Many dog owners seem to never have enough hours in a day. You work, cook, clean, pick up your children, and perform countless other chores. How are you meant to find time to go out and exercise your dog when you barely have time to play with your own kids? Sometimes it seems like tossing a ball around the living room and feeding your dog is all you can possibly have time for.

Here are some ideas you can use to free up some time after work (assuming you work full time) to go out and run, cycle, or do another form of exercise with your dog:

Takeout night

If you’re the type who cooks for yourself or your family night, consider starting a new tradition – takeout night. One night a week, order a pizza or some other form of takeout. Sure, it may not be as healthy for you as a home cooked meal (and that even depends on how healthy your meals are), but if you and your family take your dog for a run instead you’ll get the physical benefits of exercise anyway. You can also consider having a leftover night. Cook up more food than you normally would the night before. This allows you to free up time for dog exercise by finishing off what’s left the next day.

Cut down 10 minutes of TV or computer time

You may be the kind who comes home from work and just wants to relax in front of the TV. That’s understandable – you’ve been working all day and are exhausted, all you want to do is relax. However, cutting down 10 minutes of TV or computer time after work gives you a great opportunity to go for a cycle with your dog. Cycling at a moderate to high pace for 10 minutes (remember to do a quick warmup, though!) is sure to tire your dog out at least a little.

Get your kids to exercise your dog

If you have teenage kids who you know have control of your dog and trust to take your dog out on their own, why not get them to go out for some fetch or a jog at the park? Not only will your dog get some great exercise, but your kids will also get some fresh air.

Skip the gym

You might be one of those people who go to the gym before or after work. Set aside a couple of days per week where instead of going to the gym, you use that time to go for a run with your dog. Cardio is an important aspect to being fit and working out anyway, and running outside is much more fun that running on a treadmill.

Organize dog walking sessions with your neighbors

If your neighbors or other residents of your neighborhood also have dogs, they’re likely to be in the same boat as you when it comes to finding the time for dog exercise. Organize a routine where you alternate exercising each others’ dogs before or after work. Each day a different neighbor can take up to three or so dogs and take them for a walk or run. With two dogs you can even get two bike attachments and cycle with them both running on either side simultaneously. This way everyone’s dogs get some exercise and the time requirement for each dog owner is lightened by sharing the responsibility. Make sure that you know the people you’re doing this with well and trust that they can handle your dog and walking several dogs at once .

Organize dog play sessions

Similar to the above, find some dog owners in your neighborhood who own friendly dogs. Introduce your dogs and, if they get along, make weekly dog play sessions a regular event. All the dogs in the neighborhood can meet at one owner’s house (preferably one with a large backyard) or local park where dogs are allowed off leash. Dogs can often tire each other out through play better than you can.

These are just a few ideas you can consider to free up some time to keep your dog fit. If you have any of your own ideas or techniques for freeing up some time for dog exercise, post them in the comments below.