How to keep your dog busy on winter time
- Dogs require daily physical and mental stimulation, which can be achieved through daily walks, interaction with people, and engaging games.
- You can choose from a variety of different activities to match your dog’s temperament, energy levels, and natural tendencies.
- The most popular games to play include tug of war, fetch, hide and seek, and puzzle games.
- Training basic obedience and agility can also be a great mental exercise for canines.
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Best Games for Dogs on Winter Time
According to a Tug-E-Nuff survey, nine out of ten dog owners spend time playing games with their dogs every day. But how can you pick which activities will suit your and your dog’s personality? The games described below vary in their intensity and can be suitable for dogs of different breeds and energy levels.
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Gentle Nature Sniffy Walks
Walking is essential for your canine companion’s mental and physical well-being. Start taking strolls in serene environments to stimulate your pup without overwhelming them.
Allow your dog to explore at their own pace, stopping to sniff and enjoy the surroundings. Using a long line can also give your pup more freedom while ensuring safety, so you don’t have to worry about perfect leash manners right away.
You can gradually introduce your furry friend to new places, enriching their experience and making it more enjoyable for them.
Mindful Treasure Hunt
Another low-impact activity you can do with your pet is a simple treasure hunt. Hide their favorite treats (ideally something especially tasty or smelly) in various spots around the house.
Next, encourage your dog to find them using their sense of smell. This activity stimulates your dog’s brain through their sense of smell and can also provide a subtle physical challenge.
Gentle Nature Sniffy Walks
Walking is essential for your canine companion’s mental and physical well-being. Start taking strolls in serene environments to stimulate your pup without overwhelming them.
Allow your dog to explore at their own pace, stopping to sniff and enjoy the surroundings. Using a long line can also give your pup more freedom while ensuring safety, so you don’t have to worry about perfect leash manners right away.
You can gradually introduce your furry friend to new places, enriching their experience and making it more enjoyable for them.
Mindful Treasure Hunt
Another low-impact activity you can do with your pet is a simple treasure hunt. Hide their favorite treats (ideally something especially tasty or smelly) in various spots around the house.
Next, encourage your dog to find them using their sense of smell. This activity stimulates your dog’s brain through their sense of smell and can also provide a subtle physical challenge.
Fetch a Toy
Who doesn’t know how to play fetch? It’s probably one of the most popular activities to engage your canine companion in.
However, you can make it more entertaining by incorporating new toys and changing the throwing distance. This fun game provides a good balance of mental and physical exercise.
Energetic Fetch and Retrieval
If you own a high-energy dog, a simple game of fetch may not be enough to meet their physical activity needs.
Opt for longer sessions and play fetch in spacious areas instead. You can also make the game more challenging by incorporating sprints or tricky retrieves, such as throwing a ball uphill, to keep active dogs engaged and busy.
Hide and Seek
Dogs love this game, as children do! Find a perfect hiding spot, and tell your dog to sit and wait. After, invite them to seek you out. Reward if successful. You can help them find you with your voice and other sounds.
Fetch a Toy
Who doesn’t know how to play fetch? It’s probably one of the most popular activities to engage your canine companion in.
However, you can make it more entertaining by incorporating new toys and changing the throwing distance. This fun game provides a good balance of mental and physical exercise.
Energetic Fetch and Retrieval
If you own a high-energy dog, a simple game of fetch may not be enough to meet their physical activity needs.
Opt for longer sessions and play fetch in spacious areas instead. You can also make the game more challenging by incorporating sprints or tricky retrieves, such as throwing a ball uphill, to keep active dogs engaged and busy.
Hide and Seek
Dogs love this game, as children do! Find a perfect hiding spot, and tell your dog to sit and wait. After, invite them to seek you out. Reward if successful. You can help them find you with your voice and other sounds.
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Obstacle Course Adventures
Set up a moderate-level obstacle course in your backyard, incorporating tunnels, jumps, and weave poles. You can either purchase agility equipment or create DIY versions using household items.
Guide your dog through the course to promote agility and provide a stimulating challenge. However, consult with your dog’s vet first to make sure your dog doesn’t have any health issues that could put their joints at risk from rigorous jumping.
Tug of War
Playing “tug of war” can help satisfy your canine’s natural prey drive while providing both physical exercise and mental stimulation.
