How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need?

When we picked up our new lab mix puppy seven years ago, we asked the veterinarian how much exercise he would need. “A walked dog is a happy dog,” was his response.

And while that’s true to a certain extent, the fact is walking isn’t always enough. At least not for my dog. When we don’t get outside and play fetch or practice putting our toys away, he gets grouchy. He barks more frequently and even silently destroys one of his plush toys.

Then a trainer friend of mine introduced me to canine enrichment. She said that engaging in canine enrichment activities is the not-so-secret to success for a happy dog and a happy life. And I’ll tell you what. It’s been a lifesaver, so I had to share it with you.

What is canine enrichment?

Canine enrichment is improving and enhancing your dog’s mental state using a variety of activities that may exercise not only their bodies but also their brains. Walking your pooch might stimulate them as they engage in innate behaviors like sniffing and investigating, but unless you’re dealing with a senior or special needs dog, just walking won’t get the job done.

Studies have shown that allowing your dog to fire up their muscles and mind on the regular can decrease problem behaviors, reduce stress, and reinforce socialization practices. It can also help slow the decay of their mental clarity, which is especially common in senior dogs.

How often should I use canine enrichment activities?

The “right amount” of exercise your dog needs depends on many factors, including age, overall health, breed, and lifestyle. Low-energy dogs can be happy with short walks and play sessions, while medium to high-energy dogs require daily walks and more enrichment activities.

Five easy canine enrichment activities

When it comes to enrichment, there are plenty of things you can do with your dog. Canine enrichment is a way to exercise her natural, instinctual behavior while strengthening the bond between you and your dog, so when you’re thinking of things to do, choose activities that are fun for you too.

Here are five easy canine enrichment activities to try with your dog.

Hide treats around the house

One of the easiest ways to get your dog moving is by hiding treats around the house. Letting your pooch use his nose to find treats is incredibly stimulating. A dog’s sense of smell is so crucial, and it’s far more specialized and sensitive than humans’ sense of smell, so let them use it.

Use a KONG

The KONG is a rubber toy that dispenses treats or kibble as your pup moves it around. There are various ways to stuff a KONG, such as filling it with pumpkin or plain yogurt and mixing in a few treats. To make it more challenging, try freezing the KONG after you’ve stuffed it.

Teach her a new trick

Tricks are a great way to stimulate your dog mentally and bond with them. “Tricks” don’t necessarily mean teaching your dog to roll over or grab a soda from the fridge. They can be as simple as learning commands like “sit,” “stay,” or “lay down.” Remember that teaching a trick will take patience and consistency on both your parts, so include it in your daily routine.

Dog treat and puzzle balls

There’s a puzzle ball for every type of dog: large, small, heavy chewers and nose nudgers. These delightful numbers allow you to hide your dog’s treats or dry food in little crevices or holes within the ball that only release the food with encouragement from your dog. Dog puzzle balls can also be used to help fast eaters slow down.

Go on a Sniffari

In addition to your regular daily walks, try taking your pooch on a Sniffari. Choose a path or a spot you don’t visit often, and use a longer lead to give them some extra space. Allow your pup to check out interesting smells and sniff–uninterrupted. You can also drop a few treats in the grass to give them something to forage.

The bottom line is that every dog needs a good mix of physical exercise and mental stimulation. The exact nature of this balance will vary from dog to dog, so there’s no one-size-fits-all method for determining how much exercise your pet needs. Engage in enrichment activities regularly, and your pooch will be happy–and so will you.

Private Sessions

One-on-one session with a trainer for one hour at the park. Sessions range from “basic skills” to “advanced” and “tricks.” Members can purchase single sessions or discounted packages.

Group Classes

The &Pup Training Program is split into three classes: The Novice, The Apprentice and The Pup Master. These classes are designed to be taken in order, with each level building on the previous. Any pup can complete this program; they don’t need to be a training aficionado to succeed. Classes are four consecutive weeks with an average of five to eight pups per class.

The Essentials

The Essentials covers all the basic training skills that every pup and their human should know. Build the foundations for creating a positive relationship with your pup while teaching crucial commands like sit, stay, and come when called.

The Next Level

Building on the foundations taught in The Essentials, The Next Level introduces challenges like duration, distractions, and distance to strengthen skills. The difficulty gradually increases each week to strengthen behaviors and improve reliability effectively. New skills like stand, give a paw, wait at doors/gates, and heel position are also introduced.

The Master Class

With exercises designed to replicate real-world scenarios, The Master Class gives you and your pup the ability to effectively utilize your training skills in everyday life. The class also covers exercises that help to prepare pups for the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen and Urban Canine Good Citizen tests, therapy dog testing, and service dog work.

Specialty Workshops

Specialty workshops are led by an in-house or guest trainer on topics including tricks, nosework, obedience, recall, loose-leash walking, and more.

