What Counts As Exercise?

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

This feels likes a strange question to ask.  Ludo doesn't give me any indicators that he isn't getting enough exercise aside from occasionally being restless and me having to instigate a game, but I'm trying to find his form of exercise because he's not very good at fetch--he'll chase after things but won't bring them back and if he does bring something back, he loses interest after a couple throws.  I think he'll like neighborhood walks once he's had all his puppy shots but isn't a tremendous fan of the laps we do around our yard (he tries to go inside every time we reach and entry-point to the house).

In puppy preschool, the trainer mentioned that chewing was exercise and I should have asked then (but didn't) if it was just as good as fetch, in terms of getting exercise-- to me, it didn't seem like it possibly could be, but Ludo LOVES chewing on antlers and nylabones and rope toys-- anything really.  He also really loves eating out of kongs and West Paw toys and I know that those are mentally tiring.

I know he's a puppy and I'm not sitting here sweating this question or panicking about Ludo not getting enough exercise, I just want to help him find something that he loves that also really tires him out. 

Thanks so much.

[Moe]

If he's a tiny pup pretty much anything can count as exercise. My dog would not walk anywhere away from the house and repeatedly tried to go back inside for months. I could not get her to walk more than two house in either direction. I found that if I drove out of the neighborhood she would walk for hours. She just didn't like to walk away from the house. If this is the problem with your pup, when he's had all the shots, you could try driving to a local park or just down the road then practice leash walking. For young pups one of the best exercises is mental stimulation. Training is a great way to bond w your pup while exercising their mind and practicing self control. After the shots are completed it's never too young to start w a puppy class. 

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

Thanks!! We do tons of training throughout the day (probably 5-10, 5-10 minute sessions every day) so maybe he's getting enough stimulation from the training and chewing and regular playing with me :)  I appreciate your response!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree with Moe on the importance of training and mental stimulation.  Once Ludo is a little older and has had all his shots you can take him to places where there is activity and lots of different scents for exercise and stimulation.  I take my guys to our local parks and soccer fields and we usually walk or play fetch (long line) a couple times a day.  They get on average 90 minutes of brisk walking or running each day (but they're older).  That seems to be fine for them.

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

Thanks Jane!  I am with you on the importance of training and we do lots of training and I'll sometimes feed him out of a kong so I know that is mental stimulation as well.  Thanks also for sharing how much time, on average your dogs get for walks.  I'm not sure what Ludo will want/need but am definitely looking forward to finding out!

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

I think fetch is great exercise. I had to train Haley fetch and drop the ball once he had brought it back. It took lots treats and praise. I may have created a fetch monster because now he is somewhat obsessed. lol

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

That is a good point and something I have been working on.  Treats don't work too well for him because once treats are involved, he doesn't want to leave my side.  He just goes through his bag of tricks to see which one gets the treat and can't concentrate on the game.  It actually got to the point that I'd throw something and he'd run after it and if I said "bring it back", he'd stop in his tracks and barrel back to me (sans toy) as though I just asked him to come.  The trainer at puppy school suggested getting a few of the same toy and throwing one for him (just a few feet, even) and when he picks it up saying "get it" and then throwing the other toy in the opposite direction so the dog runs past you for the other toy.  It works for Ludo, but after a few throws, he just grabs his toy and goes to lay down and chew on it. :)

[Kris and Sawyer]

A thought: Even though they are all part retriever, they may still need formal instruction with playing fetch. I had to give treats at first to get Sawyer to bring the ball back. Didn't take long for him to figure it out after that!

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

I absolutely agree that fetch is something that they might need to be trained to do. Treats are a little TOO motivating for Ludo right now in that once a treat appears, he won't leave my side until he figures out which one of his tricks he needs to do to get the treat :p  I have been working on it this past week and am still holding out hope that I'll have a fetch monster like Mr Haley above!!

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

I seem to remember Doggy Dan saying that they learn fetch best by seeing another dog play...in any case, it takes some time to learn. Don't give up! :)

[Andrea, Belle and Honey]

It sounds as if Ludo's view of fetch is similar to Belle's originally.  Our trainer told us to teach fetch by doing it with the puppy at first. If I run Belle runs with me (not jogging, just moving fast in the yard).  So I held a toy, showed it to Belle and ran to the other side of the yard with Belle tagging along. When I stopped, I said "bring it" and we both ran back to where we started.  I then put the toy on the ground and said "drop it."  Then we did it again.  And again.  And again......  I used different toys (ball, mini-frisbee, rope bone etc).  When it is raining (Belle doesn't mind, but I do), we practice in the house with the rope toy to minimize damage. We also practiced "drop it" separately, a lot.  Then I started throwing the toy a short distance and said "bring it" and sometimes Belle would actually pick it up and bring it to me, and I would give her a high value treat and make a big fuss over her. Sometimes she would just pick up the toy and chew on it,  Now she brings it to me about 60% of the time.  It is still a work in progress.  I see success on the horizon.  And I lost 5 pounds.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Haha, Andrea - that is a great way to lose five pounds! I remember losing five myself after my pup came home - mostly from nerves!! ;)

[Wendy and Myla]

Myla hates playing fetch!  She will run and get it and then lay down about five feet from me and play with it.  I now have two balls, throw one and when she comes back, she wants me to throw the other one so she drops the one in her mouth (and gets a treat).  She will do this for a while but then just lays down as if to say, "What's the point?".  I honestly believe that at such a young age, mind stimulation is a good form of exercise!  You can do a training routine or just take him out and introduce him to different scenarios - I know he doesn't have his shots yet, but you could bring him to a school ground so he sees a lot of kids, bring him to a railroad crossing so that he hears the noise ,anything that you know he will be around as he gets older and he can get used to it while you are near!  We have a lot of farmland around here, so we introduced Myla to horses, cows, sheep etc. - it was hilarious to watch, but she felt protected and safe because we were holding her.  Creeks are fun, as they are noisy and he can step in the water - just anything that will stimulate his mind.  Guaranteed, when you bring him home, he will fall asleep and I'm sure just dream of all of the scents and sounds he heard!