The cold, harsh winter weather can make getting outside unpleasant and even unsafe for you and your dog. However, it’s still important to consistently exercise them so they are getting enough activity and burning off all the best treats for big dogs they’ve been eating. Here are eight ideas for exercising your dog during winter:
Suit up and get outside.
With the proper equipment, you can still take your dog outside if it’s not too cold. (Rule of thumb: If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your dog as well.) Get them booties to protect their feet from ice crystals and a doggie coat to add some extra insulation. Keep them away from ice melting chemicals and other substances that can potentially be harmful to pets. Be especially careful with dogs who are very old or young, have very thin coats, or are otherwise more susceptible to the cold.
Play fetch or tug of war inside.
If exercising outside isn’t an option, then play fetch or tug of war inside. Fetch works best in a large room where your dog has lots of room to run around (and there isn’t a lot of furniture for them to run into). Tug of war takes up less room in the house and can be played pretty much anywhere as long as you have a sturdy rope for them to chew on.
Use puzzle toys and games.
If you want to exercise your dog and provide some mental stimulation at the same time, then try giving them a puzzle toy loaded with treats for dogs. You can also play games with your dog, such as staging a scavenger hunt or playing hide and seek together. If you want to get really fancy, you can devise an indoor obstacle course or even have your own at-home doggie Olympics.
