Dog-friendly Exercises You Can Do Together At Home

Taking care of a canine is hard work, especially when you are stuck inside your home. Your little fur buddy requires physical and mental stimulation to counter boredom, obesity and anxiety. Just like humans, isn’t it? Here is a list of dog-friendly exercises you can do at home along with your little fluffball.

However, not all of these activities are suitable for all kinds of dogs. Whenever you are trying to do something new, always make sure it is safe to do. After all, you do not want your dog to run into your precious ceramic collection, do you?

1. Climb up the stairs

If you have stairs in your house, this could be the best activity for both you and your buddy to get some much-needed exercise. Gently tug your dog along with you when you climb up and go down the stairs. However, dogs can quickly get tired of it, so do not hesitate to play fetch with them by tossing a ball down the stairs and having them retrieve it.

2. Walk around the house

If you want to get in your steps for the day, why not try to walk around the house and take your dog with you? This works best if you have a fairly big home. You could try listening to a podcast or some music while doing this. Feel free to take a few rounds around the house and mix it up with some light walking in between.

However, it may be unsafe to perform these exercises if your house has laminated, marble or wooden floors since these offer very little friction and can be quite slippery. When it comes to taking your dog for a walk around the house, or for running up and down the stairs, make sure you take note of this. Tiled floors are suitable for the above-mentioned exercises.

3. Treadmill cardio

Treadmills are not just for us! You can actually train your dog to use the treadmill as well. However, make sure that the treadmill is not set at a high speed, and slowly transition to fast based on your pup’s speed. It is a good idea to look through some of the best treadmill brands if you are thinking of trying this out.

4. Sit-ups

Again, not something only you can do! You can teach your dog dog-friendly sit-ups by using the sit, down, and up commands. Or, you could use any combination of words that works for your pup. Repeat this in sets of ten at once, and engage in the activity yourself. You will notice that your dog will become more excited to join in with you.

5. Hide-and-seek

This can be a great way to help your dog get some exercise inside the house. The easiest way to do this is by hiding a treat somewhere in the house and having your dog find it out. Or, if you have a big house, you could have your dog chase you around and if you get caught, your dog gets a treat.

6. Indoor swimming

If you have an indoor pool at home, both you and your dog can get a lot of exercise by simply swimming around for a few hours. Canines naturally know how to swim, but if your pup is particularly small, make sure to slowly ease him or her into the water so that your pup does not get spooked out.


Lastly, we would like to point out that it is always advised to pay a visit to the vet before making any sudden changes to your dog’s exercise routine. If you feel your dog could use some exercise, it is best to consult with the vet since any sort of exercise is incomplete without a diet plan, and only a qualified vet can issue a diet chart for your dog.

Keeping your dog entertained can be very easy with these exercises. In these ways, both you and your dog will be able to get some much-needed exercise and can intensify your bond.


About The Author

Sean Lynam is fitness enthusiast and personal trainer by profession, and a freelance writer by passion. Sean writes and shares his knowledge for a range of fitness publications and nutrition brands.