Keeping Dogs Active In Winter

Everyone finds it difficult to keep dogs active during winter months because of the bitter cold, snow, and ice. The question is, what can you do to ensure that your dog gets enough exercise during the chilly season?

It’s crucial to keep your dog active as winter approaches. Dogs need exercise to be alert and healthy and to strengthen their relationship with humans. Therefore, before it becomes truly cold, think about changing your dog’s exercise routine. So how do you keep your dog active in cold weather? The answer is play, play, play.

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Why do Dogs Need Special Winter Care?

During the colder months, more care should be given to pups, older dogs, canines with medical concerns, and dogs who are on medications. Arthritis, hip dysplasia, diabetes, asthma, hypothyroidism, and heart disease are a few conditions that might affect a dog’s capacity to control its body temperature. Additionally, ice may be just as dangerous for keeping dogs active during winter months, particularly if the dog is older and less stable on her feet.

When your dog walks outside and there are stairs involved, assist him by staying by his side. Spend some time preparing a clean, dry path so your dog may securely leave the house, go do his business, and then return to the comfort of the house. Just before you head out for your stroll, throw a large, fluffy towel in the dryer as a great welcome home gesture. When you get back, properly dry your dog before wrapping him in that warm, dry towel that just came out of the dryer.

Puppies and senior dogs sleep a lot, so make sure their preferred sleeping areas are comfortable and away from drafts. Give your dog a warm hot-water bottle wrapped in a soft blanket to snuggle up with at night, especially after going outside. All dogs get comfort in this, but pups and senior dogs especially appreciate it.

Outdoor Activities

Not all dogs are built to be athletes, but if yours enjoys playing catch, running, jumping, and retrieving, winter shouldn’t be a problem.  If the roads, parks, and walkways are clear of snow and ice, you may jog, hike, rollerblade, toss a Frisbee, do obedience training, and improve your agility just as you can in other seasons.

Remember that your dog must use energy to be warm in addition to performing when it is chilly. You are the best person to know your dog, therefore you should be able to tell when he is becoming weary or has exerted himself too much, and should be brought inside for a reward. Keeping dogs active during winter months is not difficult but it does take some creativity.

Take Your Dog for a Walk

Winter dog walking is still possible, but be sure to check the temperature and wind chill before you leave. It’s probably too chilly for your dog to be outside if it’s too cold for you. to be outside.

However, if there isn’t much ice and it’s a warmer winter day, you should absolutely go for a stroll or a hike. You should get your dog a coat if it has short hair or there seems to be not enough hair for added warmth. You might wish to spend money on a pair of dog boots, or a dog balm that safeguards their foot pads. They are so badly hurt by the salt that they compare it to sprinkling salt on a wound.

If you intend to walk close to a lake, check the weather to see if it has frozen. Avoid the lake and any frozen ponds. This reduces the chance that you or your dog will slip through the ice.

Activities In The Snow

There are various methods to exercise a dog if you reside somewhere that snows. Playing find-it in the snow is enjoyable for dogs who enjoy chasing and retrieving objects. Bring a ball or a plastic toy outside, place her in the remaining posture, and then fling the object while shouting, “Find it!” Keeping your dogs active during winter can be just as much fun as summer months.

Try donning a pair of snowshoes, tying your dog to a leash, and taking a stroll in a park or along a trail.

Dog Parks

Is that even a choice when it’s so awful outside? If you’re fortunate enough to reside close to an indoor dog park, it is. There may be one in your area because these indoor climate-controlled facilities are becoming more and more common. Dogs can interact and let off pent-up energy at indoor dog parks without having to fight the outdoors. Even swimming pools are included in some indoor parks. Additionally, a lot of these institutions include human amenities like bars and workspaces.

Visiting a nice wam indoor dog park becomes a no-brainer for keeping your dogs warm during winter months.

