Exercise and Play
How do I play with my puppy?
Puppies want to play a lot. Experiment with a variety of toys for fetching, chasing, and chewing. You can teach your dog to play even if he has never done it before. However you choose to play with your puppy, though, avoid using your hands or body as toys. Those gentle little jaws have tiny dagger-like teeth, and the jaws will become much stronger with age. Allowing your puppy to use your body as a toy will create habits that are difficult to break later in life.
- KONG pet stix dog toy
- For tossing and tugging
- KONG Classic dog toy
- Can be filled with peanut butter or treats to encourage interaction
- Chuckit! Indoor Ball
- Soft and harmless
How do I get my dog to exercise when I am not home?
Some puppies keep themselves busy, but your puppy will most likely sleep for quite some time when you aren’t home! Most likely, your puppy will be crated when you aren’t home, so you’ll want to provide appropriate chew or squeaky toys that he can’t destroy so he can self-entertain until you’re back. As your pup grows and graduates from crate confinement to an entire room or free-roaming, you can hide treats for your puppy to find. You can also use electronic or treat filled toys.
- PetSafe Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug Meal Dispensing Toy
- Fill with food to keep him busy
- Bark Bazaar Squeaky Ball
- Fill with treats
- Nina Ottosson's Interactive Dog Toy
- Your dog has to solve a puzzle to get the treats or food
- iFetch
- Interactive on demand ball launcher lets dogs play fetch without human assistance (small dogs only)
Can I take my puppy for long walks?
It depends on the puppy’s age and size. The younger and smaller they are, the less distance they can tolerate. It will take some time to get your puppy used to walking nicely on a leash, but going for regular walks is a great way to incorporate exercise, bonding, and training into your pet’s routine.
- Comfort Control Dog Walking Harness with padded vest
- Safety, control and comfort all wrapped into one
- Flexi Explore Retractable Belt Dog Leash
- Allows your dog additional freedom when walking but can also be locked shorter for tighter control
- Halti Opti Head Collar for Dogs
- Helps control pulling by an untrained or especially energetic dog