I have a psycho dog, four lazy cats and a kitten with more energy then I know how to handle.
Living in a small condo (aka – an apartment that we pay a mortgage for, not rent), I know first hand what it’s like to try and provide your pet with enough exercise and activities to keep them happy and healthy all while living in a shoe box size home. I thought I would share some tips with my readers on things that I do for my pets that are not only fun for them but also keep me on budget, especially since most of my suggestions are free.
We do not have a yard for our dog to run around in. He needs to be on a leash at all times, which is understandable. Many apartment owners find themselves in the same situation.
If you have a friend or relative with a fenced in yard ask them if it’s OK to let you and your dog come over for an hour or so. Your dog could freely run around their yard and you can spend quality time with your friend or family member. Make sure to bring them a little something to show them that you appreciate their kindness. Cake or cookies would be nice. You could enjoy some tea and cake while your dog enjoys the chance to run around and be free.
Some state parks have trails that are open to dogs (check with your local park for rules about dog walking). Most parks are either free or charge a nominal fee.
If your home is big enough, and your dog is not too huge, try a game of catch in your home. We do that with our dog. We literally chase him around. Our living room, dining room and kitchen are all pretty much open to each other. We chase our dog in a circle through the three rooms, or around the coffee table. We don’t even have to run ourselves. We just give him the illusion that we’re chasing him and he does all the work. Sometimes our cats join in, especially our kitten Bella. She’ll chase him – or us – around too.
Instead of throwing a ball inside your home consider rolling it instead. We roll our dog’s ball back and forth in the living room. One of us will sit on one side and someone else will sit on the other side and we roll a ball back and forth between us while our dog tries to catch it. Think of it as a modified “monkey in the middle” game.
Toys can provide your pet with excercise and fun too, and you don’t even have to spend a time.
If you have a left over sock (like a sweat sock), tie one end in a knot and give it to your dog while you hold the other end. You can use the sock for a game of “tug-of-war”. Our dog Espn LOVES when we play tug-of-war with him. It’s one of his favorite games.
Many pet stores carry toys for dogs that you insert a treat into (or even peanut butter) and your dog is suppose to find a way to get the treat out of it. I can tell you from experience this will keep your dog occupied for a long time. We have one for Espn and whenever I put a treat inside of it he will work at it forever if he had to in order to get the treat out. It not only makes him happy it keeps him moving too because he will flip it in the air, push it around, step on it – you name it.
If your home is big enough, and you have a budget for it, another pet can also provide excercise and happiness for your pet, especially if they have to spend many hours alone. Cats and dogs CAN be best friends. Or if you have room for another dog that would be fine too. That way they can play with each other and keep each other company.
Just like dogs, cats need to be kept busy too, as well as get some much needed exercise. I wrote another post with cat tips. You can read it here, https://www.shescribes.com/2012/03/keep-your-cat-happy-and-healthy-with-these-budget-friendly-tips-budgetliving.html (the cat post won’t be live until 3/19/12).
Here are three articles that I think my readers would find interesting that pertain to this post topic.
– Having a pet means additional expenses, but if you plan ahead with these ideas from Apartment Guide, you can cover the expenses as part of your monthly budget: http://www.movingtoday.com/setting-up-a-pet-care-budget.
– Spending time with your pets is good for both of you, and it doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money. Follow these Apartment Guide tips for fitting in quality time with your pet: http://www.movingtoday.com/spending-time-with-your-pets.
– You don’t have to buy a lot of expensive items to make your home pet-friendly. Apartment Guide has easy ideas to make sure your furry friend is safe at home: http://www.movingtoday.com/making-your-home-pet-friendly.
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