Your dog thrives on your love and companionship, but life’s demands can sometimes limit the quality time you share. When those moments are scarce, boredom can creep in for your furry companion. Fortunately, your pup can use a wonderful world of dog exercise equipment to banish boredom and bring joy into their day.
Signs Your Pup Is Bored
Like humans, dogs can get bored without physical and mental stimulation, especially if they’re a breed originally bred for jobs like herding, hunting and guarding. Spending most of their time at home without exciting things to do can make their brains restless. After all, they’re social animals that crave interaction and attention.
Your dog is bored if they exhibit any of these signs:
- Chewing on your stuff
- Shredding or unrolling toilet paper and other destructive behavior
- Digging in the backyard
- Tipping over trash cans
- Jumping on people
- Barking excessively
- Acting restless
- Begging for attention
7 Types of Dog Exercise Equipment to Fight Boredom
Specific exercise equipment can stimulate your pup to prevent boredom, offering unique advantages that a simple walk might not always provide. Explore fitness supplies that can help your canine overcome boredom.
1. Hurdle Cones
Setting up hurdle cones in your backyard encourages your dog to lift their feet higher and develop better body coordination. The cones usually come with poles, which you can use to make horizontal hurdles. Navigating the cones requires your animal companion to listen to your commands and focus on the exercise.
2. Snuffle Mat
A snuffle mat taps into your pet’s natural foraging instincts, letting them play and find treats using their sense of smell. It keeps your pup preoccupied indoors and can also help slow down dogs that eat fast. Look for a product with lots of sensory stimulating gaps to hide treats and kibbles.
Consider the level of difficulty that a mat provides. Dogs can quickly learn to locate treats from a normal mat, so look for one with pockets, flaps and various textures to keep them busy.
3. Weave Poles
You’ve probably seen weave poles in agility competitions, but they can also make great additions to your backyard. This dog exercise equipment helps build body control and coordination. Navigating it requires teamwork between you and your pup, boosting your connection. Choose something that fits your furry companion’s physical abilities.
4. Dog Treadmill
A treadmill allows your furry friend to run regardless of the weather. Dogs require at least 20 minutes of exercise daily. Dog treadmills make achieving that goal much easier. Choose a treadmill that fits your animal companion’s size and weight and has safety features that allow them to stop whenever they want.
5. Balance Disc
Balance discs are inflatable balancing equipment dogs can use to improve their core strength. When your dog stands and moves on the disc, they must make small movements to maintain equilibrium. This can be a great tool to provide mental stimulation and improve attention. Use a balance disc to teach commands like holding a stay position or elevating certain body parts for stretches.
6. Seesaw
A seesaw is an amazing exercise tool for bored pups. It introduces them to exciting challenges, helping your furry friend gain more confidence. As your dog masters the equipment, they can achieve better core function and agility. Before putting them in a full seesaw, introduce them to a wobbleboard so they can adjust to a moving surface. Use a leash to guide them as they walk toward the pivot point and reward them along the way.
7. Tennis Ball Blaster
Does your dog love to play fetch? A compact tennis ball blaster could be your new secret weapon against boredom. This handy tool launches your pup’s favorite balls to impressive distances, providing an outlet for energy and satisfying your dog’s chasing instincts. As a bonus for you, many models let you scoop up slobbery balls without having to bend down.
Are There Other Ways to Fight off Boredom?
Yes, there are other ways to provide a fun activity for your bored pup. Aside from exercise equipment, these ideas may help:
- Try trick training: Teach your animal companion basic commands and see how quickly they can follow them in a row. Introduce helpful tricks to keep them engaged.
- Enroll in a dog training class: Attending dog training classes keeps boredom at bay. Consider basic obedience, agility or flyball classes.
- Walk with them: Around 66% of dogs in America have poor joint health. Walking is a great way to reduce your pup’s risk of joint problems. Go to a park and bring portable exercise tools like a balance disc or a tennis ball blaster.
Help Beat Your Dog’s Boredom
These exercise tools give you a way to enrich your and your pup’s life. Incorporate one or more of these exercise tools into your dog’s routine and make memorable memories together.