5 Unusual Sports for Pets

The phrase “playing hard” doesn’t really apply to pets. In fact, if you ask them, most cats and dogs probably wouldn’t say that playing hard is one of their favourite pastimes. That being said, playing with your pet shouldn’t be a chore either. If played properly, playing with your pet can be beneficial for both of you! Check out these 5 unusual sports for pets that will make you wonder why they aren’t more popular.

Freeze Tag

This one won’t be for everyone, but for those who enjoy it, it’s a lot of fun. Freeze tag is a game that involves tag being passed around a group of players so that all are “it,” whether they like it or not. The goal of the freeze tag is to be the last player remaining without being tagged. The game is played with a large, soft rubber ball that can be passed around without the risk of injuring anyone.

The fun part of freeze tag is that it can get a little chaotic and unruly; it’s not uncommon for the ball to get tangled up in other players’ clothing or to be knocked around so much that a tag is not always certain. In addition to the fun of the game itself, freeze tag is a great warm-up exercise to help with coordination, agility, and quick thinking.

Agility Exercises

Dogs are naturally instinctually trained to hunt, and some dogs may be better at certain exercises than others. The most important thing with agility exercises is to make sure your dog enjoys them. If your dog hates agility courses, they are unlikely to enjoy them and will not get any benefit from them. When choosing an agility exercise, it’s important to look at the type of environment you have available.

Some exercises are better done in a large open area, while other exercises are better done in a smaller area. Some exercises are better done in low lighting, while other exercises are better done in bright light. Some exercises are better done in hot weather, while other exercises are better done in cool weather. You need to look at the exercise, and then look at the environment and see if it would be best in your situation.

Scent Detection Games

There are many different ways to play scent detection games with your dog. The most common way is to use a “scent ball”. This is a small ball filled with scent that you throw for your dog to find. Scent detection games can also be played with “scent plates”.

These are small plates that have been scented with a particular scent. You can either line the plate with the scent or place it in an area that your dog will be able to reach. Another way to play scent detection games is by using a “scent hose”. This is a hose filled with a scent that you can spray all throughout your yard.

Flyball Exercises

Flyball is a great sport for both active, young dogs and older dogs who enjoy running and jumping. The best part about flyball is that it can be played indoors or outdoors, and it works just as well in either environment. The basic idea behind flyball is that the two teams are separated by a long track. The teams then each pick a dog to be on their team.

The team with the flyball player attempts to catch the other team’s ball in the endzone, while the other team tries to avoid being tagged. There are a few different ways to play flyball. One way is for one person to be the “banana”, who stays at the end of the track with a ball. When the dogs from the two teams come flying by, the banana has to throw the ball to the side of the track without letting the dogs run over it.

If you want to play a slightly more advanced version of flyball, you can play “flyweight”. In this game, each team has two flyweights instead of one banana and one ball. Each flyweight can put down a net that the flyball players must negotiate.

Puzzle Games

Puzzles can be great for any dog who enjoys them. Some of the best puzzles are interactive toys that require your dog to think both to solve the puzzle and to get the treats or toys out of it. Interactive toys are great for dogs because they tend to make your dog think.

These toys can be puzzle boxes, where you put treats in a box and then your dog has to figure out how to get the treats out, or they can be toys like the Soggy Doggy. Puzzle toys can be great for older dogs, as well. Many of these toys involve more than one type of treat or toy, making them challenging for the older dog to figure out how to get all of the treats or toys out of the toy.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many different hobbies you can engage in with your dog. All of them are great for keeping your dog busy and active, and they are great for helping to keep your dog healthy as they increase their heart rate and burn off excess energy.

Of course, the most important part of any hobby is that it is fun for your dog. If your dog isn’t enjoying it, then it won’t be worth it for them either. So make sure you choose a hobby that your dog enjoys, and that fits their energy level.