Top Activities For Dalmatian Heelers

Introduction

The Dalmatian Heeler, which is a hybrid breed developed from the Dalmatian and the Australian Cattle Dog, is one of the most beautiful dogs you're ever likely to meet. It's also a loyal and playful companion that makes a wonderful pet for an active owner.

Of course, if you're already the proud owner of a Dalmatian Heeler, you'll no doubt know that these beautiful dogs have pretty high energy levels and need a whole lot of regular exercise. They're also quite intelligent and trainable, so you'll need to give their minds a workout to help beat off boredom.

Happily, there are plenty of great activities that'll provide physical exercise and mental stimulation for your pet. Here are a few your Dalmatian Heeler will hopefully love.

Lure Coursing

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Cheap

Normal

30 - 60 min

Items needed

Water

A course

Lure

Activity description

Does your dog have a tendency to chase everything that moves, particularly small animals? If so, lure coursing is an increasingly popular doggy sport that allows your dog to harness their natural prey drive.

However, the best part about lure coursing is that it all takes place in a controlled environment and with a special lure, so you don't have to worry about your pet harming any other creatures.

The lure is attached to a series of mechanized pulleys and then dragged around the course in a zig-zag pattern designed to mimic the movements of fleeing prey. Dogs then get the opportunity to chase this "prey" and try to catch it.

It's a whole lot of fun for energetic canines, so here's what you need to do to get started.

Step

1

Canine health check

Lure coursing is a fast-paced and strenuous activity that can put plenty of stress on a dog's muscles and joints. Before letting your dog participate, take them to the vet for a quick health check to make sure there aren't any medical reasons why they shouldn't give the sport a try.

Step

2

Find a club

Unless you live in a large property and have the mechanical know-how needed to rig up a pulley system, lure coursing is a sport you'll need to try as part of a club. Do some online research to find whether there are any suitable lure coursing or dog sports clubs near you. Head along to a club competition or meeting to see lure coursing in action and judge your pet's level of interest.

Step

3

Give it a go

If lure coursing seems like the paw-fect sport for your Dalmatian Heeler, now is the time to let them give it a try. Whether participating in competition or just taking part in a try-out day, your energetic pooch should love the chance to run at full speed as they try to chase down their "prey". If your dog tackles lure coursing with gusto, you'll have just as much fun watching as they will taking part.

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Fly a Kite

Popular

0 Votes

Sunny Day

Free

Easy

30 - 60 mins

Items needed

Kite

Leash

Treats

Activity description

You'd be hard pressed to find a dog that doesn't love taking a trip to the park. Fresh air, exercise and plenty of new sights and smells to explore — there's everything a Dalmatian Heeler needs for a grrr-eat day out.

And if you're looking to add something new and exciting to your next park visit, you might want to try doing something you probably haven't done since you were a kid: fly a kite.

This is a simple and fun way to get yourself, your dog and the whole family outside to enjoy some exercise and sunshine. Here's what you need to do.

Step

1

Choose your park

The first step is finding the ideal park for a spot of dog-friendly kite flying. Plenty of open space is essential, while it's also worth checking whether dogs are welcome in the park — and if they're allowed off-leash, even better. Once you've found the paw-fect spot and the ideal windy day has arrived, load your dog and your kite into the car and head to the park.

Step

2

Get flying

All that's left to do now is get out there and have fun. Your dog will love the opportunity to run alongside you as you try to get the kite airborne (though make sure they don't try to pounce on it), and should get plenty of activity as you maneuver the kite around. And if you're in an off-leash area and your dog gets bored of the kite, you can up the difficulty level by working in a game of fetch at the same time.

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Water Fetch

Popular

0 Votes

Sunny Day

Free

Easy

30 min

Items needed

Toy or ball

Water

Activity description

With their high activity levels and desire to please, most Dalmatian Heelers will love a good old-fashioned game of fetch. But if your dog also loves swimming or just splashing around in shallow water, why not take your next game of fetch to a dog-friendly beach or swimming spot?

Doing so will ensure that your dog gets a varied workout, heaps of mental stimulation, and the chance to explore a whole lot of different smells and terrain. Better yet, they can always enjoy a cooling dip once the game is over.

If this sounds like something your dog will love, here's what you need to do to enjoy the perfect game of water fetch.

Step

1

Find a spot

The first step is to find the ideal spot for a game of water fetch. This will depend on where you live, but you'll obviously need a dog-friendly beach, river, lake or swimming hole where pooches are allowed to roam off-leash. You'll also need to find somewhere with safe swimming conditions for your furry friend.

Step

2

Throw

Find a patch of sand or grass (maybe in the shade) where you can set yourself up and get started. Then you can throw a ball or toy into the water for your dog to fetch. Make sure not to throw it too far or too deep, but otherwise just sit back and relax as your dog races off after the item and returns it to your feet.

Step

3

Repeat step two

Yep, you knew this was coming. Pick up that slobbery ball or toy and hurl it back into the water for your dog to retrieve. Keep on doing this until boredom or fatigue mean it's time to call it quits. Once you're done, you should have one tired, wet and very happy pooch on your hands.

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More Fun Ideas...

Agility

Agility is a fun dog sport where your pet learns to tackle a pet-friendly obstacle course. It offers a mental and physical workout for your dog, and should help you raise a sweat as well.

Fetch Objects by Name

If you want to give your pet a mental challenge, try teaching them to fetch specific objects around the house by name, such as their favorite toy, the morning paper, or even a beer from a cooler.

Conclusion

The main thing you need to remember about the Dalmatian Heeler is that this is not a breed you can just leave in the backyard all day long. These gorgeous dogs need exercise and plenty of it, so you'll need to do everything your can to give your dog an active lifestyle. If you can do that, your Dalmatian Heeler will love life almost as much as they love you.