17 Ways To Exercise Your Reactive Dog Besides Your Local Dog Park

Author image for elina lee
elina lee
Apr 3, 2022 12:00 PM EDT

Hello ICanHasers, and welcome to today's puppy parenthood discussion: reactive doggos. All dogs are unique, have different behaviors, needs, and require unique approaches. The word 'reactive' seems to carry a certain connotation. Oftentimes, all sorts of dogs get categorized as 'reactive'. Whether they're barking at a trespasser until he leaves or at a tree for 15 minutes. 

What's important to note is that reactive dogs are those that tend to overreact, demonstrating unusual behavior. It's always best to see a professional vet to help determine whether your dog is reactive or not. Today we're bringing you a Reddit discussion where someone asked for advice on ways to exercise a reactive dog that doesn't do well at public dog parks. We're sure that many people can relate, your dog doesn't necessarily have to be reactive to not enjoy dog parks. Some have a little bit of social anxiety, and that's okay. We present to you 17 pieces of advice from fellow dog owners: 

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to start your Caturday with the funniest felines on the internet!

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01
    Rectangle - Posted by u/Tall_Raspberry_9609 8 hours ago Way to exercise reactive dogs? Hey everyone, I am looking for ways to exercise my reactive dog who does not do very well at our local dog park. What are some things y'all do?
    via u/Tall_Raspberry_9609
  • 02
    Art - Cultural_Ad_351 · 7 hr. ago I take my girl to local tennis courts. Enclosed all the way around and no one around after school hours.
    via u/Cultural_Ad_351

    A tennis court is a great idea! Probably any court for that matter. Or even running tracks. Honestly, the possibilities are endless. As long as there aren't any people and tons of space for running and sniffing, doggo will be happy. You'll be left with a happy worn-out pup after all of that exploring. 

  • 03
    Hair - ARW18 · 5 hr. ago I do something similar, I take them to a school that's mostly fenced in after school hours. My dog is so motivated by ball that it's hard to take his focus off of it
    via u/ARW18
  • 04
    Font - Butidigress817 · 6 hr. ago I learned about SniffSpot from this sub and it's changed everything for us.
    via u/Butidigress817
  • 05
    Human body - chrome__yellow · 4 hr. ago It's an app where people rent out their land for segments of time for you to use with your dog. One sniffspot might be someone's fenced in backyard, another might be acres and acres on someone's farm. It's really great!
    via u/chrome__yellow

    This sounds like an amazing initiative. Made by puppy parents for puppies and their parents. If this is something you can afford, we're sure your pup will enjoy it. But if this doesn't seem like something you'd want to indulge in, there are many other (free) options for endless sniffies and walkies. 

  • 06
    Font - jones419_ · 7 hr. ago You can try enrichment toys or a flirt pole
    via u/jones419_
  • 07
    Font - ct2707 · 7 hr. ago I like to exercise my dog mentally at home. We do a lot of nose work.
    via u/ct2707
  • 08
    Font - arkklsy1787 · 6 hr. ago We do Easter egg hunts, puzzles, and snuffle mats in case you need ideas
    via u/arkklsy1787
  • 09
    Font - pmak_ · 5 hr. ago My dog has little to no recall, so he goes on a long I think it's 50ft lead and we go to sport fields. Sometimes I have to adjust based on the season because of school sports and such but usually they are pretty empty and my boy gets to run around and sniff to his hearts content! Brain games are fun, lick-it mats, puzzles, we play "find it" (I tell him to sit/stay then hide whatever toy he is super interested in at the moment, then tell him to find it! Whenever he finds
    via u/pmak_
  • 10
    Human body - AssociateSweet · 6 hr. ago I recently got a long 30ft leash and we will drive and find a quiet field that he can just sniff around in. It's been a game changer! He is always way more tired doing 30 minutes of sniffing vs hour long walks and usually less stressed.
    via u/AssociateSweet
  • 11
    Human body - cantgaroo · 5 hr. ago Decompression sniff walks are the best! My favorite spot is the flat area next to my favorite hiking trail, because it doesn't get as much traffic as the mountain and there's loads of interesting things to sniff.
    via u/cantgaroo
  • 12
    Font - NonSequitorSquirrel · 5 hr. ago Nose work at home School yards during hours when kids aren't likely to be there (elementary schools at dinnertime or early mornings) Office parks on weekends. Usually there's a lot of grass and no humans on weekends. Parking lots for dead malls or closed big box stores Your dog doesn't know a pretty park from a warehouse parking lot. It's a big space with a lot of sniffs. Give her a super long lead and let her run and sniff. Just make sure there isn't broke
    via u/NonSequitorSquirrel
  • 13
    Font - vonsprungleminsch · 5 hr. ago Todays suggestion from my dog behavior trainer - put small amounts of food or treats in many small boxes (like toothpaste box/and food cardboard packaging) and put those boxes inside other boxes and then close the last box and give it too the pup. Ideal if you have a yard or enclosed outside space but inside is not the end of the world either. My dogs LOVE tearing up cardboard.... Add snacks and it's a real winner
    via u/vonsprungleminsch
  • 14
    Human body - BoomZhakaLaka · 7 hr. ago Hikes. In the wilderness with all the sounds, smells, and critters. Doesn't even need that much exercise really, just the engagement. Wears him right out.
    via u/BoomZhakaLaka
  • 15
    Font - hijklml · 4 hr. ago We walk in a dog friendly cemetery! There's tons of birds and squirrels to work obedience around prey and because of the way the paths are set up it's pretty easy to keep distance from any other people/dogs there. Also second large parking lots and office parks! Realizing my dog didn't care whether we were on a beautiful mountain or smelling garbage in the parking lot around the corner from us was a big game changer for me. Jogging with my dog also tires him out a lot
    via u/hijklml
  • 16
    Human body - goldilocksmermaid · 7 hr. ago My boyfriend takes ours for a bike ride. We use an attachment so he can't cross over. He does about 5 miles a day and still wants to play when he's done.
    via u/goldilocksmermaid
  • 17
    Human body - SuperGoober112 · 3 hr. ago Please be careful, I've seen dogs pass out from this because they are trying to keep up with the bike but don't know their limits.
    via u/SuperGoober112
  • 18
    Human body - katasstrophy- · 2 hr. ago Lots and lots of chuck it ball throws in the backyard before walking him. It tires him out and calms him so that he's not as reactive when walking.
    via u/katasstrophy

    For a weekly dose of animal-themed community challenges - Subscribe to our Newsletter!

     

    Can't get enough of ICanHasCheezburger? Find us on Instagram!

     

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

dog park unusual behavior dogs parenthood puppy barking reactive doggo advice Reddit
Scroll Down For The Next Article