How to Tire Out Your High-Energy Dog

Here are ten great ways to tire out a dog and give yourself a breather.

1. 1. Trips to the dog park: Visiting the dog park gives your pet a combination of physical activity and socialization while giving you a chance to meet fellow dog owners.
2. 2. Regular walks: Some pet owners make the mistake of only taking their dogs out to relieve their bladders, failing to see the benefit of walks for a dog’s well-being. A daily mix of short and long walks will help tame your dog’s energy levels and create a routine that your pet looks forward to.
3. 3. Aerobic exercise: To manage excess energy, make your dog exercise. Many dog breeds love to play fetch, whether with a tennis ball or a frisbee. Some dogs’ minds don’t see the point in fetching. Despite this, these dogs will happily accompany you on a jog (or even dash alongside you as you ride a bike or a skateboard).
4. 4. Flirt poles: Flirt poles, or flirt sticks, are long sticks with fabric dangling off of them like a lure. They are sometimes used in dog training to condition a dog’s brain to chase an object without trying to destroy it. You can stand in one place and move the pole around. Your dog will run all over the place, but you get to remain stationary, making this a great game if you’re feeling worn out.
5. 5. Tug-of-war: If you have a bit of energy yourself, play tug-of-war with your dog. Most dogs have a natural instinct to tug on things and may bring you a favorite rope, hoping to lure you into a game of tug-of-war. Take note when playing that you should not lift your dog off the ground while they’re dangling from a rope by their teeth. The dog may think this is fun and not let go, but this can be bad for their teeth and spine.
6. 6. Hide-and-seek: A game of hide-and-seek is another playtime favorite for dogs. This can also be a fun mental exercise for your dog. Just take note that when you play hide-and-seek, you may tire out faster than your pooch does.
7. 7. Food puzzle toys: Few things motivate dogs as much as a savory dog treat. A puzzle-based dog toy, with food as the reward, provides the mental stimulation your dog needs, and it can occupy them for long periods of time. Take a puzzle toy, and bait it with dog treats, a bit of kibble, or a dollop of peanut butter, which most dog breeds go nuts for.
8. 8. Snuffle mats: A snuffle mat is a variation on a food puzzle toy. Essentially, it is a big heavy mat that a dog must exert effort to get under and wriggle beneath. If you hide food or a favorite toy under a snuffle mat, your dog will use their sense of smell to locate it and dislodge it from its hiding spot.
9. 9. Obstacle course training: If you want to get more ambitious, enlist your dog in obstacle course training sessions with a professional dog trainer. In addition to providing physical exercise, obstacle courses will teach your doggy new tricks and improve their obedience. Border collies, with their strong herding instincts and an intrinsic desire to please, do particularly well with obstacle course training.
10. 10. Chew toys: Some dogs don’t need that much physical activity to calm down. They can be perfectly happy gnawing on a chew toy, which can relax them. Try chew toys with new puppies who don’t yet understand the rules of games but have a lot of excess energy.

There are many fun activities to choose from when you’re looking to tire out your high-energy dog. No matter form of exercise you choose, consider following these tips.

1. 1. Train your dog as early as possible. Puppy training pays dividends for your dog’s entire life. The skills and routines your dog learns as a young puppy will become ingrained in their mind. Ask your dog trainer to include tiring games into your puppy’s routine. Once they’ve learned these games, you can play them whenever your dog has some extra energy.
2. 2. Prioritize dog walking in your daily schedule. All dogs need to be walked on a daily basis, and not just for answering nature’s call. Dog walks introduce your pooch to new sights and new smells, which makes them happy and energetically fulfilled.
3. 3. Don’t overlook mental stimulation. Dogs need mental exercise as much as they need physical exercise. This is particularly true of mentally agile breeds like border collies. Many dogs were bred over millennia to do work. They enjoy having a task and a role within the family.
4. 4. Think of activities with your dog as an opportunity, not a chore. If you’re thinking up ways to tire out your dog, consider your own likes as well, and choose activities that are fun for both of you. You can try long-toss frisbee retrieving, obstacle course training, or going on long runs together.

Your dream of having a dog who understands words like “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and—crucially— “no” is just a MasterClass Annual Membership away. The only things you’ll need to train up a well-behaved pup are your laptop, a big bag of treats, and our exclusive instructional videos from superstar animal trainer Brandon McMillan.

