Dear Miss Behavin’:

Our young Bulldog, Biscuit, has tons of energy but very little physical stamina and he overheats easily. We can’t take him running or hiking nor can he play fetch. Are there any suggestions for tiring him out?

We all know that a tired dog is (almost always) a good dog, but many dogs need alternate activity options or creative outlets to help burn energy. This is true for Biscuit, energetic senior dogs, dogs recovering from injuries, etc.

Keep in mind that exercising our dogs isn’t just physical. Mental exercise and stimulation is just as important and can be equally challenging and tiring.

For physical exercise, take Biscuit on 2-4 shorter walks throughout the day in lieu of a hike or run. If possible, take a different route each time. The shorter walks will prevent him from overheating. While walking, let Biscuit stop to sniff the different smells along your walk. Taking in the different scents is both mentally stimulating and satisfying for dogs and can make a short walk far more interesting.

Instead of fetch, you can turn basic obedience training into a “doggy workout” by teaching Biscuit different exercises such as a “push up” (cue a “down”, followed by a “sit”, followed by a “down”…), “roll-over”, “spin” and “shake”. While these exercises might not be challenging for a more athletic dog, fifteen to twenty minutes of these activities should go a long way for Biscuit.

Lastly, get Biscuit to utilize his powerful sniffer and brain by setting up Nosework (scent work) trials at home. You can hide treats, toys, or scents in boxes, on shelves, or under objects and then send Biscuit off to find them. This type of mental stimulation, along with food puzzles or interactive toys, are fun yet effective activities for dogs like Biscuit.