While spring, summer, and the early fall are all viable seasons for keeping your dog active and trained outdoors, winter canine activities are best kept inside. This article aims to help keep your dog active when inside and includes suggested dog toys to keep them busy while minimizing damage to your home.
Tug of War
So long as you have an appropriate toy, you can tug with your dog. Beyond providing exercise, tug can build your dog’s confidence, temper impulsiveness, and strengthen your bond.
While you should always let your dog “win,” never let a tug session last more than 10-15 seconds. While rope is commonly used for tug, anything that is kind to your dog’s teeth and gums and has a decent length will suffice.
Hallway Fetch
Just because your dog cannot run around in a back yard or a field, that is no reason to deny them a game of fetch. Just use the longest hallway in your property as a staging ground for throwing the ball or toy.
You may not be able to encourage the same distances of going and coming as the outdoors affords, but a hallway can suffice for entertaining and exercising your dog.
Hide and Seek
Sit with your dog in a room and show them something long enough to get them to sniff it with interest. Get your dog to watch you put the item in any easily found spot, like under their bowl or behind a planter. Tell them “Find it!” or “Seek!” in a cheery voice to amp them up and literally give them some direction in hunting down the item. After the dog finds the item, shower them with praise and let them savor their find.
As your dog becomes more familiar with the game, you can get progressively more challenging in your hiding spots. The goal is to keep your dog active and develop an association with the command before they go after the item.
Obedience Drills
Since some people like to use their time indoors for self-improvement, why not let your dog get a taste of that? Whether you want to teach “stay,” “here,” or “heel,” these are all obedience drills and commands that do not require a large outdoor area to instill within your dog.
Your dog is much like yourself; you have days when you just want to relax and enjoy your toys. That said, some toys are better suited to indoor play than others.
Soft Toys
“Soft” refers to toys that are unlikely to break or damage things in your home. Some good examples of small dog toys in this category would be rubber chew toys, plush toys designed specifically for dogs, and non-nylon bones.
Dog Puzzles
Dog puzzles refers to any sort of device that contains a treat but forces your pup to either manipulate the toy into releasing the treats or to manipulate the toy for as long as your dog wants to have the treat, like peanut butter.
Plush Toys
Some dogs consider toys as companions and will want to tow them around by the mouth; be sure the toy is small enough to be carried. Some dogs have a compulsion to shake/”kill” their toys, so be sure that the toy is large enough to avoid being swallowed and sturdy enough to endure this treatment.
In Conclusion
You should now have a better idea of your options for activities involving your dog when winter comes. Use the time spent indoors to work on obedience, play adjusted games, and be sure to get some indoor dog toys and puzzles that your dog can enjoy without wrecking your home.
And remember, if you’re busy with the holidays, traveling, or work, consider using the expert team of Chicago dog walkers at Green Paws today!
