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Rainy Day Activities for Your Dog-Loose Leash Walking and Obstacle Course
For many dog owners, rainy days can seem like the worst time to go out and take your dog for a walk.
If youâre not as motivated to put on your rain gear, you and your dog may both get extra flustered trying to keep each other safe from getting wet in the rain.
However, there are still plenty of rainy day activities you can do with your dog that will provide fun exercise and bonding time-you just have to make sure your approach is the right one so that both of you stay safe and happy during your walk together!
Loose leash walking and obstacle course are great rainy-day activities to keep your dog entertained during the summer months when you canât take him for long walks outside or donât want to deal with muddy paws around the house.Â
And, whatâs better than doing something fun with your dog that also helps him understand his place in the family?
These two activities will help your dog become more responsive to commands such as sit and stay and make it easier to transition between activities without worrying about having him follow you or getting into trouble.
PRO TIP:
Create an Obstacle Course for your pooch for Indoor Exercises
With an obstacle course, there are a plethora of options for exhausting your dog. To make jumps for your dog to go over or limbo bars for him to go through, you may use tape to span a doorway.
Advice from the pros: Pack a roll of blue painter’s tape in your dog’s travel kit so that he may use it at hotels and vacation rentals.
You may also rearrange the furnishings to make it easier for them to move. Instruct them to jump up and down on the sofa and other furniture if it is permitted. Please keep in mind that not all accommodations let pets on the furnishings.
All of our furniture is pet-friendly, including mattresses. Thus, we utilise some of Rover’s favourite stuffed animals as incentives for getting her to jump on and off the sofa, as well as to climb the first few steps of our ladder.
What are the Rainy Day Activities for Dogs-Loose Leash Walking and Obstacle Course
Teaching Loose Leash Walking to a Puppy
No matter how old your puppy is, loose leash walking is something they can learn.
The first lesson should involve getting your pup familiar with a retractable leash.
If youâre able to find one with a light snap attachment (instead of heavy prongs), thatâs even better;
it will help build even more trust in your pup. When you head out on your walk, allow them some space to sniff and play around.
As soon as they start getting ahead of you or paying too much attention to other dogs or distractions along the way, give an immediate correction with an ah!
followed by pulling them back in close and praising them for staying close to you â Loose leash walking starts as soon as you leave your front door!
Teaching Loose Leash Walking to an Adult Dog
The easiest way to teach a dog to walk on a loose leash is with a head collar such as a Gentle Leader.
A Gentle Leader goes over your dogâs nose like a halter on a horse, but unlike in horses, it doesnât go around his mouth. Instead, it pulls up on his chin via a strap under his lower jaw.Â
This uncomfortable but not painful tugging discourages pulling when you are walking your dog by redirecting his attention towards you.
It only takes one or two walks for most dogs to start getting it and within about two weeks of consistent use they have usually gotten very good at not pulling when wearing their head collars.
Training an obstacle course
Training your dog to walk with a loose leash on a variety of surfaces, such as grass, dirt, and pavement is not only great for building muscle in your dogâs neck but also serves as an amazing rainy day activity.
In addition to giving your dog (and you) something fun to do when itâs raining outside, training activities like these can also keep you active by walking your dog during rainstorms.
You can incorporate several training elements into your obstacle course from jumps over barriers that are set up on grass or dirt to tunnels you can run through on pavement.
Be sure to train your dog in a well-fenced area so she doesnât run off while sheâs having fun!
Play hide and seek with your dog:
We all enjoyed the game of hide and seek as children, and your dog will be no exception.
All dog breeds have a natural instinct for searching or tracking, while certain breeds, such as German Shepherds, Beagles, and Bloodhounds, are more predisposed to this behaviour than others.
Regardless, with a little amount of instruction, your dog may also have a good time playing hide and seek.
When played repeatedly, it will excite their cardiovascular system, but it will also engage their thoughts more than their bodies.
If you have an older dog that finds it difficult to go out and about, this is a perfect choice for you!
The majority of owners have a command that translates to “go locate it.”
Those who don’t have one will find one soon thanks to your dog. A terrific approach to play with your dog is to put him in a room with you and then close the door behind you as you leave.
Get to work on finding an accessible hiding spot for your treat or favourite toy.
