Jock's 10 tips for how animals keep fit

A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa

How animals exercise to keep healthy and fit, and their advice for others!

Animals, Sports, Exercise, Fitness, Keep fit, Gym, Gymnastics, Health, Cats, Dogs, Sheep, Birds, Pigs, Goats, Horses, Elephants

TIPS FOR EXERCISING

Do animals spend time on exercising to keep healthy and fit? Observations suggest they have the skills and energy to participate in a range of sports. Indeed, if this is the case, what advice would they give!? Let's check out their top ten tips!

Image: Jock

Kia ora! My name is Jock. I'll guide you through how animals keep fit. Here's our top ten tips!

(You can also check out your local library for books & digital resources for further advice.)

Christchurch City Libraries

TIP 1: START SMALL AND AIM HIGH

You, too, can be a star like us reaching the athletic heights of the animal olympics!

Image: Joanna Johnson and dog on country road, England

Gentle walking exercises to warm-up

Joanna Johnson and dog on country road, England

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Showing agility

Flying cannonball!

Showing agility

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Show-jumping

Whee! Sail over the top!

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

TIP 2: VALUE THE ADVICE OF COACHES / MENTORS

Image: A dog named Clip on a chair in the open

Come - gather around. I am your coach for the day.

A dog named Clip on a chair in the open

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Two Dogs

Listening carefully & I'll guide you through the exercises

Tauranga City Libraries

Image: Leggatt dogs

Watch and follow what I do. Sit back on your hind legs & raise your two front paws.

Nelson Provincial Museum

TIP 3: FELINE ADVICE

Image: Honey in bed

Visualise in your dreams that you are an athlete

Auckland Libraries

Image: Honey the cat in the garden, 1968

Roll onto your back - keep relaxing your muscles

Honey the cat in the garden, 1968

Auckland Libraries

Image: Miscellaneous photos from 2001

That's it! Stretch your legs and keep holding on.

Miscellaneous photos from 2001

The University of Auckland Library

TIP 4: CANINE ADVICE

Image: Dog hydrotherapy

Build your leg muscle toning

Dog hydrotherapy

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Simple Pleasures

Practice running & fetching the ball

Simple Pleasures

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Bellastick

When chasing after a thrown stick, grab the stick like this

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

TIP 5: ELEPHANTINE ADVICE

Image: Elephants, 1960

Keep in-step and at a safe distance

Elephants, 1960

Tauranga City Libraries

Image: Circus elephants being trained for New York season

All together now - 1, 2, 3 (Teamwork is so important!)

Circus elephants being trained for New York season

Auckland Libraries

Image: Elephant at Wellington Zoo

Having trust helps! (Yikes, how do I get down!)

Elephant at Wellington Zoo

Alexander Turnbull Library

TIP 6: PORCINE ADVICE

Image: Pets' corner: sow and 12 piglets

Keep in mind you have diverse choices - taking time out or engaging in activities

Pets' corner: sow and 12 piglets

Tauranga City Libraries

Image: Pig racing

Pig racing!

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Digital Photograph: Painting on Retaining Wall, Flying Pig

Hmm - what next? I wonder if pigs can fly

Digital Photograph: Painting on Retaining Wall, Flying Pig

Canterbury Museum

TIP 7: BE ADVENTUROUS - TRY DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES

WARM-UP EXERCISES FOR BEGINNERS

Image: Spring Time Stretch

It's spring-time! Let's do some stretching exercises to warm up!

Spring Time Stretch

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: THE COMING OF SPRING: EWES AND LAMBS ON A FARM IN THE AUCKLAND PROVINCE

That's it - slowly stand on your two hind legs

THE COMING OF SPRING: EWES AND LAMBS ON A FARM IN THE AUCKLAND PROVINCE

Auckland Libraries

Image: An encounter with spring lambs Port Hills

Now stretch as high as you can!

An encounter with spring lambs Port Hills

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Southern Elephant Seal

Let's play roly poly!

Southern Elephant Seal

iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao

Image: Southern Elephant Seal

Turn slowly

Southern Elephant Seal

iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao

Image: Southern Elephant Seal

All the way around!

Southern Elephant Seal

iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao

RHYTHMIC DANCING

Image: Penguin, King

Let's do the Funky Chicken! - Start swaying your hips like this

Puke Ariki

Image: Weka with fledgling chick- Kenepuru Head, Marlborough Sounds

Let's do the Hokey pokey - You put your left foot in; you take your left foot out....

Weka with fledgling chick- Kenepuru Head, Marlborough Sounds

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

SWIMMING SPORTS

Image: Weka- Kenepuru Head, Marlborough Sounds

We'll practise our moves on land first

Weka- Kenepuru Head, Marlborough Sounds

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Australian Coot, Ohau Canal, Twizel

Then work on our paddling strokes

Australian Coot, Ohau Canal, Twizel

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

'WHEELIE' SPORTS

Image: Telecom Corporation of New Zealand: Quick Dial [S.P.O.T. on a skateboard. 1991]

Why not try skateboarding!

Telecom Corporation of New Zealand: Quick Dial [S.P.O.T. on a skateboard. 1991]

Alexander Turnbull Library

HIGH JUMP

Image: Glass Plate Negative: Dog (copy)

Get ready!

Glass Plate Negative: Dog (copy)

Canterbury Museum

Image: Dog jumping wire fence

Tuck your legs under

Dog jumping wire fence

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Dog hurdling rails, Mangamahu

Then land on the other side!

Dog hurdling rails, Mangamahu

Alexander Turnbull Library

CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING

Image: Eye dog at work

On your mark. Get set. Go!