&Pup offers a variety of grooming services to help your pup look and feel their best. Our rates are based on your pup’s skin condition, coat, and hair type. All haircuts are performed using hand scissors. Prices vary depending on your pup’s weight, level of difficulty, and the time spent by our stylist.

All experiences are curated for each &Pup member and their preferences. Your pup’s grooming journey could begin with a personalized consultation with a stylist. From there, he/she will get a bath with our high-quality, signature &Pup organic shampoo and conditioner, ear cleaning, anal gland expression, nail cutting/filing, and teeth brushing. The stylist will brush out, blow out (by hand), and cut, all while giving extra love and attention.

What Makes &Pup Different?

The well-being of pups is our priority. With members-only access, &Pup ensures you and your pup will be surrounded by others who share your inclination to prioritize holistic well-being and socialization. We are more than a dog park–we are an environmentally friendly community focused on behavior, enrichment, and positive reinforcement-based training and play to nourish our pups’ social interaction. The benefits of off-leash experiences and pup-to-pup interaction that we strive to create at &Pup are also proven to create positive and long-lasting effects on their overall health and wellness.

What Is The &Pup Process?

When it comes to dog play, we implement a unique approach based on providing positive feedback, rather than focusing on corrections. While it may seem easier to correct inappropriate play, this can cause confusion for some dogs. It may even result in a reluctance to interact with other pups altogether or cause a buildup of frustration which can result in problematic behaviors like aggression.

Our highly trained team leads pup playtime by teaching pups a scientifically proven foundation of appropriately playing and interacting with others rather than just managing issues as they arise. Our goal at &Pup is to help your pup learn how to interact successfully with others for the rest of their life to ensure longevity and happiness for them and you.

Wellness

&Pup offers wellness exams and general checkups to keep your pup healthy. We recommend a wellness exam every six months to help treat and catch any issues early on. Wellness exams can include the reviewing of allergy and vomit/diarrhea workups, treatment of ear infections, eye issues, lameness, and lethargy.

Preventative Medicine

To keep your pup healthy, &Pup veterinarian team can perform preventative diagnostics such as annual vaccinations, parasite prevention, annual lab work, diagnostic imaging (x-rays), oxygen therapy, nutrition consultations, and genetic testing. Members will have direct access with their &Pup medical professional for issues or questions that arise between appointments.

Essential Park Vaccinations

In order for all dogs in the park to be safe, we require that members provide proof of a negative Giardia test every six months and mandatory, core vaccinations for rabies, bordetella, and DHPP. We also offer non-core vaccines for influenza, leptospirosis, and Lyme.

The Puppy Package

At &Pup, we offer everything that your puppy will need to ensure a long, healthy lifestyle including vaccinations, parasite prevention, microchipping, nutrition consultations, and spay and neutering.

Urgent Care

For issues that require immediate attention but are not life-threatening, &Pup offers urgent care appointments for all members. If your pup is experiencing an emergency outside of open hours or if matters require immediate medical intervention, please visit an emergency clinic.

Diagnostics

&Pup has the latest up-to-date veterinary equipment to better help diagnose your pup. Our doctors are highly skilled at diagnostic interpretation and can easily discern which tests to run to construct the best treatment plan for your pup. From preventative testing to sick patient diagnostics, we offer a state-of-the-art radiology suite, lab work, urinalysis, fecal testing, parasite tests, and cytology.

A Zone for Any Pup

The park has been curated to fit the needs of a range of canine temperaments as well as a variety of needs of our human guests. Whether your dog is high energy and likes to run around the park or is low energy and prefers to take in the view, we have designed an environmentally friendly zone for them to mingle. Areas for you to work, eat and socialize have also been designed into each of the spaces to meet your needs too.

Relax

A low-energy zone geared for relaxing or working while your dog engages. This area is off-leash, allowing your dog to socialize with dogs in the area and enjoy the enrichment provided within this zone. This area is ideal for lower energy and smaller pups.

Play

This zone is geared toward our social pups who love to play. This off-leash area is ideal for higher-energy dogs who want to chase around, play rambunctiously, and check out the sniff zones.

Bond

This zone is used for activities, workshops, and private events. This area can be blocked off from other park areas and made private. The multi-purpose area may be used for behavior assessments, pair or small group play, individual toy play, smaller events, training sessions & classes, agility, and interactive experiences. This area may be on-leash or off-leash, depending on use.

We Are Hiring!

Let’s Grow Together.

&Pup is building a culture of amazing people (and pups!). We are creating an environment that encourages our employees to perform their best and grow within our organization. If you are interested in joining our team, we’d love to hear from you.

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Monthly Events

With &Pup, your pup can now join you for your next night out. Our calendar of events will include a variety of opportunities to socialize with our community. These events range from movie nights to scavenger hunts and everything in between. There will also be holiday events, such as a Canine Costume Party for Halloween.

Private: Event Rentals

Is it your dog’s birthday or the anniversary you met your pup companion? Rent our space, throw a party, and invite your friends. Our Bond Zone is designed to give you a private space to host any event you can envision for your Pup.