Puppies have lots of energy. Your fur-baby can turn into a mischievous little rascal when that energy isn’t used up. They may chew on your furniture, sneak into the trash bag, or bark until your eardrums have had enough. That’s why it’s important to have a physical and/or mental outlet for your four-legged friend to play and have fun.
There are several activities your puppy can do that keeps them entertained and active in a healthy way. Let’s take a look at each:
1. Exercise
Physical activity like exercise is a fantastic way of keeping your adorable puppy in shape and releasing their balled-up energy. Exercise doesn’t need to be a long and complicated routine either—it can be as simple as going out for a quick walk or running around a dog park. A game of fetch or training exercises are other ways you can mentally and physically stimulate your puppy.
The plus side? After each exercise, your little fur-ball will be so tired, they’ll head off for a nice long nap!
2. Kong toys
Along with physical stimulation, Kong toys and similar products encourage your puppy to use some of their brain power! Your puppy just needs to roll the toy around to get food or other yummy goodies stored inside and voila! Your furry friend is entertained for the next hour or so. Of course, if your puppy figures out how to get the food out of the toy, you may need to freeze it before stuff it inside. This makes the game more challenging!
3. Play games
What’s the best way to form a strong bond with your puppy? Playing a fun game with them! Puppies love games and it’s up to you to choose which one to play—they’ll play anything. You can play fetch with them (this keeps them physically active) or tug-of-war (this allows them to use their physical and mental strength).
If you want to add a little creativity to your game, you can improvise. Some owners love playing scavenger hunts with their puppy’s treats or their Kong toys. With these games, make sure you teach your furry friend the rules so they can have an idea what they’re searching for.
4. Dog park/socialization
A dog park is the perfect place for your four-legged friend to make friends of their own! Your puppy can socialize with other puppies and people and relieve their boredom at the same time. Before you take your puppy on their adventure, make sure they’re comfortable with going outside and meeting with strangers. Remember that the world can seem like a big scary place to your little fur-ball so it may take a couple of tries before your puppy is ready.
5. Chores
Did you know you can train your puppy to help you around the house? It’s a lot easier than you may think! For instance, if you teach them the words “time for a walk,” your puppy can grab its leash and bring it to you. You can even teach your puppy to pass you laundry or put its toys away after they’re done playing. Be sure to use positive reinforcement when training your puppy.
Puppies of all breeds are meant to be energetic, happy little fur-balls. Like us, they need activities that entertain and stimulate them constantly.
When you play with your puppy, exercise with them, and train them, you help alleviate their boredom. You build a stronger bond with them and allow them to grow used to their new environment so they can become your forever friend!