Eye dog at work

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Halfbreds in the South Island foothills

Here they come over the crest of the hill!

Halfbreds in the South Island foothills

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Sheep running on hillside, Waipukurau farm

Faster and faster down hill!

Sheep running on hillside, Waipukurau farm

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Agriculture - Sheep - Mustering

And the home straight leader is Lightning!

Agriculture - Sheep - Mustering

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

Image: Goat on a verandah : Photograph

We'll start small with climbing onto a low table on the verandah

Goat on a verandah : Photograph

Wairarapa Archive

Image: Timber industry; Campbells Sawmills Ltd, Goodshed Road; Gilbert Goat on top of rimu log.

Now try climbing on top of the log

Timber industry; Campbells Sawmills Ltd, Goodshed Road; Gilbert Goat on top of rimu log.

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: An agile goat

Impressive jumping and balancing on the tree's lower branches! You're ready for mountain climbing!

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Goat & kids

Keep going - you're getting closer to reaching the top!

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Domestic Goat

Take your time. We're nearly there!

iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao

Image: Admiring the view of Banks Peninsula with a goat at the Hilltop Tavern

Well done! Relax and enjoy the view!

Admiring the view of Banks Peninsula with a goat at the Hilltop Tavern

Christchurch City Libraries

RIDING SPORTS

Image: Mary Giles and her husky team, Plimmerton Beach - Photograph taken by Ross Giblin

Chariot racing

Mary Giles and her husky team, Plimmerton Beach - Photograph taken by Ross Giblin

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fun in the snow

Tobogganing

Fun in the snow

Auckland Libraries

Image: Holiday time Auckland resorts.

Donkey riding

Holiday time Auckland resorts.

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Amy Wilder from Waipukurau and Margot Lowry of Hastings riding horses in the surf

Horse riding - walking, trotting, racing & jumping

Amy Wilder from Waipukurau and Margot Lowry of Hastings riding horses in the surf

MTG Hawke's Bay

Image: Young boy in dog drawn cart.

Pulling cart

Young boy in dog drawn cart.

Hamilton City Libraries

BOATING

Image: Evening Post" Photo. A canoe and its crew in Evans Bay on Saturday afternoon. The dog was quite unconcerned and .m-terested in his surroundings. (Evening Post, 06 January 1941)

Aha - so that is how to steer a boat!

Evening Post" Photo. A canoe and its crew in Evans Bay on Saturday afternoon. The dog was quite unconcerned and .m-terested in his surroundings. (E...

National Library of New Zealand

Image: 'The dog watch'-second prize comic study

Look - I've learnt to sail by myself!

'The dog watch'-second prize comic study

Auckland Libraries

Image: Dog on warship

Wow! Imagine being a ship captain!

Alexander Turnbull Library

BALL SPORTS

Image: Lucas

Lucas looking for someone to play ball

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: A Dog That Looks Forward to the Opening of the Football Season

Soccer

A Dog That Looks Forward to the Opening of the Football Season

Auckland Libraries

Image: The story of Opo

Beach ball

The story of Opo

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

HERDING

Image: A game of patience

That's right - look them in the eye

A game of patience

Auckland Libraries

Image: Malcolm McGregor's Squadron Huts

Keep focused and try to stare them down

Malcolm McGregor's Squadron Huts

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Cattle herding, Katikati, 1951

Work as a team to move them along

Cattle herding, Katikati, 1951

Auckland Libraries

TIP 8: KEEP HYDRATED AND WATCH YOUR DIET

Image: Pig with piglets: photograph

Pig with piglets: photograph

Wairarapa Archive

Image: Kiwi, 1961

Kiwi, 1961

Auckland Libraries

Image: Bird feeder

Bird feeder

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

TIP 9: COOL DOWN & REST UP AFTER EXERCISING

Image: Red panda

Red panda

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Studio portrait of a tabby cat sitting on a cushion, Christchurch

Studio portrait of a tabby cat sitting on a cushion, Christchurch

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Jacqueline Rangi Pokaia Carmel Clark in front of Rangiwahitu Whare Whakairo at Tauranganui Marae, Port Waikato

Jacqueline Rangi Pokaia Carmel Clark in front of Rangiwahitu Whare Whakairo at Tauranganui Marae, Port Waikato

Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato

Image: Orquist Family Dog, Judge

Orquist Family Dog, Judge

MTG Hawke's Bay

Image: Harry Fow and others in a motor car

Harry Fow and others in a motor car

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Dick (the horse) and dog.

Dick (the horse) and dog.

Hamilton City Libraries

TIP 10: CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESSES AND KEEP EXERCISING!

Image: Prize pig

And the winner is!

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Dog trials - sheep. "King" pig dog huntaway winner owned A. A. Thompson

Dog trials - sheep. "King" pig dog huntaway winner owned A. A. Thompson

Tauranga City Libraries

Image: FINISH OF THE MELBOURNE; CUP,-Phar^LaP;. ridden by ■/.■ Pike, decisivelydefmting:Second W:^ (Evening Post, 13 November 1930)

FINISH OF THE MELBOURNE; CUP,-Phar^LaP;. ridden by ■/.■ Pike, decisivelydefmting:Second W:^ (Evening Post, 13 November 1930)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Police dog trials; winner Constable Steven James, from Greymouth, with Tarney.

Police dog trials; winner Constable Steven James, from Greymouth, with Tarney.

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: Jock

Go on! Give our 10 exercising tips a try for yourself!

Christchurch City Libraries

This DigitalNZ story was updated in April 2026