If you have a spacious backyard, you can use it to entertain your dog physically and mentally.
High energy breeds need much more stimulation than daily walks and a bit of play. They need to eliminate excess energy as a healthy and mandatory way to prevent destructive behavior.
Experts recommend walking your dog at least daily as great for expending extra energy. However, sometimes you may not walk your dog because of a busy schedule.
Developing a good routine that keeps your dog active is crucial. A backyard is a safe option to let the dog exercise and enjoy the fresh air.
Let your dog use your fenced-in backyard for exercises, especially when life gets hectic to walk him around. It's a great way for the dog to get fresh air and exercise in a safe environment.
You can play games, provide toys or use scent stimulation. This article focuses on keeping a dog entertained in a yard and how long you should leave them alone.
How to keep a dog entertained in the yard?
Finding fun and constructive ways to play with your dog is one of the best parts of being a dog owner.
The best games for a dog provide physical exercise while offering mental stimulation.
If you are a busy dog owner, there are several things you can do to keep your dog entertained in the yard. They are various games you can learn to play in the backyard with your dog.
- Sent Stimulation
- Playing Fetch
- Frisbee Fun
- Laser Poiunter
- Tug-of-War
Let's look at each one.
1. Scent stimulation
Allow your dog to explore the yard and improve its tracking skills by placing items around the yard that it can find using its senses. Once the dog finds an object, reward it.
Scent stimulation is fun yet mentally stimulating game for dogs. When playing the game, keep a bowl of water available so the dog can stay hydrated while searching for items within the backyard.
2. Play Fetch
Fetch is a good old game that always entertains your dog. It is a game where you throw a ball or stick a distance away from the dog and send him to retrieve it.
You often say fetch to their dog before or after throwing the object. Playing this game with your dog has many positive aspects, such as bonding and excellent exercise.
It also enhances your dog's behavior because it releases pent-up energy that is destructible.
3. Backyard Frisbee fun
Frisbee is a great game for high-energy dogs to grow their concentration and agility.
Throw frisbee around the backyard when the weather is nice and warm. Dogs love and enjoy this game and can help bond with children.
4. Laser pointer
Playing with the laser pointer is a perfect evening game with your dog after you've come from a long working day and relaxing in your yard.
It is an eternal game with no closure as the dog can't ever catch the beam of light. As the laser pointer moves, it triggers a dog's prey drive.
5. Tug of War
Play a tug-of-war game with your pet as part of your dog's daily exercise. It provides great mental and physical exercise for your dog and is a wonderful way to reinforce the bond.
Despite popular belief that tug-of-war increases aggression, the game provides your dog with a physical and mental challenge.
While some dogs like to face, others prefer to tug. It's a healthy display of their predatory nature. Train your dog on how to play this game.
While walking your dog provides them with exercise, a fenced-in backyard can also achieve the same purpose.
The backyard is a safe option to let the dog run full tilt and burn off some steam.
Most dogs enjoy seeing different things, smelling fresh smells, and hearing unfamiliar sounds. They also love spending time outdoors, especially when the weather is nice.
Keeping your dog in the yard has several physical and mental benefits that contribute to your dog's well-being. It can help the dog maintain a healthy body weight and remain in good condition by burning energy.
Some dog breeds need plenty of outdoor activity to stay happy and well-adjusted.
Instead of keeping your dog in enclosed spaces, leave them to run in the backyard. It exposes your dog to fresh air that's good for its health. Outdoor air quality is better than indoor air quality.
An enclosed dog becomes sheltered and will grow into becoming less confident and comfortable with new people. Being outdoors can help reduce boredom, anxiety, and depression. Find a balance between walking your dog and leaving it in the backyard.
Make sure you provide a fun and safe environment for the dog. For example, you can build a fence around your yard to keep the dog on your property. Install a fully fenced yard that allows the dog to roam around the property freely while staying safe.
Choose a fence that your dog cannot jump or easily dig and over around. While dogs love spending time outdoors, it's best to bring them in before bedtime to spend time with your family.
Toys to keep a dog entertained in the yard
Outdoor playtime is great for dogs of all sizes and ages. A good play session with your dog does more than get you exercising in the fresh air.
The time spent running, exploring, and fetching stimulates the dog's intellect, encourages social skills, and furthers your bond.
