Why should you exercise your Australian Cattle Dog?
What is the Best Exercise for a Cattle Dog?
There are a few ways to meet Cattle Dog’s exercise needs. First, you can take them for long walks. Other ways to incorporate exercise can be with vigorous play or structured training. They love games like fetch and frisbee catch. You can also build physical strength by playing an indoor friendly tug-a-war.
To meet cattle dog exercise requirements can often take a lot of effort from owners. Because of this, these dogs will be best with people who have a healthy lifestyle. The best way to burn off a Heeler’s high energy is by going on a long walk. Instead of one long walk, you can try two 45-minute daily walks.
There is a range of other Australian Cattle Dog exercise techniques you can try. For example, you might want to try playing Frisbee catch or use a Chuckit ball launcher for a good long-distance challenge. You might also want to play games that engage the Cattle Dog’s herding instinct, like Jolly ball or treibball. These are perfect games for a big backyard.
No yard? No worries. Indoor games like tug-a-war, treat toys, brain puzzles, or hide and seek are some great options. There are more examples of exercises in my post, How to Keep an Australian Cattle Dog Busy.
Is it possible to exercise an Australian Cattle Dog indoors?
There are a few indoor exercise options for Australian Cattle Dogs.
How Much Exercise Does an Australian Cattle Dog REALLY Need?
If you have an Australian cattle dog, you know he is determined to see that both of you get plenty of exercise. Herding is an Australian cattle dogs nature, so he wants physical and mental activities. Otherwise, he wont be a happy camper.
The Australian cattle dog is an active breed that will become mischievous if not challenged mentally and physically. He does well at canine sports such as agility, obedience and flying disc activities. A protector of the family, he wants to be part of all family activities. He tends to bond more with one person and can be considered a “Velcro dog” because he wants to be by your side. He has an instinct to nip, part of the herding instinct to keep the cattle from straying. If put to a task, he can be relentless; monitor him so he doesnt hurt himself.
Plan on daily walks with your cattle dog. Two walks a day that are at least 45 minutes long are necessary for this active dog. If you love to jog, your cattle dog is a great companion. Rollerblading is another good activity for him. Consider biking with him in areas with no traffic. If you have an open field, take him off leash to run. Make sure he is under voice command before attempting off-leash activities. In the back yard, play fetch. Use a Frisbee for more challenging activities. In the house, you can play tug of war, a physical energy builder.
Hide-and-seek is an exercise in recall skills. Place your dog in the sit position and give him a “wait” signal such as holding up your hand. Leave the room and hide. Call your dog. When he finds you, give him lots of praise.
Give your Australian cattle dog toys stuffed with treats. Buster Cubes require the dog to roll it the right way to get the treat.
Spend time reviewing basic commands such as “sit,” “stay” and “roll over.” Cattle dogs love to please, so they are always ready to learn tricks.
Take your pup on long hikes. Put a weighted backpack on him. He will love the work. Because of an Australian cattle dogs natural herding instinct, he may nip at childrens heels. Its important to include regular training in his exercise routines. Teach him to “stop” and to go into the down position. Flyball is another activity that provides both mental and physical exercise. In Flyball, teams of dogs race each other over hurdles. They must release a ball and return it to their owners.
Pauline Gill is a retired teacher with more than 25 years of experience teaching English to high school students. She holds a bachelors degree in language arts and a Master of Education degree. Gill is also an award-winning fiction author.