Activities To Exercise And Educate Your Pet
Exercising and educating your pet can be a really simple task if you know how to do it and without speeding up the training process. The darlings of the house can often be somewhat disastrous, since, in principle, they do not have the knowledge to control their natural impulses.
Do not forget that when we decide to include these beautiful beings in our lives, the commitment is long-term. That is why this time we bring you a series of games that will allow you to exercise and educate your pet, to make him a pleasant, enthusiastic, athletic and healthy companion.
The game, the best option to exercise and educate your pet
Dogs and cats are carried away by their instincts, unintentionally causing somewhat annoying or unpleasant situations. Unfortunately, this fact often leads to the abandonment of the animal, due to lack of information on the part of the owner and even lack of interest in the education of the pet.
When adopting a pet, in most cases, people tend to lean towards puppies, not only because of their undeniable cuteness, but also because they see the opportunity to educate their new companion from scratch. Even if they have developed some behaviors due to past trauma, it is much easier to combat them at that age.
Hyperactivity is one of the main characteristics of these little friends, they are full of vitality and want to know the world. For this reason, games are the best option to exercise them, ‘tire’ them and educate them. Through special activities you can develop both the physical and mental strength of the little one.
By this we do not mean that games do not work to exercise and educate your adult pet. Performing these types of routines strengthens your bond with them; It helps them better overcome past trauma, makes it easier to learn commands, reduces stress, and keeps them active.
Activities to exercise and train dogs
There are two types of activities that you can do with your dog: those that stimulate his mental development and those that strengthen his physical resistance and his natural abilities (tracking, hunting, catching prey). The ideal is to combine both to get the best educated dog possible.
The first order commands are the best way to start. It is generally easy to get them to sit down with the word ‘sit’, but only answering your call is more complicated. Therefore, going up and down the stairs is a good exercise both for muscle and for retention of commands related to moving forward or stopping.
Playing catch, be it a Frisbee , a toy tied to a rope or even the dog itself, exercises your friend’s reflexes, allowing him to also strengthen his attention, a quality necessary for learning.
Five minutes of music or sounds of nature provide positive sensations to the dog. You can use it as a resource to reassure your furry friend if he is very anxious and suffers when he is alone at home.
Homemade obstacle courses are another good example. It is not very complicated, just hide a prize and put some simple obstacles like rolled towels or cushions. With this you will favor their sense of search and imagination, overcoming small difficulties.
Activities to exercise and educate cats
Cats tend to be more rebellious and impulsive due to their natural independence. Educating them is usually a bit more difficult. The owner must convince them that the task they must learn is a worthwhile skill. Hence, games are essential to exercise and educate your pet.
If you want your feline to stop biting you, play dead. If he is overly aggressive when playing and uses his teeth or claws, respond to him by stopping playing, standing or sitting quietly, and ignoring him. Your cat will want to play and will quickly learn that he does not want that outcome.
Give him toys that he can hit or catch like a rubber mouse, a ball, or feathers tied to a string. With this game you can refine their hunting instincts, as well as drain the accumulated energy, allowing them to control their levels of arousal and aggressiveness.
Climbing is one of the passions of cats, especially since they love to be above the ground. So give your partner fun places where he can climb; This will help him not only stay active, but stay away from the kitchen counter, dining room, and dangerous shelves.
Finally, if you want your feline to learn some tricks, use a clicker ; If you don’t have, you can help yourself with a retractable pen. By giving him a treat each time you click the clicker , he will associate the sound with the treat. Over time, your cat will do the trick you want every time you play it.
Tips to play
- Do not saturate the animal. Exercising and over-educating your pet can be counterproductive and frustrating for both of you. They will probably get bored, lose interest, and don’t want to continue the routine if you insist too much.
- Stay consistent. To obtain good results you must combine patience with perseverance. If you do not perform routine play sessions, your pet will not be able to internalize what you teach him.
- Use positive reinforcement. A pet educated from kindness will learn much faster.