You can give your dog the best outdoor toys to keep them busy. Purchase toys that will encourage your dog to exercise or release pent-up energy. It's best to provide a variety of toys such as chew toys, dog puzzles, and flush bolts.
The best toy should be durable enough to withstand weather elements and your dog's teeth.
1. Chewable toy
You can find a different job on toys that your dog can enjoy chewing while in the yard. The best chew toys are durable and safe while helping your pup develop if he shows destructive behavior or chewing habits.
They can also strengthen a dog's teeth and make them strong. Ensure you inspect the toy regularly for damage and ensure the dog doesn't swallow it.
2. Giggle ball
This is a ball that makes sounds when my dog plays with it.
It is a unique tool that will cut your dog's attention and make him happy, healthy, and fit. The dog can use the ball indoors or outdoors for exercise and entertainment.
3. Tether tug toy
Your dog may love an endless game of tug-of-war, but you don't have the energy to do it. Get yourself a tether tug toy to anchor the metal base into the ground.
This toy is great for puppies and older dogs who need something extra gentle on their teeth while pulling. It's an activity that promotes impulse control, builds confidence, and strengthens the bond with your dog.
4. Splash pad
Since dogs love water on hot days, a water feature such as a splash pad can be a great way to provide entertainment. It allows the dog to enjoy splashing water around for exercise and fun.
If your dog loves to play in the water, the Splash Pad is a toy that will get its tail wagging. It is a pop-up water park made of durable PVC material that can stand up to Jumping and play.
5. Chase ball
Since most dogs love chasing and catching a ball, get a chasing ball to play. Purchasing your dog a chasing ball can cater for the extra energy and ensure they stay fit.
Some dogs love chasing after a disc or a ball. They will never stop playing fetch with chasing or fetch toys. Buying a new toy is a funny reward for your dog that can lend themselves to some exciting games of fetch. However, it's not a great option for larger dogs since tennis balls can be choking.
Is it healthy to keep your dog in the yard?
Yes, keeping your dog in the yard is healthy.
It's common for a dog to become bored and frustrated when enclosed in a house, leading to destructive behaviors. If you keep the dogs in enclosed spaces, they can also become sheltered and less confident.
Letting your dog run around in the backyard can be a beneficial supplement to walking your dog. They enjoy some fresh air and sunshine with an endless supply of interesting smells.
Can you leave your dog in the yard for an extended time alone?
While leaving a dog in your yard is a good idea, leaving it for an extended time alone can lead to behavioral problems.
When isolated with limited human companionship, even the friendly dogs can become bored and frustrated. As a result, it leads to excessive barking, destruction habits, aggression, and depression.
This unwanted destructive behavior can become strong when you leave the dog alone in the yard for a long time.
They will display escape behavior, fence fighting, digging, and inappropriate chewing.
Dogs cooped up in the yard lack mental stimulation and physical exercise, which will leave them looking for ways to fill their time and expel energy.
Leaving your dog alone for the whole day is stressful since dogs are social animals and get lonely when left alone. They need to interact with the people at least several times a day and with other dogs occasionally.
A puppy needs lots of social interaction to develop good behavior.
The answer on how long you can keep your dog outside during the day is more complicated than you would expect. It varies depending on your dog's needs, health and breed.
For example, while large dogs with thick coats enjoy outdoor romps for longer periods in chilly temperatures, small single-coated and hairless dogs cannot spend a long time outside in the cold.
More than ten hours is long for a dog to be alone in a single stretch.
As a general rule, it's okay to leave your dog unattended for brief periods as long as they don't show anxiety or stress issues. If you have small parts, leaving them for long in the cold can lead to hypothermia and frostbite.
Conclusion
Part of owning a dog is to decide where to leave your dog while you're at work or running errands.
Dogs are natural scavengers and may develop destructive behavior. One of the best choices is to leave it in the yard for some time while providing toys and games.
However, leaving your dog for extended periods can cause behavioral issues such as attempting to dig under the fence. Provide a securely fenced backyard and watch over your dog.
Dan is a well respected content researcher who has vast experience working projects in the pets niche. He is a frequent contributor to dogtemperament.com and loves delivering numerous helpful dog articles like this one that are read by thousands of our readers monthly.