5 exercises to make walks more fun with your dog
Dogs love spending time with their owners. While long walks are a favourite pastime in Sweden, we don't always engage our dogs fully during them. Here are some simple exercises you can do together on your walks.
Look for treats
Always have treats with you on your walks. These are great for rewarding good behaviour your dog offers during the walk, and also for giving your dog a task. You can toss treats into tall grass, hide them in trees and logs, or place them on park benches. Nosing around is excellent for your dog's wellbeing, and helps them use their brain a little more.
If your dog gets anxious around other dogs or in certain situations, a treat search can be a good way to distract them.
Balance
Ask your dog to jump onto logs and rocks to help them learn to balance. You might find a fallen tree, logs, or rocks your dog can try jumping between, or perhaps a park bench or similar surface for balance practice. This exercise boosts your dog's confidence and strengthens your teamwork.
Let the dog track
It's easy to start scent tracking with your dog. Find a spot in the woods or somewhere with longer grass. Mark your starting point, then walk a loop, dropping a treat at each footstep. Afterwards, walk around your track and let your dog sniff out the treats. Your dog will learn to follow your scent and associate it with finding treats. This is the first step towards teaching your dog to follow longer trails, if you wish. This exercise builds your dog's confidence, and the nose work will leave your dog content and calm after the walk.
Hide in the woods
If you have the opportunity to let your dog off the lead in the woods, you could try hiding from them. Some dogs wander quite far from their owners, so hiding is a great way to have your dog find you. However, it's important that your dog doesn't get scared or anxious during this game, so start by hiding in an easy-to-find spot.
If your dog tends to stay close to you in the woods, this can be a fun exercise for you both. Try your best to hide from your dog, and you'll find they'll be surprised and enjoy chasing after you. This exercise will naturally improve your teamwork, but it's also good for dogs who tend to wander off on their own in the woods, encouraging them to keep a better eye on you. Watch your dog as they search for you – are they using their nose, eyes, or scenting the air to find you?
Look for toys
For dogs who love to search for things, this is a super fun exercise. Either lay out some toys along your walk beforehand, or manage to hide some while your dog is busy with something else. You can then release your dog to find the toys, or you can 'accidentally' step over a toy and initiate a game. Surprises are a fantastic way to keep your dog engaged on a walk.