Here are ten great ways to tire out a dog and give yourself a breather.

1. 1. Trips to the dog park: Visiting the dog park gives your pet a combination of physical activity and socialization while giving you a chance to meet fellow dog owners.
2. 2. Regular walks: Some pet owners make the mistake of only taking their dogs out to relieve their bladders, failing to see the benefit of walks for a dog’s well-being. A daily mix of short and long walks will help tame your dog’s energy levels and create a routine that your pet looks forward to.
3. 3. Aerobic exercise: To manage excess energy, make your dog exercise. Many dog breeds love to play fetch, whether with a tennis ball or a frisbee. Some dogs’ minds don’t see the point in fetching. Despite this, these dogs will happily accompany you on a jog (or even dash alongside you as you ride a bike or a skateboard).
4. 4. Flirt poles: Flirt poles, or flirt sticks, are long sticks with fabric dangling off of them like a lure. They are sometimes used in dog training to condition a dog’s brain to chase an object without trying to destroy it. You can stand in one place and move the pole around. Your dog will run all over the place, but you get to remain stationary, making this a great game if you’re feeling worn out.
5. 5. Tug-of-war: If you have a bit of energy yourself, play tug-of-war with your dog. Most dogs have a natural instinct to tug on things and may bring you a favorite rope, hoping to lure you into a game of tug-of-war. Take note when playing that you should not lift your dog off the ground while they’re dangling from a rope by their teeth. The dog may think this is fun and not let go, but this can be bad for their teeth and spine.
6. 6. Hide-and-seek: A game of hide-and-seek is another playtime favorite for dogs. This can also be a fun mental exercise for your dog. Just take note that when you play hide-and-seek, you may tire out faster than your pooch does.
7. 7. Food puzzle toys: Few things motivate dogs as much as a savory dog treat. A puzzle-based dog toy, with food as the reward, provides the mental stimulation your dog needs, and it can occupy them for long periods of time. Take a puzzle toy, and bait it with dog treats, a bit of kibble, or a dollop of peanut butter, which most dog breeds go nuts for.
8. 8. Snuffle mats: A snuffle mat is a variation on a food puzzle toy. Essentially, it is a big heavy mat that a dog must exert effort to get under and wriggle beneath. If you hide food or a favorite toy under a snuffle mat, your dog will use their sense of smell to locate it and dislodge it from its hiding spot.
9. 9. Obstacle course training: If you want to get more ambitious, enlist your dog in obstacle course training sessions with a professional dog trainer. In addition to providing physical exercise, obstacle courses will teach your doggy new tricks and improve their obedience. Border collies, with their strong herding instincts and an intrinsic desire to please, do particularly well with obstacle course training.
10. 10. Chew toys: Some dogs don’t need that much physical activity to calm down. They can be perfectly happy gnawing on a chew toy, which can relax them. Try chew toys with new puppies who don’t yet understand the rules of games but have a lot of excess energy.

There are many fun activities to choose from when you’re looking to tire out your high-energy dog. No matter form of exercise you choose, consider following these tips.

1. 1. Train your dog as early as possible. Puppy training pays dividends for your dog’s entire life. The skills and routines your dog learns as a young puppy will become ingrained in their mind. Ask your dog trainer to include tiring games into your puppy’s routine. Once they’ve learned these games, you can play them whenever your dog has some extra energy.
2. 2. Prioritize dog walking in your daily schedule. All dogs need to be walked on a daily basis, and not just for answering nature’s call. Dog walks introduce your pooch to new sights and new smells, which makes them happy and energetically fulfilled.
3. 3. Don’t overlook mental stimulation. Dogs need mental exercise as much as they need physical exercise. This is particularly true of mentally agile breeds like border collies. Many dogs were bred over millennia to do work. They enjoy having a task and a role within the family.
4. 4. Think of activities with your dog as an opportunity, not a chore. If you’re thinking up ways to tire out your dog, consider your own likes as well, and choose activities that are fun for both of you. You can try long-toss frisbee retrieving, obstacle course training, or going on long runs together.

Your dream of having a dog who understands words like “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and—crucially— “no” is just a MasterClass Annual Membership away. The only things you’ll need to train up a well-behaved pup are your laptop, a big bag of treats, and our exclusive instructional videos from superstar animal trainer Brandon McMillan.