To keep the game safe and enjoyable, make sure your dog only takes the toy on cue, releases it when asked, and that play stops immediately if their teeth touch your skin or clothing. Following these rules ensures a fun and controlled game for both you and your dog.
Popping Bubbles
Use pet-friendly bubbles to engage your pooch in this simple yet fun activity. Blow the bubbles at your dog’s chest level. They will try to pop them following their prey drive instinct. This game is excellent for physical and mental exercise.
Obstacle Course Adventures
Set up a moderate-level obstacle course in your backyard, incorporating tunnels, jumps, and weave poles. You can either purchase agility equipment or create DIY versions using household items.
Guide your dog through the course to promote agility and provide a stimulating challenge. However, consult with your dog’s vet first to make sure your dog doesn’t have any health issues that could put their joints at risk from rigorous jumping.
Tug of War
Playing “tug of war” can help satisfy your canine’s natural prey drive while providing both physical exercise and mental stimulation.
To keep the game safe and enjoyable, make sure your dog only takes the toy on cue, releases it when asked, and that play stops immediately if their teeth touch your skin or clothing. Following these rules ensures a fun and controlled game for both you and your dog.
Popping Bubbles
Use pet-friendly bubbles to engage your pooch in this simple yet fun activity. Blow the bubbles at your dog’s chest level. They will try to pop them following their prey drive instinct. This game is excellent for physical and mental exercise.
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Chase the Prey
This activity is a perfect outlet for dogs with high energy levels and strong hunting instincts, allowing them to chase, stalk, and catch.
One great way to play this game is with a flirt pole – a long pole with a rope and a toy attached. Move the toy along the ground or in the air, encouraging your dog to chase and catch it. Reward successful catches with praise or a quick treat to keep them motivated.
Muffin Tin Puzzle
Another simple DIY trick to keep your pup busy is to take an empty muffin tin and place treats in it. Next, cover the holes with small objects (like tennis balls), so that your dog needs to use their nose or paw to uncover the treats and retrieve them.
Basic Obedience Training
Teaching your dog commands is a great way to prevent bad behavior and to stimulate them mentally. It can also help you form a strong bond with your pet.
The key is to stay patient and loving, even if your dog doesn’t get everything from the start. Start with the basics: Name recognition, Look, Sit, Down, Come, Leave It, Drop It, Place, Stay (Wait), Place.
Chase the Prey
This activity is a perfect outlet for dogs with high energy levels and strong hunting instincts, allowing them to chase, stalk, and catch.
One great way to play this game is with a flirt pole – a long pole with a rope and a toy attached. Move the toy along the ground or in the air, encouraging your dog to chase and catch it. Reward successful catches with praise or a quick treat to keep them motivated.
Muffin Tin Puzzle
Another simple DIY trick to keep your pup busy is to take an empty muffin tin and place treats in it. Next, cover the holes with small objects (like tennis balls), so that your dog needs to use their nose or paw to uncover the treats and retrieve them.
Basic Obedience Training
Teaching your dog commands is a great way to prevent bad behavior and to stimulate them mentally. It can also help you form a strong bond with your pet.
The key is to stay patient and loving, even if your dog doesn’t get everything from the start. Start with the basics: Name recognition, Look, Sit, Down, Come, Leave It, Drop It, Place, Stay (Wait), Place.
Dog Games to Keep Them Busy
Give your dog mental stimulation. Use Kong toys that have treats inside. These toys will help your dog solve problems. They will also keep your dog busy.
These games have many uses. They can improve cognitive abilities, reduce boredom, and provide an outlet for extra energy.
These special bowls have patterns on the inside that make mealtime fun for your dog. They help your dog eat more slowly.
Eating slowly is good for your dog’s digestion. It helps your dog digest food better and avoid health problems. Also, slow feeders require problem-solving skills to access food.
Introduce durable chew toys and dental chews to keep your dog entertained and help keep their teeth healthy.
Chewing helps relieve stress and anxiety, making it a self-soothing activity for your pet. However, be careful to use only chew toys that are safe for dogs. These toys should be made of durable materials so your dog can’t bite off small pieces and choke on them.
Wrap Up
Incorporating these dog games into your pet’s daily routine is a great way to provide entertainment for your furry friend while also helping them stay healthy and happy. Remember to be patient, use positive reinforcement, and have great fun bonding with your dog.
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