- Have Fetch Races. …
- March Up & Down the Stairs. …
- Squat, Tease, Leap. …
- Host a DIY Doggy Olympics. …
- Get Centered with Doga. …
- Take Turns on the Treadmill. …
- Train Your Dog to Run On or Off a Leash. …
- Visit an Indoor Pet Center.
The weather during the winter is not always conducive to exercising. But both you and your pet need to get some exercise each day to live a healthy lifestyle. Knock out both of your workouts by exercising together. Here are ten suggestions for exercising with your dog this winter. : Dariush M. / Shutterstock#10 Morning Walk.
Your dog will need to go outside at some point throughout the day, regardless of whether it is sunny, gray, wet, dry, cold, or hot. Instead of seeing your dog’s daily walk as a chore, consider all the cardiovascular health advantages you and your dog will experience from a brisk daily walk. : Blazej Lyjak / Shutterstock#9 Interval Walk.
Instead of taking a leisurely stroll around the block, use this interval training routine for you and your partner: one minute walk, 20 seconds jog, one minute walk, 20 seconds sideways shuffle, one minute walk, 20 seconds of running backwards. Repeat five times for a simple 20-minute workout. : picsbyst / Shutterstock#8 Dog Tag.
Dog tag is a great way to quickly increase your heart rate while burning calories outside, or you can bring it inside. When your dog “tags” you, let him chase you around before switching to chasing him. : Jeff Thrower / Shutterstock#7 Fetch Races.
Another game that can be played either inside or outside, depending on available space Don’t just watch your dog go after his favorite toy when you throw it; instead, race him after it. : Piddleville / Flickr#6 Dog Stairs.
Utilizing your stairwell is a simple indoor exercise option. Walk your dog up and down the stairs while wearing a leash. To change up the routine, take two steps at once, jog up and down, or walk up sideways. : Arman Zhenikeyev / Shutterstock#5 Fetch Tease.
Incorporate a game of fetch into your abdominal workout. Begin by performing sit-ups while holding your dog’s favorite toy. Pretend to throw the toy when you stand up so that your dog will chase after it. You want to avoid teasing him too much or he won’t be interested in your game, so every few sit-ups actually throw the toy and let him bring it back. : Darko Zeljkovic / Shutterstock#4 Squat Tease.
Squat down while holding your dog’s preferred toy. As you squat down, tap your dog with the toy. Bring the toy above your head as you stand up so that he jumps for it. : Stuart Isett / The New York Times#3 Doga.
Dog yoga, also known as “doga,” is a fantastic way for both owners and dogs to stretch and unwind. Doga practitioners claim that it relieves stress and makes them feel close to their dogs. : Bev Sykes / Flickr#2 Canine Freestyle Dancing.
If you enjoy watching “Dancing with the Stars” with your dog, get off the couch and participate. You can find classes by contacting organizations like the Musical Dog Sport Association and the World Canine Freestyle Organization. : glen gaffney / Shutterstock#1 Skijor.
Skijoring, which combines cross-country skiing and sledding, may be the ideal winter exercise for both dog owners and their canine companions. The dog is harnessed to the owner, who uses the skis and poles to maintain momentum as the dog pulls.
19 Great Ways to Get Your Dog Indoor Exercise in the Winter
Given the significance of exercise during the winter, here are some inventive and creative ways to get your dog moving inside:
During the winter, keeping your dog fit and mentally active requires both physical and mental exercise.
Treat dispensing balls and other puzzle toys require your dog to work for his treats, which will keep him engaged and on the go the entire time.
We’ve written about treat-dispensing balls before, but two of our favorites are the StarMark Bob-A-Lot and the Classic KONG for dogs who need a chewable option.
Additionally, the treat dispensers slow down your dog’s eating speed. It’s the ideal way to enhance digestion and prevent bloating, especially if you use it for mealtimes with dry food.
