Yorkshire Terriers are affectionate lap dogs who often encroach upon your personal space. However, due to this characteristic and their small size, people sometimes presume that they are lazy and do not require much exercise.
In reality, Yorkies are quite lively and relish physical activity, albeit they may require coaxing to stroll while on a leash. Continue reading to discover the amount of exercise that is ideal for Yorkies.
How much exercise does a Yorkie need?
To keep cheerful and fit, a typical Yorkshire terrier requires a reasonable amount of physical activity, such as two walks lasting 20 minutes each and a playtime break in between.
It’s recommended to maintain a steady and active tempo during these walks, ensuring that the dog stays mobile without getting exhausted. However, this might be challenging since dogs often prefer to pause and sniff their surroundings or may even refuse to walk at times. (Explore some suggestions on how to encourage your dog to walk towards the end of this webpage.)
Establishing a regular walking routine may increase the likelihood of your dog cooperating, as they typically thrive on consistency.
Attempt to have a long walk of at least 30 minutes in case you are incapable of going for two walks daily. If you love taking long walks, bring your furry friend with you without worrying since most Yorkies can handle it for more than 30 minutes. However, in case you find the dog hesitant to continue or lying down, take a break and give it some water. If desirable, you can always carry your pup with you as you proceed with the walk.
These little furry creatures enjoy being playful and have a natural inclination towards hunting, making it perfectly fine to have one or two play sessions with short and vigorous activities such as chasing a squeaky ball or interacting with other dogs of similar size at a dog park.
Daily exercise is essential for all dogs to maintain good health and happiness. Nevertheless, your Yorkshire Terrier may require more or less physical activity than the typical one. If your dog has difficulty calming down at bedtime and ends up running wildly around your room, it is a clear indication that extra exercise is necessary.
Benefits of Yorkie exercise
Moderate exercise is highly beneficial for Yorkshire Terriers, as they are innately curious, playful, and energetic. It not only caters to their natural tendencies, but also prevents them from getting into mischief.
When your furry friend indulges in treats and dozes off on your lap, they amass a great deal of energy which they need to expend or else they might resort to ruinous conduct. Engaging in frequent exercise will facilitate the release of their energy, leading to reduced barking, a more composed demeanor, less destructive gnawing, and improved slumber for both you and your canine companion.
Regular exercise is beneficial for your Yorkie’s physical well-being. Apart from promoting mental alertness, it enhances their cardiovascular health and keeps their muscles resilient. It also accelerates metabolism, facilitates digestion, and ultimately contributes to prolonging your Yorkie’s lifespan.
Dogs can experience relaxation, calmness and happiness due to the release of serotonin and endorphins caused by exercise. This approach may be beneficial in addressing separation anxiety in Yorkies.
Types of Yorkie exercise
Your dog can benefit from three primary types of exercise with distinct advantages. A moderate physical workout involving daily walks can enhance your dog’s general health. If you engage your fur baby in intense activities such as playing tug-of-war or experiencing zoomies, it can keep them energized and tone their muscles. Equally important is mental exercise such as puzzle-solving, which prevents your pet from getting bored or feeling restless.
Playing is the most effective method to pique your pup’s curiosity about exercise. Yorkies are generally inquisitive and enthusiastic, so persuading them to play is often effortless.
We have gathered various entertaining Yorkie toys and games that will encourage your Yorkie’s physical activity or mental stimulation. Some notable options include toys that can self-play, like an automatic ball launcher, as well as puzzle and interactive toys. Additionally, games like fetch, treasure hunt, tug-of-war, and hide and seek are great ways to keep your dog engaged and offer benefits for their physical and mental health. These activities can also be useful for occupying your dog when you cannot engage in playtime with them.
Yorkshire Terriers have a strong affinity for running, which stems from their background as mousers in British mills. They enjoy pursuing various things, such as fellow dogs or relatives, as they have a natural inclination towards chasing.
Should you possess a fenced yard or easy access to a dog park nearby, attempting to run with your dog is recommended. Additionally, it presents the chance to train your pet on commands and positively reinforce their obedience.
One of the major benefits of owning small dog breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier is that they can still engage in physical activity even when the weather outside is unpleasant. They can play with toys in their designated play area or have a game of tug-of-war inside the house. Given their size, running around indoors for them can be quite an energizing workout.
How much should a Yorkie puppy exercise?
Yorkie puppies should get a similar amount or more physical activity than grown-ups, yet in briefer durations.
Due to their speedy growth, puppies tire easily despite their high energy level. They usually engage in brief play sessions featuring wild “zoomies,” fetching or toy chewing, followed by a period of rest.
While brief walks are acceptable, extended walks could be too strenuous for a puppy’s growing physique. Every dog is unique, but as you spend more time with your puppy, you will become more aware of how much physical activity is necessary to keep them content, healthy, and sleeping well at night.
