Activities with Pets: Dock Diving, Surfing, Flyball

Engaging in activities with your pet is a great way to bond, keep fit together and provide mental stimulation.

Starting points

• Choose an activity that suits your pet's interests.
• Does your dog enjoy swimming or does your cat enjoy chasing?
• Avoid exercising pets in the middle of the day; especially in summer, or in locations that are hot and humid; as this puts animals at an increased risk of heatstroke, which can be fatal
• Keep pets well hydrated by offering water before, during and after exercise

 

Activities with puppies and kittens

We all know puppies and kittens have a lot of energy and love to play! However:

• Puppies and kittens tire quickly, so make sure you know your pet’s limits and let them rest if they want to
• Over-exercising growing animals, especially large breed dogs, can lead to abnormalities in the development of their musculoskeletal system
• If taking them outside or to socialise with other puppies and kittens, check with your vet that their vaccinations are up to date, and make sure they are up to date on flea, tick and worm control

 

What activities can we do with cats?

Cats are generally much easier when it comes to fun. You don';t need to travel far and simple things around the house can keep them entertained for hours! Alternatively, if you want to get outdoors you can train your cat to walk on a leash and harness.

Socialisation and training are just as important for kittens as for puppies. Kitten Kindy provides a safe and secure environment for kittens to meet with other kittens of their age, which is important in the development of social skills

Socialisation is important throughout life, but is particularly important in kittens up to 3 months of age - check with your local veterinary clinic to find out when Kitten Kindy is offered.

Feel like being crafty with your cat?

Shoe boxes and cardboard boxes serve as the perfect home entertainment system! Cut holes into the lid of a shoebox big enough for your cat to fit their paw through. Fill the box with anything your cat likes – treats, catnip toys or ping pong balls

Avoid toys with elastic or string – these pose a hazard to cats if they swallow the string or become tangled, particularly when unsupervised.

What about dogs?

There are so many sports and activities that dogs can participate in, so you are spoilt for choice!

 

Agility

Originally developed from equestrian show jumping. Agility is a great way to play and get fit together as it is all about teamwork:

• It involves training your dog to manoeuvre through various obstacles such as hoops and tunnels
• Agility is suitable for dogs of all sizes, from Chihuahuas to Great Danes, and the level of difficulty increases from beginners to masters

If your dog is overweight or has joint problems, discuss this activity with your vet before commencing.

A bit about flyball

If your dog is sociable with other dogs, and loves to run, jump and retrieve, this team sport might be just the answer!

• Flyball is a relay race - each dog in the team must jump over four hurdles
• The dog must then retrieve a ball by stepping on a pedal that triggers its release
• Each dog must then return over the hurdles to the finish line

Obedience training and competitions

For dogs that are eager to learn, want to continue perfecting their craft of obedience and love a challenge!

• Dogs are tested on basic responses (e.g. sit, stay) as well as more advanced techniques (e.g. jumping)
• Scores are given for accuracy and response times, with directions given both up close and at a distance

Water Sports

Dock Diving

Dock diving is a great summer sport that is perfect for dogs that like the water and love to chase a toy at all costs.

• A toy is thrown into the water for your dog to chase
• Your dog will jump off a dock into water that is at least 1.2 metres deep
• Your dog is not required to retrieve the toy to score points; instead they are scored on the distance they have jumped on two occasions

Swimming is a great low impact way for your dog to keep fit!

Surfing and paddle boarding

Australia is blessed with the world’s best beaches and waterways, so it’s not surprising that surfing and paddle boarding with dogs is really popular. It’s best to start off slow in a quiet river before hitting the big waves. Maybe you can enter the annual Surfing Dog Spectacular if you get the hang of it.

Outdoor Protection

If your pet will be socialising with other animals, or visiting outdoor areas, it’s especially important to ensure vaccination, worming, tick and flea control are all up to date. If pets will be off leash for outdoor activities, make sure they are microchipped and wearing a collar with an ID tag.