It’s not uncommon for people who live in apartments to have a pet. A lot of these people don’t have the space or time required for a full-sized dog, but they still want one. One such animal is the lazy dog, which needs an owner that can dedicate themselves to exercise. Here are 11 quick and practical tips on how you can exercise your lazy dog!
11 Easy and practical tips to exercise a lazy dog
If you have a lazy dog and you are looking for tips on how to get them up and moving more often, then there’s good news for you!
We’ve got 11 easy and practical tips that will help your best friend live a healthier life! Share these ideas with friends, family, and fellow dog owners.
1) Get Outside
The fresh air is great for the dog’s mental health as well as their physical health. If you want to stay in your yard there are plenty of activities like fetch or tug-of-war that can be done. Also if it’s winter time try building an igloo out of snow! It’ll keep them cool during the summer heat too!
2) Feed your pet healthy food
You wouldn’t eat junk food all day everyday, so why should your dog? Try to feed them healthy, organic food as much as possible. If you do feed your pup right afterwards exercise, make sure it’s healthy food and not junk food like chips or biscuits. It’ll be better for their waistline and teeth while still being tasty enough for your pet! Give things like carrots sticks or apples slices as rewards. These foods are low in calories.
This will help make their coat shiny and prevent diseases like arthritis or osteoporosis! Remember that junk food is the number one cause of obesity in pets.
3) Start with a short walk around the block
Your pup will get used to walking before they start running. Start with just a few minutes to get them used to it and then raise the time gradually.
If you have another dog in your home, take both of them on separate walks at different times so they don’t fight over their human’s attention!
If you only have one pup, consider walking together every day or splitting up how far apart each walk is. One long and one short for example. By changing how often you exercise your lazy dog like this they’ll be much less likely to get bored with the routine.
Don’t forget that if your dog starts panting after 20-30 minutes of running (this means they’re overheating!). Try going slower or shorter distances until they’ve built up endurance.
4) Give your pup an incentive
Give your pup incentives by rewarding them with food after exercising (but only feed in moderation).
This is a great motivation for them to work harder so they can get their reward.
After all, how many times have you been too lazy to exercise because there was no incentive? There’s no shame in that! You’re human after all and we need is a bit time off sometimes. This tip will also help with the next point of making your dog healthier by keeping them from getting overweight (thanks to those treats).
5) Play fetch indoors
It’s great fun for both parties involved. A lot of people don’t think their dog can be active while inside. But how much space do you really need to play a game? A room or two should suffice, maybe even just one! You might have some trouble getting your pup interested at first but they’ll get the hang of it eventually . It’s also good for bonding and gives them something to focus on besides food! Make sure that if you’re going indoors only though that you use an area rug because hardwood floors are not very forgiving (and neither is carpeting) in case your dog gets riled up.
6) Don’t forget about toys
Try rope toys which will provide more exercise and give your pet’s teeth a break from chewing on hard plastic.
For those of us who are lucky enough to have an outdoor space, how about giving them some physical stimulation before meal times by throwing the ball with your pup and then feeding right afterwards? Or how about adding in a little tug-of-war or chase game after they’ve eaten too? Just don’t make it into a food fight! It’ll only encourage bad habits like begging for food in your pet.
7) Hide treats
Another idea is to hide treats around the house so that as you’re cleaning up or picking things up off the floor your dog can find them. They will be much more interested in these games than just searching empty rooms all day long! Be sure not to leave the treats out where your dog can get to them all at once or it’ll be too easy. This will also help with how active they are and how much weight they gain.
8) Establish a routine
It is better to establish a routine to schedule your walks and play with your furry friend around the same time everyday.
Anyway how long and how often you exercise your pup will depend on how active they are outside of their walks.
If they’re less active then walking might be enough for them; if not, try adding in a few minutes every day to work up to an hour or more! If they love running around the yard at home let them do that too, just make sure there’s some type of fence so they don’t get lost . They’ll feel much happier knowing what to expect.
9) Go for a hike
Getting outside is a great way to give your dog some much needed exercise. You might even make it into an adventure and go hiking somewhere new every time!
If you’re worried about how safe the trail will be for your pup, remember that they are more in tune with their surroundings than we are so don’t worry too much when giving them freedom of movement.
Just like humans, dogs get tired easily after walking long distances – keep this in mind as well if you want to take them on a longer expedition. It’s best not to push yourself or them past what they can do safely.
