A Few Simple Tips for Exercising with a Dog during Winter
Spring is already coming but if you love mountains as much as I do, there’s still a lot of snow. Therefore, we can remember what you can do with your dog to keep it fit in winter.
I like all seasons but I love winter the most. Even though it doesn’t have to be always pleasant, going running with your dog when it’s frosty will definitely not only bring you results but mainly a good feeling that you’re doing something for yourself and your furry friend. And we still have a few frosty mornings ahead of us this year.
What else can you do except for warm- up running or a normal walk when the weather is very cold for a dog as well as for its paws?
Indoor activities
Our dogs never miss on an opportunity to play hide and seek and like chasing in the flat. Of course, you have to adjust the activities to your flat or house. You can hide treats on various spots in the flat (or a smaller toy) and let the dog sniff it. Balls with treats inside might be interesting alternatives. Of course, these games will not fully compensate for outdoor activities, but they can help to keep the dog fit both physically and mentally. And you’ll have a lot of fun together. :)
Halls for dogs
If you want some exercise but don’t want to freeze, use halls for dogs. Their number already increases in the Czech Republic. You can sign up for a course and start doing some dog sports or use the space in the hall to train new commands, for example. The advantage of these halls is that you can meet other dog owners who you share something in common with which is pleasant. Moreover, your dog is around other dogs and socializes.
Small things every day
It can happen that you won’t have enough extra time to start doing a new sport or to play with your dog more at home than you dp during the whole year. You can also try to implement little exercising with a dog to your daily routine. Even if you take it outside more often than usual (e.g. to a shop), it will help to keep your dog fit. Even little activity counts. You can also try some exercise together (you can read about doga – yoga for dogs – in a previous article).
It doesn’t matter what winter training you’ll choose, you should always think about sufficient hydration of your dog and keep it warm. When you are active all time, it shouldn’t be a problem, of course. With increased load, the dog needs to get fluids more often. You can also stir a part of can contents in warm water. It doesn’t only warm it up, it will mainly keep it hydrated. And it helps to refuel for next exercises. :)
What about you? Do you exercise with your dog in winter?
When one says a mini breed, most of you will immediately think of a Chihuahua. And it’s not surprising, its the smallest dog breed in the world. They are popular abroad as well as in the Czech Republic and they are often picked by people whose desire...
The Ragdoll, a cat which reminds you of a dog with its behaviour, was in the top three favourite breeds among keepers in 2017. At the worldwide scale, it is on the second place, right after the Maine Coon. The Ragdoll is a very cuddly pet which is into...
Cats have always been regarded as mystical animals with many mysteries. One of them might be the question why these creatures like sitting in a circle so much.
You might be asking why should a cat learn to walk on a leash in the first place? It doesn’t mean you should go hiking with your cat. However, a short walk might be a great adventure for your cat. And you can’t do that without a leash, especially in a...
Keeping an eye on the weight no longer concerns only us, the two-legged creatures. Vets deal with overweight and obese pets more and more often. Most often, it applies to dogs and cats, but even rodents can easily suffer from obesity. How to prevent...
Toxins are accumulated in body during winter and spring is therefore the best season for detoxification. Everything awakens and people purify their bodies so why shouldn’t we involve our closest companions to it?
The fact that it’s no problem to go for a journey across the whole continent (or even the whole world) together with your pet is well-known to the owners of three cat travellers – Bengal cat Suki, courageous cat Wilow and fearless tom cat Simon. They...
One of my New Year’s resolutions this year was to be more active. A dog is a great companion for an active life. What is a healthy level of exercising with a dog?
These portions seem so small, shouldn’t I give my dog more? And should the dry food be dipped or not? And how many times a day should I feed my dog? And should I supplement the food by something? When should we switch to adult dog food? This is only a...
Do you know how to properly behave with your furry friends in national parks and protected nature areas? Are you sick of all the trash in city parks? And are you considering what you should do to be a more
eco-friendly dog owner? You can also...
Siberian Husky is an amazing dog breed. It is a very active dog. Agile, strong and distinctive. That’s why many mushers use them to pull their sledges. It is said that all dogs who like pulling are suitable for a dog sled, but a Siberian Husky really...
Domestic cats don’t go outside as often as dogs and you have to prepare them for travelling. However, they won’t avoid visiting a vet or travelling to a cottage from time to time.