes you can have a dog that will thrive even in a confined indoor space, giving you all of the great benefits of dog ownership, and you can do it quite easily with some innovative products that are available to-day.

A Flirt Pole

Also referred to as a flirt stick and was developed to encourage a dog to burn a lot of energy in a short time-frame in a confined space while also getting the required exercise and all of the benefits that flow from this activity. It comes in two sizes, for a small to medium size breed of dog, plus a large size for bigger dogs. An innovation to-day is that the pole is telescopic, which gives a range of heights you can choose to vary the exercise.

https://waggylife.com/collections/ball-throw-and-interactive/products/interactive-flirt-pole

Flirt poles are simple to operate from a seated position, so if you are confined to a wheelchair, then this might be an invaluable exercise tool for you to be able to interact with your dog. They consist of a pole, which today are adjustable to variable lengths, they have a tug rope attached at the end, on which can be tied a lure, which can be a canvas toy (maybe your dog’s favorite) or some colorful scarves or scraps of fabric. By lowering the tip of the pole down toward the floor and moving the pole side to side, then you can emulate a chasing action for the dog, and he can burn a lot of energy this way. Allow the dog to grab the lure, then you can have some tugging fun. Raise the height of the pole up, and your dog will have to jump to try to catch the lure, this will give it a different and unique range of exercise movement. It is important to vary the routine for maximum benefit. A flirt pole works great when for whatever the reason, you just cannot get outside with your dog. Flirt poles are also great for training a dog in sit, stay, lie down, and drop commands. And of course Flirt poles are great for a backyard and the park as well.

Flirt poles will tire out a dog quickly and effectively, but will not tire you out.

Flirt Pole Basic Rules For Indoor Exercising A Dog.

1. Make sure the area around you is free of furniture and objects.
2. Make sure there are no low hanging lights or chandeliers above you in the exercise area.
3. Vary your exercise routine to include some chasing, some tugging, and some jumping exercises.
4. Use it two or three times a day for maximum benefit.

Flirt poles are great for puppies, and dogs up to later in life that do not have joint issues. Dogs with joint issues should not be jumping as this will aggravate the condition, otherwise, a flirt pole is good for all dogs, and ideal for indoor exercising.

Tennis Ball launcher

A Tennis Ball Launcher is a tool that consists of a long curved handle with a tennis ball cradle at the end designed to hold a standard size tennis ball. Although they are ideal for the park, the lake, the river, and the backyard, they can also be used indoors.

https://waggylife.com/collections/ball-throw-and-interactive/products/tennis-ball-launcher

Because you do not have to bend down to pick up the tennis ball, after your loyal friends returns it to you, you simply scoop it up into the cradle, and launch it again. It could be a useful tool, for the wheelchair bound dog owner. The tennis Ball launcher comes in different lengths, so a small to medium might be the right choice for indoors. Great for an apartment or condo also.

Tennis Ball Launcher Rules For Indoor Exercising A Dog.

1. Use In a room that leads into a hallway or corridor.
2. Practice before use with your dog, the flyer can launch a great distance, so exercise caution in confined spaces.
3. Reward your dog every few fetches, to make it interesting for it.
4. Launch in a downward stroke or with an underhand swing only.
5. Watch the bounce of the ball.

Canvas Throw Toys

Canvas throw toys are ideal for indoor fetch exercise games as their design allows for a very limited range of throw distance, and they have no bounce. Their soft design will not damage walls or furniture if you accidentally hit them.

https://waggylife.com/collections/chews-and-flyers/products/dog-squeaky-chew-toy-durable-construction-plus-visually-attractive

 Today they are made of a canvas outer shell casing, which is durable for a dog to bite on. Use it for a dog that knows to fetch and return. If you are wheelchair bound then train the dog to drop the toy into your hand. Can also be used in tugging exercises.

Canvas Toy Rules For Indoor Exercising A Dog.

1. Use in a room with little obstructions like furniture.
2. Use in a room leading into a hallway or corridor.
3. Reward your dog every few fetches.
4. Can be used in tugging exercises.
5. Vary between throw and fetch and tugging.

Knotted Ropes

Knotted ropes are similar to Canvas Throw Toys, but differ in one aspect.

https://waggylife.com/collections/chews-and-flyers/products/chew-knot-cotton-bone-rope

They consist of a heavily woven cotton rope that is tied on each end in a durable knot. I would recommend a knotted rope for indoor exercising your dog in tugging exercise play only. I would not use a knotted rope in a throw and fetch routine, as they can be very stiff and heavy in design, and may damage things that they impact accidentally in the home. Also, ideally a knotted rope is designed to be a chew toy for a dog.

Knotted Rope Rules For Indoor Exercising A Dog.

1. Use for tug and play type exercises.
2. Vary with other exercises for maximum benefit.
3. Good for all dog types.

What about other needs of the dog having to go outside like “when nature calls”? How do you take care of this?

A dog will have a movement sometimes at least once, if not a few times a day, and if you are challenged in being able to get outside with the dog to be able to take care of this, then what do you do? A simple solution is to get from your local hardware store a large low plastic container, about a few inches high, and about a 36” (3FT) or 48”(4Ft) long dimension. The size you get will be determined by the size of the dog. The dog should be able to fully stand and squat in it. Fill this with cat litter, and train your dog to go in this when it needs too. Don’t fill the container right to the top, and hold back some of the litter sand. When the dog goes, just toss a few scoops of litter over it. This way you should be able to get about a week out of it before having to clean it out. If you have a small balcony or patio then this is where I would keep it, and train the dog to go. Otherwise, I would keep it near a window, or in a bathroom.

Conclusion:

For whatever reason is keeping you from being able to take a dog outside for walks and exercise, or for calls of nature, should not be a reason to not be able to effectively exercise a dog indoors. Being mobility limited, or even wheelchair bound should not be an impediment to owning a dog and receiving all of the great benefits that dog ownership and companionship bestow. Utilizing the products mentioned above, and with some simple planning then you can effectively give your dog all of the exercise that it needs without having to venture outside. Even those of us that are able bodied but sometimes are challenged by Mother Nature, can still use these techniques and products to give our dogs what they need without risking the dangers of the outside environment.