10) Invite your lazy dog to swimming
It’s one of the best exercises for a pup because it is not only calming but also provides them with physical activity. It can be hard on their joints though so make sure they have plenty of ramp time (and water breaks) before jumping into deeper waters.
11) Play in the snow
If you live somewhere that gets snow, how about playing outside together? They’ll love how unpredictable and exciting it is! Just don’t let yourself get too tired from all this exercise or your dog will tire out even sooner.
Why is my dog lazy? Medical conditions that can make your dog lazy
Now we’re going to talk about medical conditions that can make your dog lazy. If you notice an increase in laziness and are wondering why, this post might help.
The first thing we’ll discuss is Cushing’s disease. This condition affects your dog’s body by causing fatigue and weight gain which leads to decreased activity levels.
The next condition is Cushing’s-like syndrome, which is what happens when there isn’t enough cortisol in the bloodstream.
Next up is Addison’s disease. This condition has symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea.
Another common cause for increased laziness in dogs is Hypothyroidism.
Lastly we have diabetes mellitus (DM). Dogs with DM may have a decreased appetite and increased thirst.
Why does your lazy dog need exercise?
- Exercise is important for a healthy body and mind. From the day we’re born, our bodies are in constant motion. Dogs are no different. Simply put, exercise is necessary to maintain physical health and mental well-being.
- Exercising will help keep your doggy slim. Obesity can be caused by lack of exercise as it takes more energy to carry around excess weight than it does to stay at a normal size with sufficient activity levels. Inactivity also leads to muscle weakness and arthritis which may result in mobility problems later on in life if not dealt with in early stages.
- Keeping up an active lifestyle will help prevent diabetes. Lack of exercise can result in weight gain and obesity which increases the risk of diabetes. With more activity, a dog will have greater muscle mass as well as improved insulin sensitivity to help prevent this disease from developing or furthering its progression.
- Exercising outdoors is great for your dog. This not only provides space for natural behaviors but also helps them get fresh air that they are deprived of when inside all day! It’s important to note how much time dogs need outside though since their need for it depends on how active they were before (for example, if their average morning walk was an hour then maybe 40 minutes would be better).
Why is my dog so lazy in the morning?
Dog owners often ask themselves why their dog is so lazy in the morning. The reason for this is that your pup might be experiencing a type of jet lag called “canine circadian”. This phenomenon occurs when an animal’s internal clock and light-dark cycle don’t line up, which can cause them to sleep more or less than usual. If you are concerned about your pup’s sleeping habits, there are some things you can do to help align their body with the day time. First, make sure they get out during daylight hours at least once a day.
Second, feed them two hours before bedtime and take away food after 12 pm each night so they aren’t hungry overnight. Finally, consider investing in blackout curtains that keep out the light.
If you are concerned about how your pup is acting, they may be sick or experiencing a medical condition such as Cushing’s disease which can cause lethargy and weight gain in dogs due to how cortisol affects their body.
If this doesn’t seem like what you’re dealing with then there might not be anything wrong at all! Dogs often act differently when living in different environments so if your pup was more active before coming home with you its possible he/she just needs time to adjust to being inside all day instead of outside running around on his own terms.
Why is my dog so lazy in the summer?
The summer is a time of lazy days and lounging around for most people. For dogs, it’s no different! Your dog may be so exhausted from the long winter that he just wants to lay in the sun all day or take an afternoon nap in his favorite spot under your porch. The heat can also make your pup feel tired, sluggish, or nauseous – which can lead to some less-than-ideal behaviors like excessive panting and whining. Luckily there are some easy ways you can help out with these symptoms and prevent them from happening again next year.
- Keep drinking water! This will help hydrate your pet by keeping their skin moist as well as keep them cool during those hot summer months.
- Make sure your pup has a nice shady spot to cool off in during the day with water and plenty of shade.
Final thoughts
The best way to get a lazy dog into shape is through exercise and a healthy diet. You can start by putting in the time with your pup, taking them out for walks or letting them explore on their own around your neighborhood.
Dogs are capable of getting plenty of activity from just exploring their environment so don’t worry about having to take them to the gym every day! If you want more information about what types of exercises are most beneficial for dogs, then leave your comment below. We’re always happy to answer all your questions about canine health and wellness!