BONUS: DIY Cognitive Dog Toys for When You Are Stuck at Home
It’s vital to recognize that dogs are highly intelligent creatures, and they require mental stimulation as much as physical exercise. This is especially crucial during periods when dogs are unable to go outside. Boredom can lead to frustration and harmful conduct in dogs. However, engaging your dog’s cognitive abilities can dissipate extra energy, offer stimulation, and deter negative behavior. While there are many enjoyable cognitive games to play with your dog, toys are also useful in challenging their mental faculties.
There are tons of fun puzzle toys on the market; however, some can be quite expensive and others are simply too small or too large for a given breed . Do-it-yourself cognitive dog toys not only save you money but allow you to tailor the toy to your dog’s size and preference. Here are some easy DIY toys that will help fire up (and tire up) your dog’s brain on days when you’re stuck inside!
Toilet Tube Treat Dispensers
Empty cardboard containers can be used as treat dispensers that are easily destroyed. Soft treats can be inserted into empty toilet paper tubes or paper towel rolls. Apply peanut butter or cream cheese on the inner side of the cardboard tube. This makes the dog lick the treat out while keeping the tube from rolling away or being crushed. To make it more challenging, fold the ends of the tube so that the dog must tear the cardboard to access the treat inside. For a treat that lasts longer, freeze the tube and its contents before giving it to your dog.
In case the paper towel roll is inadequate for your dog or you prefer to feed it with firm dog treats or kibble pieces, utilize an empty box instead. Create small holes in the box that are slightly bigger than the size of the treats, put the treats inside the box, and cover the top. The dog will need to play around with the box to make the treats fall through the holes. To modify the level of difficulty, adjust the size of the container. The manipulative methods involved in getting treats out of an empty tissue box or a round potato chip tube, contrast from that of a pizza box.
Make sure your dog doesn’t consume any bits of cardboard that fall off from these destructible dispensers. Keep an eye on your dog while using any puzzle toy. Additionally, because these toys will eventually end up in the recycling box, you can always grab a new box or tube to refill.
Muffin Tin Shell Game
To play this variation of the shell game, you will need a muffin tin and a ball for every cup within the tin. A regular-sized muffin tin can accommodate tennis balls perfectly, but you may use any ball that fits properly. When playing this game with a toy breed dog, opt for a mini muffin pan and smaller tennis balls instead. Remember to avoid using balls that are too tiny for your dog’s size to prevent any choking hazard.
To facilitate your dog’s understanding of the game, initially keep the cups exposed. Load the muffin cups with either treats or kibble and allow your dog to lick or use their paws to remove the rewards. Once your pup realizes that the cups contain valuable items, proceed to conceal them with balls. Your dog will then need to eliminate each ball to access the gratification beneath.
To make it more challenging, selectively put food in a few cups while covering all cups with balls. This will require your dog to rely on their sense of smell to identify the cups with treats. This will aid in training your dog for other scent-based activities such as hide-and-seek.
Shoebox Hide-and-Seek
Having fun with your dog’s nose doesn’t require participation in an AKC Scent Work trial. You can engage in scent work within your house. Simply get a set of empty containers such as shoeboxes or yogurt tubs. Create a cluster of containers on the floor and add smelly treats to one or a few of them. Then let your dog sniff all of the containers to locate the hidden treasure.
At first, perforate the tops of the containers to facilitate your dog’s task. As your dog gets the hang of it, introduce a greater challenge by only putting the bait in one container and scattering them throughout the room. Also, the more containers your dog has to search, the more energy it will take.
Doggy Ball Pit
This toy will make hide-and-seek more challenging for your dog. Simply gather a plastic kiddie pool and many balls. Place the balls in the pool and scatter treats or kibble on top. As your dog goes through the balls to find the food, the position of the balls, and thus the treats, will constantly change, providing entertainment for your dog for an extended period.
Feeding dogs that have a tendency to eat too quickly can be effectively done with this method. This approach not only reduces their speed but also provides significant cognitive stimulation. For dogs that become annoyed or apprehensive when facing new scenarios, it is recommended to start by placing only a few balls in the pool and gradually adding more as they become accustomed to it.
Tea Towel Snuffle Mat
Fabric pieces with multiple loops, flaps, or pockets that serve as hiding places for treats are known as snuffle mats. The objective is for your dog to search for hidden treats within the fabric. If you possess sewing skills, you may fashion a durable snuffle mat by incorporating flaps and pockets all across the material to enable concealing food bits.
Instead of sewing, a plastic mat can be used as an easier alternative. You can search for a mat that already has a grid of holes, similar to a rubber sink mat, or make holes in the mat yourself. Cut fleece into strips of 6 to 8 inches and tie them through each hole in the mat until it resembles a “fleece forest.” After filling all the holes, throw a handful of treats on top of the mat and observe your dog sniffing through the fleece to retrieve them.
Creating a simpler variant of the snuffle mat is achievable using a tea towel. Simply lay the towel flat onto the floor, then position some treats in the center of it. Afterward, fold the towel in half over the center. Finally, tie the towel loosely in a knot to secure the treats inside. This will force your dog to puzzle out how to untie the tea towel for a chance to get to the treats. Although you can effortlessly make it, it will prove to be a test for your dog. Additionally, you can step up the difficulty by tying multiple tea towels together, each containing treats.
