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Some dogs love the cold and snow, others tolerate it, while some dislike it. Whatever the case, your pet's need for exercise and physical activity does not temporarily pause with the advent of cold weather. Your dog may enjoy the cold more than you do, but you can both benefit from fresh air and physical activity. It is easy to get into a rut during winter, but trying new outdoor activities that you and your dog can enjoy together can make it more fun for everyone. However, before you start exploring, be sure your dog is prepared for winter weather. For example, if he is a short-haired breed, he may need a coat to keep warm.
Try New Routes When Walking
When trying out new outdoor activities with your dog, it may be a good idea to start close to home. Though many dog breeds are better adapted to winter than human beings are, they are still vulnerable to cold and susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite. Therefore, when the temperature dips too low, you may have to take shorter walks than usual. However, you can make this fun and exciting by taking new routes that you have never tried before. There may be a whole new world to explore within your own neighborhood, and the change of routine can stimulate your dog's mind and help stave off boredom.
Go Hiking
When you have finished exploring the different routes in your neighborhood, the next logical step is for you to try hiking. This is a challenging but just as effective way for you and your dog to get exercise while getting closer to nature. Chances are good that there are state parks and other nature areas near your home that are open all year and offer trails suitable for pets. Do a little research to find them before setting out.
Try Snowshoeing
Depending on where you live, there may be snow on the ground when you want to go hiking. Snowshoeing is a variant of hiking that helps you navigate the snow more easily. A pair of snowshoes costs a couple of hundred dollars to purchase, or there are places where you can rent them. A state park may let you borrow a pair for free.
They don't make snowshoes for dogs, but your pet can still accompany you on your excursion. Unless the snow is very deep, she should do just fine. You shouldn't be too concerned about her feet getting cold. Dogs have good venous supply to their feet, and the increased blood circulation helps keep them warm. However, you may need to worry about snow collecting in the spaces between the pads of your dog's paws as this can make walking more difficult and less comfortable. Dog boots can help prevent this from happening.
Play With Snowballs
You don't necessarily have to go any further than your own backyard to find opportunities for outdoor fun with your dog in the winter. If the snow is wet enough, you can pack it loosely into snowballs. While snowball fighting per se isn't something you can do with your dog, you can toss them into the air for him to try to catch or throw them for him to fetch. When the snowball lands, it can get lost in a drift and your dog can have some fun trying to find it. Depending on how well trained your dog is, maybe he could help you roll some snow to make a snowman.
Have a Scavenger Hunt
Winter offers dogs the opportunity for new sensory experiences, which they love. The wind and the snow change the way things smell outdoors. You can enhance the sensory experience of winter for your dog by setting up a scavenger hunt for her. Hide things like treats and toys around the backyard and let her track them. See how long it takes for her to find all of them. This is a fun activity for your dog because it offers the inherent promise of a reward.
Challenge Your Dog To Do Nose Work
Nose work is similar to a scavenger hunt, except that now your dog is trying to track a specific scent. This is an activity that challenges your dog mentally as well as physically, and it is a valuable skill for him to develop.
Go Sledding
Sledding with your dog is different from downhill sledding and dog sledding, a form of transportation and recreation in the Arctic. Rather, it is a combination of the two. If you have a big-breed dog, you can sit on a sled or toboggan, attach a strong leash to a harness, and let her pull you around the yard. For many dogs, the impulse to pull is instinctual. This is also a good way for kids to have fun with dogs, provided they are supervised at all times and don't slide down an incline.
Learn Skijoring
Skijoring operates on the same principle as sledding with your dog only instead of a sled, you use a pair of cross-country skis. Your dog pulls you swiftly along, and you get to enjoy the ride while putting in a lot less effort than you would when skiing on your own. However, skijoring isn't something you can just pick up on the fly. For safety's sake, you need to be able to steer your dog, and that means teaching him commands to go left or right. Furthermore, anytime you allow your dog to pull you, use a harness instead of attaching his leash to his collar to avoid injury.
Winter can be a wondrous time for both you and your pet but make sure you always put safety first.
