Autumn and winter are the worst periods of the year for exercising your dog. Mornings tend to be quite dark, wet and cold, with late afternoons turning dark very quickly. There's nothing exciting or fun about going outside during a dark miserable day, which makes it a bit hard to take your dog out for their daily run around in the park. However, dogs definitely need their daily exercise and stimulation, and bad weather or freezing cold temperatures shouldn't get in the way. Most dogs generally need one hours worth of exercise a day, but, if you absolutely cannot take your dog out for a walk because it's too dark and unsafe, here is a list of some tips on how you can keep them active indoors.
Making the dog work for their treats
Take some of your dog's favorite treats and hide them around the house and let them put their natural instincts to work by sniffing them out. You can hide treats pretty much anywhere, start by hiding them behind doors, under tables, rugs and in different rooms. Your dog will be so busy tracking down his/her treats, that they will physically become tired during the process. Treat dispensing toys are another great way to keep your dog busy, which engages them mentally and physically, as they play and try to get the food out from the inside.
Running up and down the stairs
Going up and down the stairs is a great way to get your dog tired. Each step of the stair is an obvious physical challenge for dogs as it makes them utilise different muscle groups than those used on your general walk or run. Best way to do this, is, by standing at the top of the stairs and throw one of their favorite toys downstairs, let them run downstairs, and as soon as they pick it up, make sure to call them back up the stairs and bring the toy with them. Repeating this a few times will get the heart pumping and legs working.
Playful and adventurous house environment
Creating obstacles in the house can be a very good method for dogs to get involved in physical activity. If you have children maybe you can use some of their accessories to create tunnels or any obstacles they can jump over. Games like these will keep them busy mentally and physically. Just be cautious not to use anything too high, or that has sharp edges.
Going out to see friends?
If you plan on going out and visiting friends make sure to take your dog with you and don't forget to grab a few toys to keep them entertained. New environments are always fun for dogs to sniff and familiarise with.
Get them on a Treadmill
If you own a treadmill make sure to utilise it as this is a great way for healthy indoor exercise. Introduce them to the treadmill so they can familiarise themselves with the sound and movement. Once they are acquainted place your dog on the treadmill and reward them with a treat. Once they look comfortable you can gradually increase the speed to a gentle pace to give them more of a workout. It's advisable to not leave them alone and supervise at all times. Keeping them on their lead and holding whilst they run, might be useful.
Tug of War
This game can be played with pretty much anything, an old rope or a toy will do. While this is quite simple and provides endless hours of entertainment, it can also be risky if the game goes too far. Playing tug of war can make you lose control over your dog and can result in dangerously out of control behaviour. But, when played correctly it's a great way to keep control over your dog when excited.
