Don’t let the weather get you down!
With the winter weather in full swing, some days can be a little too cold for our liking. If you have a short haired or smaller dog, you want to be especially careful in temperatures below freezing. On the days when it’s just too cold to be outside, here’s 5 indoor activities for your dog to keep you both busy.
1. Physical games
Physical games are great way to tire out an excitable pup. I think tug-of-war is the first game that comes to Isla’s mind when she’s indoors. She is totally obsessed!
If you’ve got a few different ropes, you can bring them all out and play with one at a time, mixing them up suddenly to keep your dog on their toes. I also like to use other durable toys, like rubber frisbees, to mix things up.
If you have two dogs that love the game, try to get them to play together!
2. Mental games
Mental games are another great way to tire out your dog!
Hide and seek is a really fun activity to teach your dog. It’s a great mental exercise, that satisfies herding breeds especially. Dogs who love to track scents get a kick out of this game too.
Have your dog sit and wait as you hide treats nearby to find, then let them set out to find them.
If they have a toy they really like, you can hide that as well. For many dogs, the act of finding the toy is a reward in itself, so there’s no need to give them a treat.
3. Teaching new tricks
Teaching your dog new tricks can be very time-consuming. But, when the weather prevents you from going outdoors, you can use your free time for trick training.
There is an endless list of tricks you can teach your dog. Some simple tricks to start with could include: roll over, sit, lie down, stay, go to your bed and leave it. If your dog is a master of these tricks, you can try some more complex ones like: putting away toys, jumping into your arms, playing dead or helping fold laundry.
Whatever trick you choose, there are tons of awesome videos on Youtube to show you how to teach them. Just remember to be patient with your dog as they learn the new trick.
4. Practice grooming
Just like learning to sit and stay, your dog needs to learn how to be groomed as well. Starting from an early age, many trainers will recommend handling your dog’s paws and ears. This is to make handling easier when you need to examine them.
If your dog is uncomfortable with grooming, try teaching them positive associations with it. For example, if your dog hates having their nails clipped, try introducing the clipper with plenty of treats. Slowly graduate to just touching their paws with the clippers with plenty of praise for good behaviour. Once your dog is comfortable around clippers, you can start to work on actually clipping their nails.
Patience is especially key for activities that may provoke fear or anxiety in your dog. With plenty of practice and positive association, you can teach your dog that grooming isn’t so bad!
Not sure where to start with grooming? Check out these posts for more information about general grooming, dental care, bathing and brushing.
5. Do a health check-up
Even though you aren’t a vet, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be keeping tabs on your dog’s health. In fact, there’s certain things you can (and should) check routinely. If you’re stuck indoors, then take this perfect opportunity for a health check!
VetStreet has a great article on checking your dog’s vitals for temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate. As the article indicates, your dog’s numbers may deviate from the standard, so make sure to keep record of their baseline for reference. If you’re interested in learning more about pet first aid in general, I would recommend taking a pet first aid course.
Aside from checking vitals, you can also take a look at your dog’s teeth and gums, ears, eyes, paws, sanitary areas and feel around their body for any cuts, sores or abrasions.
And with that, I hope you find an activity in this list you like. While the weather outside may be miserable, there’s still plenty of indoor activities for your dog to keep you both busy!