A flirt pole isn’t as dirty as it sounds. In fact, it’s not dirty at all!.
A flirt pole resembles a fishing pole in shape and is attached with a toy, a rope, and a solid rod. While the canine participant tries to catch the toy, the human participant controls the movement’s speed, range, and direction.
There are many excellent dog flirt poles available, but our favorite is probably the Outward Hound Tail Teaser.
Your dog will enjoy the thrill of the chase, but you should occasionally let him win and take the toy for himself. Otherwise, he may lose interest and give up. For your dog, it’s a wonderful outlet for taming the innate prey drive in a safe and controlled setting.
Check out the video below if you’re not sure how a flirt pole works.
In order to give your dog some indoor exercise during the chilly winter months, a simple laser pointer can be very helpful. Your dog’s instinct to pursue prey is frequently triggered by laser pointers, making it simple to get Fido to run around.
You can simply sit on the couch and let your dog chase the alluring red dot around the living room, and best of all, you won’t even have to move!
Just be sure to occasionally allow your dog to “catch” the moving dot. This will help prevent frustration and keep his tail wagging. Doing so is pretty easy:
Generally speaking, you can use any old laser pointer for puppy fun. However, we really like the TMMDH Laser Pointer Three-Pack. It comes with three different laser pointers, each of which produces a different colored dot (which is great in case you lose one).
Although it is technically marketed for cats, it won’t matter because it will still be effective for Fido.
Avoid shining your laser pointer directly into your dog’s eyes—we hope that goes without saying.
Treat scatters are a unique way to keep feeding time interesting for your dog and a fun way to keep their attention diverted because making a mess is fun for everyone, including dogs.
By scattering some of your dog’s favorite treats or dry food on the floor, you’re effectively making him pick up each piece one at a time. They’ll eat slower and have to think things through. It resembles a puzzle feeder in some ways, but without the puzzling!
Treat scatters are a fantastic training tool that can assist your dog in avoiding stressful stimuli, like the cat that won’t stop passing by your window.
Picking up a snuffle mat is one way to increase your pup’s interest during treat-spreading time. These indoor management tools, which are designed to resemble tall grass or vegetation, will make it more difficult for your dog to locate the treats and will keep his nose and brain active.
Although we’ve previously listed some of the top snuffle mats (along with some DIY instructions for creating your own), Paw5’s design is probably our favorite.
When playing tug of war with your dog, it can be challenging not to get overly competitive, but that’s one of the reasons it’s enjoyable for both humans and dogs.
The traditional canine game of tug-of-war is known for igniting your dog’s prey drive – it harkens some deep-seated instincts that can be lived out in a safe and harmless environment. Playing with your dog while playing tug-of-war is a great way to bond and is enjoyable for everyone.
Additionally, using a rope tug toy will help keep your dog’s teeth a little bit cleaner.
Although there are roughly five billion tug toys available, we’ve chosen a few of the top dog tug toys in a different article.
Order the Zogoflex Bumi instead if you want to avoid reading it; it’s unquestionably the best one available.
Playing hide-and-seek with your dog is a fun activity for the entire family. It’s not only a great way to get your dog moving, but it also rarely takes a long time to teach your dog how to play.
With treats in hand, you’ll hide in a room while your dog does the searching. Hide and seek is a great way to strengthen the bond between Fido and the family, and the more humans involved, the better.
Your dog’s nose, brain, and body will all be working together to find those treats!
Your dog will adore the full room version if he enjoys the treat-dispensing toys!
When snow covers his favorite sniffing spots, your dog won’t get the chance to seriously exercise his nose indoors like he will with scavenger hunts.
He’ll spend hours looking around the house for the treats you’ve deftly hidden. It’s like a fun Easter Egg hunt for your pooch!.
Just be sure to begin hiding the treats in locations that are relatively simple to find. This will give your dog confidence before you begin increasing the level of difficulty.
