Keeping active in the winter is hard for humans to do. I know when I look outside and see 3 feet of snow the last thing I want to do is bundle up and bear the fidget temperature. It’s not like my dog can take herself for a run to keep in shape. Here are a couple activities that you can do with your dog to keep your dog not only physically but also mentally active:
· Hide and seek– have your dog wait in a different room and hide their favorite toy, food, treats or even you! Call your dog and watch them run around the house until they find whatever it is you hid.
· Stairs – They are great exercise, I would recommend standing at the bottom and throwing a toy to the top this way they don’t hurt themselves running or even jumping down the stairs.
· The shell game– I use 3 bowls instead of shells but any type of container where you can put a piece of food will work. Take the 3 bowls and flip them over so you cannot tell if there is anything underneath. Then take one piece of food or treat and show your dog you are going to it underneath one of the bowls. Shuffle the bowls and let your dog guess which one it is under.
· Play dates – Arrange a play dog with another friend that has a dog, or a dog that your dog has played with at the dog park. If you cannot think of any doggy friends take your dog to a doggy day care (there are plenty in the area).
Want more? Check out these websites for ideas:
http://www.dogster.com/dog-training/engage-dog-indoors
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/5-easy-ways-to-keep-your-dog-healthy-and-active/
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/10-tips-keep-dog-active-210000489.html
