There is no doubt that winter is upon us and now we have to find some creative ways to keep our canine companion from getting the dreaded “cabin fever”. When typically active dogs spend even a few days cooped up inside, they start to look for ways to release their pent up energy. Unfortunately they can take out that energy on your shoes, the kitchen trash can, your sofa, etc. So what do we do when the weather doesn’t allow for a good walk or jog around the neighborhood or a game of fetch in the yard? We get creative!
Dogs not only need physical exercise to maintain their health, but they require mental stimulation as well. A favorite game of our dogs is hide-and-seek with their favorite snacks. You can take freeze dried meat treats broken into small pieces and hide them around your house for your dog to find. We have a French bulldog and a Great Dane so I will typically hide our Frenchie’s treats at ground level and our Dane’s at waist level. You can also play at separate times to avoid any jealousy issues in multiple dog homes. If you have a kibble fed dog, you can even give them their meals this way a few times a week in the winter. Just hide small piles around the house for them to seek out. Using their sense of smell to guide them is very stimulating for their brains and they will soon look forward to the game anytime you pull out the treats.
A really quick and easy way to tire out your dog is by playing fetch up and down the stairs. This is also a fun game for kids to get involved with. Our 5 year old son loves seeing if he can throw the ball all the way to the top and I swear our Great Dane tries to see if she can make up the stairs in less than 3 jumps. They will play this game until one of them taps out...which is usually less than 20 minutes. Happy kids and tired dogs are my winter goals and this can accomplish both of them very easily. This is best done on carpeted stairs for easier grip and should not be done with puppies under a year old.
Something dogs (and cats) miss in the winter is grass. We remedy this by buying pre-grown wheatgrass at pet stores or health food stores. Just set it down on the ground and let them nibble at it, smell it, roll on top it, etc. Wheatgrass has many health benefits for mammals and many pet owners even grow their own as it is very easy to do. You can also cut the grass into small pieces and add it to their meals. Sometimes even just the smell of fresh grass is enough to bring a dog out of the winter blues.
Even old dogs can learn new tricks! We like to take fun dog classes in the winter like trick dog classes, intro to agility, or something else light and fun (and indoors) that gets us out of the house and doing something fun. Check with your city centers and see if they offer any classes or reach out to local trainers to see what is available in your area. The classes are usually filled with other pet owners who just want to have fun and get their dogs to burn some energy. Learning something new is a great way to exercise both their minds and bodies and usually gives you a happy dog for the entire next day.
If you have a very high energy working dog and live in a climate where the winters make getting outside difficult, then I highly suggest investing in a treadmill and training your dog how to use it. This can save you so much time and energy when you’re unable to get them outside. Most dogs take to using a treadmill without a large amount of training and will soon look forward to their “indoor walk”. You can save money by buying a used treadmill or splurge and get a dog-specific treadmill available for sale online.
The most important thing this winter is to pay attention to your dog and how they are behaving. If your normally well-behaved dog is getting into trouble, take it as a sign to start working with them. Get your dog panting every single day. Make them use their senses and work on enriching their lives any way you can.
There is no doubt that winter is upon us and now we have to find some creative ways to keep our canine companion from getting the dreaded “cabin fever”. When typically active dogs spend even a few days cooped up inside, they start to look for ways to release their pent up energy. Unfortunately they can take out that energy on your shoes, the kitchen trash can, your sofa, etc. So what do we do when the weather doesn’t allow for a good walk or jog around the neighborhood or a game of fetch in the yard? We get creative!
Dogs not only need physical exercise to maintain their health, but they require mental stimulation as well. A favorite game of our dogs is hide-and-seek with their favorite snacks. You can take freeze dried meat treats broken into small pieces and hide them around your house for your dog to find. We have a French bulldog and a Great Dane so I will typically hide our Frenchie’s treats at ground level and our Dane’s at waist level. You can also play at separate times to avoid any jealousy issues in multiple dog homes. If you have a kibble fed dog, you can even give them their meals this way a few times a week in the winter. Just hide small piles around the house for them to seek out. Using their sense of smell to guide them is very stimulating for their brains and they will soon look forward to the game anytime you pull out the treats.
A really quick and easy way to tire out your dog is by playing fetch up and down the stairs. This is also a fun game for kids to get involved with. Our 5 year old son loves seeing if he can throw the ball all the way to the top and I swear our Great Dane tries to see if she can make up the stairs in less than 3 jumps. They will play this game until one of them taps out...which is usually less than 20 minutes. Happy kids and tired dogs are my winter goals and this can accomplish both of them very easily. This is best done on carpeted stairs for easier grip and should not be done with puppies under a year old.
Something dogs (and cats) miss in the winter is grass. We remedy this by buying pre-grown wheatgrass at pet stores or health food stores. Just set it down on the ground and let them nibble at it, smell it, roll on top it, etc. Wheatgrass has many health benefits for mammals and many pet owners even grow their own as it is very easy to do. You can also cut the grass into small pieces and add it to their meals. Sometimes even just the smell of fresh grass is enough to bring a dog out of the winter blues.
Even old dogs can learn new tricks! We like to take fun dog classes in the winter like trick dog classes, intro to agility, or something else light and fun (and indoors) that gets us out of the house and doing something fun. Check with your city centers and see if they offer any classes or reach out to local trainers to see what is available in your area. The classes are usually filled with other pet owners who just want to have fun and get their dogs to burn some energy. Learning something new is a great way to exercise both their minds and bodies and usually gives you a happy dog for the entire next day.
If you have a very high energy working dog and live in a climate where the winters make getting outside difficult, then I highly suggest investing in a treadmill and training your dog how to use it. This can save you so much time and energy when you’re unable to get them outside. Most dogs take to using a treadmill without a large amount of training and will soon look forward to their “indoor walk”. You can save money by buying a used treadmill or splurge and get a dog-specific treadmill available for sale online.
The most important thing this winter is to pay attention to your dog and how they are behaving. If your normally well-behaved dog is getting into trouble, take it as a sign to start working with them. Get your dog panting every single day. Make them use their senses and work on enriching their lives any way you can.