An indoor obstacle course is entertaining for both humans and dogs because it’s like the canine equivalent of a pillow fort.
Create a few jumps and perhaps a tunnel using chairs, pillows, blankets, and other household items. Designing various doggo obstacles is up to you, but remember to always think about safety and try to use soft materials when creating fun impediments.
By putting your dog through a homemade course, you can get some exercise and liven up the dreary winter days. You can easily switch up indoor obstacle courses so your dog will never get bored!
Check out our article on creating a DIY agility course if you need assistance with constructing a few obstacles.
There are many similarities between agility courses and obstacle courses, even though they aren’t exactly the same thing. With a little imagination, you should have no trouble adapting some of these plans.
The Ricochet Dog Toy from PetSafe is an excellent way to stimulate (and possibly confuse) your dog’s brain because it is high-tech and a lot of fun.
Two separate ball toys that can both make a loud squeaking sound are used in this game.
As soon as your dog investigates the noisy object, the sound “ricochets” to the other object, and so on. Your dog will enjoy spending hours attempting to solve this noisy puzzle!
Once your dog has mastered it, you can even change it up a bit and hide one of the toys to give it a little more of a challenge. These toys are battery-operated and made of durable materials, so they can withstand constant use and slobber!
Check out our comprehensive review of the Ricochet Dog Toy if you want to learn more.
A Petcube Bites 2 could be the solution if your dog spends a lot of time alone at home without you in order to keep him socially engaged and mentally active while you’re gone.
In essence, the Petcube is a video monitor that lets you talk to your pet whenever you want during the day, no matter where you are. With this gadget, you can watch your pet comfortably on your phone throughout the day and, at the touch of a button, dispense treats to liven things up a bit.
The Petcube Bites 2 might make your dog a little less lonely during the winter months when hiring a dog walker is out of the question.
The tennis ball launcher is no longer just for use outside, so clean up the area and get some new batteries.
The numerous variations of this classic toy make for fantastic indoor playtime. To fit your space, you can change the pitch and the distance.
Your dog will enjoy the same satisfying chase indoors with one of these enjoyable gadgets, just make sure all the breakable items are out of the way.
This launcher uses specially made balls with non-abrasive fabric, unlike some other launchers. Tennis balls can eventually cause your dog’s teeth to become worn down, so this is crucial.
Spontaneously chasing your dog around the house deepens your relationship with him and exhausts him at the same time.
You should establish the following guidelines before starting a boisterous chasing game:
Undoubtedly, playing a controlled game of chase will get your heart racing and strengthen your bond with your dog.
The Babble Ball speaks to your dog, just as its name implies.
The Babble Ball brings the classic squeaky toy into the twenty-first century by using fun phrases to communicate with your dog as he plays with it. The Babble Ball is battery-operated and only activates when your dog plays with it, so it should last for quite some time, depending on how rough your dog plays.
The Babble Ball is a fantastic substitute for a video monitor to keep your dog entertained. He will love the vocal reassurance!
The indoor dog parks might be the best concept that millennials have brought to light, second only to avocado toast.
As the name suggests, indoor dog parks provide all the advantages of outdoor dog parks, but in a warm, dry environment that shields you from the elements.
In the winter, indoor dog parks are crucial because they give your dog the socialization he’ll miss while cooped up inside.
Any social activity will help your pup maintain his sanity throughout the chilly months, even if there isn’t an indoor dog park near you.
Nobody enjoys using the treadmill, but if you use some treat-based motivation, your dog might come to enjoy it. Dog treadmills, which were created with canines in mind, will help you warm up in the winter.
The advantages of treadmills for dogs are essentially the same as those they provide for people. They give you the chance to get in a safe, convenient cardio workout to burn those calories. Treadmills for dogs are designed specifically for our canine companions.
Your dog might even enjoy his workout if you provide him with some treats as encouragement!
We advise interested readers to read our in-depth review of dog treadmills before making a decision because dog exercise equipment typically requires a sizable investment and they differ in a number of ways.