Indoor Activities

Your dog has to be active even when it’s freezing outside to keep healthy. Fortunately, there are many indoor activities you can engage in to keep your dog’s sense of play activities during the winter.

Play Fetch:

Playing inside may be just as enjoyable as playing outside if you use your imagination. By playing a simple game of hide-and-seek where your dog must strive to find you, you may help your dog’s mind and body. While they are cooped up indoors, burrow and puzzle toys are also a fantastic way to keep them mentally and physically active. For an enjoyable treasure hunt, you could even conceal some of their favorite toys throughout the house. If you have the room, you could even try a little bit of fetch.

Additionally, blowing bubbles is a fantastic way to integrate chasing-and-chomping fun, provided you don’t mind producing a tiny mess. Even pet-friendly bubbles that smell like bacon, peanut butter, and other things are available on the market.

Soft Agility: 

You may also create a fun obstacle course for your dog with objects from around your house. Take a look around. Your home may be transformed into a wonderful winter play area by using items like cushions, cardboard boxes, poufs, chairs, blankets, footstools, coffee tables, shoes, and stairs. You may easily make ramps, tunnels, hurdles, low crawls, and other agility exercises using common home materials or buy agility equipment online.

Set Up A Play Date: 

Does your dog have a park buddy that he enjoys? The two of them could enjoy having a play date; just be sure to dog-proof the home and put breakables away in case they become rowdy.

Dog Yoga

Dog yoga, or doga, is another exercise that’s gaining popularity. Yoga for dogs is similar to partner yoga in that you perform postures with your dog at your side. You can find doga courses near to you or you can also discover a ton of free videos online. So that you may discover your inner self along with your dog.

Does your dog require less food in Winter?

Like us, dogs frequently put on weight over the winter. Do you need to feed your dog less now? Not at all. In some cases, you might need to give them more food if they’re trekking or sledding a lot and burning a lot of calories.

If they’re hiking through deep snow, you might need to feed them a little bit extra. Anyone who has ever engaged in outdoor cross-country skiing is aware that after a few hours, hunger sets in. Therefore, bring some treats and water for your dog.

Always consult with your veterinarian before changing your dog’s food.

How cold is exactly too cold for your dog?

Depending on the breed, smaller dogs and those with short coats may feel the cold more than larger dogs or those with thicker coats when it’s below 0 degrees Celsius. Similarly, unhealthy adult dogs are less likely to have negative effects from the cold than senior dogs and young puppies.

Your dog’s degree of activity should also be taken into consideration, as energetic canines will keep warmer in the winter than those who are inactive.

All breeds should limit outside activity during extremely cold spells with a strong wind chill. Your dog’s ears, nose, tail, and paws are more exposed than the rest of its body, thus thick fur can only protect them to a certain extent. Always take the weather into account before embarking on a lengthy walk. Keep in mind that you must also travel all the way back! Take many, short walks rather than a single, lengthy one as the temperature lowers. This is safer and wiser. Also, keep in mind that temperatures might decrease significantly after the sun sets.

Symptoms of Hypothermia

A dog’s body temperature can drop significantly if left outside in extremely cold weather, leading to hypothermia. Dogs that are left out in the cold for an extended period of time or who have chilly, wet fur in strong winds can get hypothermia. Canines with mild hypothermia become lethargic and sluggish and can’t stop shivering. Dogs with severe hypothermia lose consciousness and their respiration and heart rates decrease. Get your dog to a warm location right away and take them to the doctor right away if you see any of these symptoms.

Extremely dangerous, hypothermia can swiftly result in death!

Final Words

Remember your dog is your responsibility and you should take separate measures for him as you take for yourself and your family during winter. Keeping your dogs active during winter months should be a priority. This helps to lower and maintain your pet’s anxiety levels anxiety We hope you liked this post. Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, and don’t forget to click here to visit our pet shop link and the top of this page. For our military veteran dog lovers click this link for military and patriotic related products.

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