Activities For A Clumsy Dog

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Introduction

Is your pooch constantly tripping over their own feet? Or maybe your fur buddy seems to run into things a lot, not because your dog is blind or ill, just because they are a bit clumsy. Maybe a little bit accident prone. So, what kind of activities should you attempt with a clumsy dog? You don’t want to do anything that is too difficult because your fur baby just cannot seem to do anything without slipping, wobbling, or stumbling. Here are some simple ideas that you and your buddy may like.

Doga

Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Cheap
Easy
1 hr
Items needed
mat
treats
Activity description

This may sound strange to you, but dogs are really good at yoga. Even clumsy ones. Of course, isn’t that where they got the “downward facing dog” position? Maybe. But, it doesn’t matter, your dog will love doga because they enjoy spending time with you, stretching, and just hanging out, which is basically what doga is. In fact, most dogs are already practicing yoga on a daily basis. Haven’t you ever seen your dog stick out their chest and stretch their back legs as far as they can or crouch down into a bow and put their head down? These are yoga poses for dogs. You won’t need much to prepare for doga. Just a place with enough room for both of you to stretch out and maybe a couple of yoga mats. There is no need for treats unless you plan on doing something special, but you can always reward your dog for being patient and listening. You also won’t need to do much to train your pooch, but you may have to convince your buddy to stay in a pose for a certain amount of time. Also, since it is typically an indoor activity, it doesn’t matter what the weather is like. 

Step
1
Run around first
You may want to let your pup run around in the yard for a while or go to the park to get rid of some of the pent-up energy all dogs seem to have. Because doga is mostly just holding in one position for a while, you don’t want your dog bursting with energy the whole time. If you want to give your pup a treat for staying in one spot or letting you use them to balance, that would be good to reinforce the behaviors.
Step
2
Keep it short
Do not try to get your dog to sit in one position for a long time. Just like a young child, dogs do not like to sit still for a long time unless they are asleep. Keep your holding positions less than five minutes to prevent your pooch from getting bored or anxious. Other than that, it is all just stretching and breathing.
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Chore Time

Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Free
Easy
1 hr
Items needed
treats
Activity description

All dogs like to help. In fact, they do not even know it is a chore, and they actually think it is just having fun when you ask them to bring you something. Just like with children, if you tell them it’s a game, they will love it. You can train your poochie to help with chores even if they are clumsy. Just don’t do anything that takes a special skill or steady walking. Picking up trash is pretty easy for any dog. Any weather is fine when it comes to helping with chores unless it is an outside chore. What you need for this activity depends on what chores you are doing. If you want your little buddy to pick up trash, you won’t need anything but some trash and a trash bag. You carry the bag. Or you can have your pup just carry the trash to the trash can and drop it in. Even a clumsy pupster can do that. 

Step
1
Kick the trash
Wad up some paper and throw it on the ground. Kick it around and let your pooch get excited about it. They will likely try to kick it or pick it up by biting it. As soon as your dog does that, tell them how pawsome they are and give them a treat. Keep repeating until your fur buddy picks it up without encouragement.
Step
2
Throw it away
Show your pooch the bag or trash can to put it in. Reward your pup when they put it where it goes. If you are trying to get your dog to put the trash in a can, make sure they know where it is. Keep repeating this for a few days and your dog will be a pro in no time.
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Cart Pull

Popular
0 Votes
Sunny Day
Moderate
Normal
1 - 2 hrs
Items needed
harness
shaft poles
cart
treats
Activity description

If you want your dog to help you carry groceries or pull a cart with supplies while you work in the yard, this job is great for any dog whether they are clumsy or not. Although if you have a small dog, you won’t be able to let them pull much because they can only pull up to three times their own weight. So, if your dog only weighs 15 pounds, they can only pull up to 45 pounds, and that includes the cart too. It's best to do this activity when it is nice outside since it is done outside. For this activity, you will need a harness, shafts, and a cart, of course. They sell carts specifically for dogs to pull so you should check into that, and the shafts are just wooden poles that attach the harness to the cart. You'll also need some treats to reward your pup for doing it correctly. 

Step
1
Getting used to the equipment
Even a clumsy dog can pull a cart. And you can put whatever you need in there as long as it is less than three times your poochie’s weight. Just let your pup get used to wearing a harness for a few days. In fact, they can wear it all the time, including to sleep if they want to.
Step
2
Pulling the cart
Attach the shafts to the harness and let your pup pull them around for a while. Attach the empty wagon after your dog seems used to the shafts and let them pull that around empty for a day or two. Add some weight to it after a few days but don’t let them pull too much. It will only take a few days before your dog is pulling the wagon all over the place.
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More Fun Ideas...

Saying Grace

Teaching your clumsy dog to say grace before eating is not as hard as it sounds either. Because it is something that your poochie has to do to get to that food, your dog should be pretty quick to catch on. They just need to know how to sit and bow their head while you say a prayer and teach them that when you say “Amen,” they can eat. Simple, right? And adorable. Video that and put it on Facebook and watch it go viral.

Surfing

It’s really not as hard as you may think, even if you have a clumsy pup. But, you do need to have access to an ocean where there are some waves, and you will need a surfboard and a doggy life vest. Of course, you have to know how to surf or else you are both going to have to learn together. Once you teach your dog to get used to the board, head to the beach and let them get used to sitting on it in the water. After paddling around for a while, try some small waves and see how it goes.

Conclusion

Being clumsy may be something that your pup will grow out of, or it may just be a trait that your dog was born with. Some large breed dogs are just naturally clumsy, maybe because of their large feet. Whatever the reason, as long as it is not a medical issue, it is just another reason why you love your pooch so much. Make sure you spend at least an hour with your four-legged buddy every day doing something physical to keep them happy and healthy.