However, the dogPACER LF 3 is a solid choice if you only need a quick recommendation to get your dog’s treadmill going. 1 Dog Pacer Treadmill. It has a ton of wonderful features and is strong enough for dogs up to 180 pounds.
Doggie daycare may be a warm and comfortable alternative in the winter for dogs who are highly social and those who are used to daily dog walker visits.
In colder climates, a regular visit from the helpful neighborhood dog walker may not be feasible or safe. For some working people, using a reputable doggie daycare is a great alternative because it offers interaction between humans and dogs.
Your dog will play a lot throughout the day, so when you pick him up he’ll be ready for cuddles, crashing, and some serious bonding time!
Keep in mind that not every dog will make a good candidate for doggie daycare, and that’s okay!
Using treats to encourage your dog to go up and down the steps will burn up energy quickly, so make the most of your home’s layout when you’re trapped inside.
Additionally, stair routines are a great way to practice some treat-motivated obedience training.
Just make sure your dog doesn’t get too tired and keep an eye out for their safety. It’s easy to overdo it when treats are involved, so make sure to give him breaks often. You’ll also need to exercise caution if your dog has a history of joint issues or arthritis.
You and your dog might think about making a few trips up and down the stairs together if you’re trying to burn off a few calories yourself.
Don’t worry if you can’t even pull off “The Robot”; you and your dog don’t have to be Sara and Hero from America’s Got Talent to enjoy the benefits of canine dancing. ” Your dog won’t judge you.
Think of doggie dancing as agility competitions or music-accompanied obedience trials because it involves human and canine choreography that combines artistry and challenging movements.
A growing trend both within and outside of the United States is canine dancing. This new sport has gained popularity through clubs and organized competitions, becoming a global phenomenon.
It’s not only a fantastic way to get moving and engaged, but it’s also a fantastic way to practice obedience!
Downward dog has lost its appeal and is no longer just for yogis.
Dog yoga, or “Doga,” is a relatively recent development in canine exercise and wellness. When used properly, doga can provide a soothing way to start or end the day and significantly strengthen the bond between you and your dog.
Doga won’t fulfill the cardio requirement, but your dog will undoubtedly profit from the mental and physical stimulation it offers. Additionally, the stretching that comes along with it may be especially beneficial for older dogs with joint issues!
Play a game with your dog.
The game of hide-and-seek is a great way to get your dog moving and mentally stimulated. It’s preferable to make her seek you out rather than hiding a treat or her favorite toy. Throw a treat at her first to entice her away from you, and then sneak away to another area of the house. As your dog rushes around searching, this game can really exhaust her, but it’s good for reinforcing the “come” command.
Exercises that call for your friend to use her nose are especially stimulating for dogs because they have such incredible scenting abilities. Make her work for her dinner by setting up a maze for her to navigate in order to find it. Put her food in a box or, even better, a Kong Wobbler or a Buster Ball.
Pet-friendly stores
Consider shopping at dog-friendly establishments like Petco, PetSmart, or The Home Depot. Your dog will have plenty to explore and focus on during a 20-minute walk around the store, and it will at least get him outside.
FAQ
Do dogs need as much exercise in the winter?
Winter weather shouldn’t prevent dogs from getting their daily exercise, which is important even when it’s cold outside. Less likely they are to gain weight or experience the winter blues, the more active they are and the more energy they expend.
How do people walk their dogs in winter?
Avoid walking Fido on icy pavements and roads, and watch out for any grit or salt that might irritate him. You must dress warmly and stock up on winter dog walking equipment like walking boots, a weather-proof coat, gloves, and a hat in addition to making sure your dog is adequately protected from the elements.
Is it OK to walk dog less in winter?
In general, it’s best to limit your outdoor activities when it’s extremely chilly. Give your dog several short walks rather than one long one because the longer they are outside, the lower their body temperature will become.