Let’s make dog walks fun! Rowan, our Chief Nutritional Officer, talks to Kilted Coach Stephen Clarke about how to exercise with your dog. Stephen gives us 5 of his favourite exercises he regularly practices with his dog, Tilly.

Here are Stephen’s 5 ways to exercise with your dog:

Play tug of war - Stephen explains that tug of war is a perfect way to strengthen your dog’s jaw muscles. He notes that, if you have a strong dog “it’s exhausting”

Wrestle with your dog -  “Even 10 minutes of this and the sweat will be dripping off your face” 

Stephen equates this exercise to weight training, except you’ll use muscles you don’t normally use. It’s also a great way to connect with your dog and improve your bond.

Walk on resistant terrain - Stephen recommends walking on a beach or in a stream, where every step is the equivalent of 3 on a flat concrete surface.

Go swimming - a fantastic, low impact way to exercise with your dog. Perfect for senior dogs.

Sprint training - This is Stephen’s favourite. Walk a distance from your dog then prompt them to chase you to a pre-determined finish. As you improve, move closer to your dog before saying ‘go’. 

Rowan adds that a dog walk should be about exercising both the mind and the body. Changing your dog walk route on a regular basis helps to keep things interesting.