I’ve got some ideas for what to do to exercise your dog indoors, for people who cannot exercise their dog because of the puppy’s age, the dog’s aggression, illness, or injury, or other things going on in the household. I’m writing it all for a book that I’ve titled Rainy Day Dogs.
I’ll be eking the book out, bit by bit. When it’s all done, I’ll compile it, yank it off of the web, and publish it. So you get the first read. Please feel free to comment below with suggestions of any kind.
Here’s the first bit. In case you were wondering, yes, this is copyrighted. Please do not copy!
Rainy Day Dogs:
Indoor Games and Training for Dogs and Puppies
Introduction
Dogs need exercise to keep them sane, happy, and healthy, usually around an hour per day Your dogs should be tired enough to pant at least twice a day. Fetch is fun (which is why we teach it in this book), but exercise that is calm, but physically or mentally active, will help tire your dog out without winding your dog up with adrenaline.
A long walk is one of the simplest ways for you and your dog to get mental and physical exercise. Some days it’s rainy or freezing outside and you don’t want to take your dog out for a long walk. Maybe you’ve broken your leg. In some cases you can’t walk your dog in public, because your puppy isn’t vaccinated or your dog is aggressive on her walks. Whether your “rainy days” are occasional or a lifestyle for you and your dog, these games and training activities will improve your dog’s quality of life. Dogs do have emotions, and one of the emotions they can experience is joy. Give the gift of joy to your dog!
These games are designed to be fun, but to also help your relationship with your dog. Through these games, you and your dog will have a better understanding of each other’s needs – your dog will know the meaning of some English words like keys, ball, sit, down, stay, and leave it. You will know the meaning of the Dog-lish words like ground sniffing, head turning, and hand nuzzling. You can read the book in order or skip around. I designed the chapters to be read somewhat independently; when info from another section is needed, you will be referred to that section.
I use a dog training tool called a clicker, though you won’t necessarily need one for these activities. It is a small box that makes a clicking noise. When the dog does something you like, the sound of the clicker tells the dog that they’ve just earned a treat or toy, which you will give to them in the next few seconds. If you don’t have a clicker or you don’t want to use one, that’s fine. I prefer using a clicker to teach a new trick or behavior, then switch to a marker word once the dog knows what I’m paying it for.
For clicker training without the clicker, just pick a marker word like “yes!” that’s short and that you don’t often say to your dog. Both the click and the marker word promise a reward. They are like the shutter of a camera, taking a picture of the good behavior in the dog’s mind. Your dog won’t know what a clicker is, at first. But because it always promises a reward, the dog takes note of the clicker or the marker word and starts to understand that her behavior is causing the click.
Throughout this book, whenever I say to click, you can use your marker word instead.
Topics:
Treat Games
- Treat Fetching
- Spin
- Army Crawl
- Play Dead
- Heel (love ‘em & leave ‘em)
- Sit, Stay, *Down (for article finding)
- I’m Gonna Get You! (collar grab)
- Up / Off (stairs)
- Touch
Toys
- Getting Your Dog Interested in Toys
- Tug
- Toy on a Rope
- Find the “…” (keys, toys by name)
- Fetch
- Food Puzzles, including kongs
Human Body Games
- Hide and Seek
- Go Play …. Enough!
- Snuggle Time: Massage & Petting Preferences
- Kisses
- Wrestling
- Meditation
Exercises and Games to Avoid
Alternative Workouts: Other ways to get exercise
- Dog Walker
- Go for a Ride!
- Walking Tips
- Leash around the waist or shoulder trick
- Treadmill
- More
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