Don’t put it in your favourite vase or shoe, since it will only result in a costly catastrophe! Backtrack and allow your dog back inside the home, urging him/her with voice cues such as “find it” along the way.
With various phrases or noises, you may also encourage them when they are coming close to the objective, while also letting them know when they are moving farther away from the target.
Play tug-of-war with your canine companion.
This is a fantastic game that provides your dog with nice, solid exercise in a fun environment. Using a dog rope or toy is one option, but if your pet has a favourite blanket, it may also be used.
First and foremost, choose a location with a lot of open space. Avoid any tables, chairs, or tiny children if at all possible! A floor in your largest room or in a corridor is a good option for your project.
Take the “rope” in your hand and place it over your dog’s head.
Allow it to dangle so that it lightly touches his or her face.
This should entice them to mouth the toy, blanket, or rope, ultimately keeping it in their mouth for long periods of time.
If they don’t seem to be worried, use your tone and words to communicate to your dog that you are thrilled and that you want them to participate as well.
Once the dog has grasped the leash, pull lightly at first, smiling and speaking in a cheerful tone so that the dog understands you are not irritated.
As you raise the draw, your dog will increase his or her as well.
In terms of their jaw, neck, and legs, your dog will benefit much from this activity. Just remember not to pull too hard or shake the “rope” too much in order to prevent injuring yourself or the dog in the process.
It’s time to go to training!!
If it’s pouring outside or you’re trapped inside due to snow or heavy rains, training your dog is a terrific method to keep them occupied and make the most of your time when the weather is bad.
This may be entertaining for your pet while also assisting you in the development of discipline and good conduct – two desirable characteristics in any animal and human.
There are a variety of useful training exercises that you may employ to keep your dog occupied while you are at home.
If you have a clicker, this will work much more quickly, but you can also use commands to do the same thing.
A chair or stool should be placed in the centre of your floor. Make it a point to encourage your dog to walk below and around the stool.
Every time they do something well, give them a reward or some encouragement.
Then you may train them to walk around the chair in a circle, or even over the top if it’s physically feasible for them.
You may next work on more complex actions with your pet, such as putting one or both paws on the stool, remaining below the chair or stool when instructed, or backing out from underneath rather than going forwards.
There are loads of entertaining tricks that you can teach your dog to keep them busy and happy.
BONUS ACTIVITIES
These five activities listed above are a lot of fun, they encourage excellent training, and they will allow you and your dog to enjoy your time together inside when going outdoors isn’t a viable choice due to weather or other circumstances.Â
But, since we don’t want you to be satisfied with only these, we’ve included three extra bonus games for you to enjoy:
If you have a small set of blowing bubbles on hand, you can create a sea of objects for your dog to pursue and grasp with ease.
It’s inexpensive, and entertaining, and the kids can participate as well.
Allow him to join you in watching Netflix:
Well, maybe this one isn’t so much for your dog as it is for you.
It doesn’t matter what you’re watching; you can still spend quality time with your dog and keep them amused while you catch up on some programmes.
A chew toy or bone nearby will ensure that your dog will have a relaxing time close to his cool hooman as long as you provide it.
Playdate with the other pups
Call up some of your dog’s puppy mates and arrange for a surprise visit from one of his four-legged furry friends.
Kong balls may be used for a variety of activities.
Kong Balls are excellent for concealing goodies and keeping dogs occupied while you’re away. The aperture of the toy is tiny enough to provide a challenge to dogs while yet being large enough for a treat to slip out before your dog grows irritated with the toy.
Ball in the halL
This game would be best played in a long, straight corridor. Take a ball and roll it down a long corridor, similar to the game of fetch.
Your dog will chase after it, but he will not do any unexpected damage to your house.
Master of the stairwell ( For pups)
Make use of every available space in your house! It is possible to toss a ball up the stairs for your dog to recover and return to you at the foot of the stairs if you have a staircase.
Catch the ball, throw it, and have your dog return it multiple times to assure a weary doggy is a result.
About the Author:
I’m Div Acharya. I’ve been a dog lover my entire life. When my daughter wanted a new Puppy I was looking for another furbaby to share my life with.
As a result of my research, I’ve come to love oodles and wanted to share some of what I’ve learned with you. Whether you’re looking to get a Puppy, or already own one, these Blogs t to be the ultimate guide to help you find the answers you need.
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