Denver After Dawn: best ways to exercise your dog

Editor’s note: Throughout the spring, RED’s Denver After Dawn series will look at fun morning and daytime activities in and around the Mile High City.

As every dog owner knows, their best friends are full of energy.

Having said that, dog parks aren’t for everyone. Many animals find them a bit too raucous and overwhelming. But don’t worry — there are plenty of fun alternative options.

RED asked Jenn Davidek, veterinary-hospital manager and Metropolitan State University of Denver alumna (with a B.S in Biology, including the University’s pre-veterinary program) for some expert suggestions.

“The key thing to remember is that exercise should ideally be mental as well as physical,” Davidek said. “Owners should also be aware of their own dog’s health and vaccine status, as well as the status of their furry play pals.”

Go out for ‘sniffy’ walks

Everyone knows it’s all about the nose with dogs. Take your pet for a walk in a new location and go slow so they can really explore the area with their nose. Sniffing and exploring is the real focus on this kind of walk, rather than how much distance you cover or at what speed. Besides getting some good exercise in unfamiliar territory, it’ll be a real treat for their heightened olfactory senses.

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Organize your own pooch play group

Do you have friends or family members with healthy, vaccinated dogs who enjoy interacting with other dogs? Organize a play group with a few friendly dogs in an enclosed area, such as a good-size yard or house. And if hosting, be sure to remove any of your pet’s valued items (treats, chew toys, bones, etc.) that may encourage resource guarding. While some dogs can be overwhelmed by a group of dogs, most will happily play with one, two or three others — so start small and see how your dog handles it. If they all have fun together, you can invite more to the party next time.

Doggy day care or day camps

These are great places where your pet can meet other dogs and have the choice to play with them off leash and in a safe environment. Day camps get the key things right: They typically require that all participating dogs be up to date on vaccines and also require a short behavioral assessment before accepting pets into a play group. And because dogs will occasionally, well, dog, the employees are trained and equipped to handle any canine misunderstandings or altercations that might occur.

Hide their treats

Here’s a great idea you can easily do at home: Hide treats around the house (behind a chair, on a windowsill, under a bed) and then let your dog find them by sniffing and exploring. This provides great mental stimulation and is especially useful for dogs who might have mobility concerns. Start out by being very obvious — maybe even let the dog see where you hide the treat, initially — and then gradually increase the difficulty rate as they catch on to the idea. And if your dog isn’t food-motivated, you can easily play the same game by using a favorite toy. They will still love the thrill of the chase.

Play hide and seek

Dogs love this game, which works best when there’s another human in the house who can prevent your pup from following when you “hide.” Just have your dog stay in one room while you walk to another room and stand or crouch somewhere obvious and then shout, “Find!” Your dog will naturally start searching to find you — and when they do, you can celebrate with praise, pets or treats. As they grow accustomed to the game, you can start to make them work more by finding more intricate hiding locations. But you’ll be lucky to outrun a dog’s nose!