Fun-Filled Activities For Winter

Winter is here in full force and you may be content sitting on your couch sipping cocoa and watching television, however I doubt your pooch feels the same. Even with bone chilling temperatures raging across the state, our four-legged friends are desperate for some activity. Unlike humans, most animals (that don’t hibernate) do not experience a drop in drive for exercise just because the temperatures drop. What to do then? Well seeing as one of my own pups is a high-energy bloke, it seemed only appropriate to do a little research on fun activities we could do this winter that wouldn’t freeze either of our tails off!

Firstly, if your pup is high energy, he or she probably needs to get some solid running in. Now that doesn’t mean you need to go and lace up your tennis shoes just yet. What I’ve found to be easiest is the local dog park at off hours. Why at off hours? Mainly because my own pooch gets overwhelmed when there are excessive numbers of dog, he doesn’t know how to divvy up his time between all his new friends and half the time ends up sniffing for thirty minutes rather than actually playing. If you go at a somewhat “off” time, there will likely be fewer dogs present; making the options for friendship slimmer and the playfulness can really come out. We tend to go for about forty five minutes to an hour, I relax at a park bench bundled up to the max, while Mowgli runs his little heart out. The other good news…With temperatures this cold I don’t need to worry about muddy paws, yahoo!

So maybe the dog park isn’t your jam, perhaps Fido isn’t a big fan of other dogs or running for that matter. No problem! Throughout Michigan there are several places one can go both outdoors and indoors that involves nature and brain stimulation. For instance, the dunes on the west side of the state are a great place to take your dog for the weekend. Let’s not forget some of the metroparks throughout Michigan that are dog friendly and filled with trails that will excite both you and your fur baby. For more information on where to go outdoors, visit http://www.bringfido.com/attraction/state/michigan/ to really set up a game plan and some weekend adventures.

Now what if you and your pooch absolutely hate this cold and just haven’t been able to move out of the state yet…Okay slightly dramatic, but really if you don’t care for the cold there are still plenty of options for you and your dog! They do require that your pup be on leash, and that he or she be well trained, but that shouldn’t be a problem for most. One of our favorite places to go is the hardware store. You may be thinking I’m crazy, but honestly it is a great place to go and walk around, you and your dog will both get exercise and with the amount of people you’ll meet your pet will get plenty of pets. If you aren’t quite interested in the smell of freshly cut wood, you could always visit your local pet store (definitely pet friendly) or even take your pup to Macy’s! That’s right, you can go to the mall with your dog. For a more extensive list, please visit https://www.rover.com/blog/dog-friendly-stores-across-america/, and I highly suggest calling the store ahead of time just to verify their pet friendly status. The Nordstrom near where I live is pet-friendly, whereas the one about an hour away is “service dog only”. Always best to be certain before you pack up the car and go.

Still haven’t found an activity that suits both you and Fido? Looking into puppy class, obedience training, or even agility training could be the perfect fit. This gives just the right amount of exposure to other dogs while at the same time being an activity for you and your dog. Don’t forget, no dog is too old to learn new tricks! Doggy daycares are also a great way to get your pooch some playtime without even involving a human getting off the couch (except to drive them!).

If after all of these options you still were at a loss, I would highly recommend a riveting game of tug or fetch in the house. Now I can promise your pet will love the time spent with you, the warmth, and the activity. What I can’t promise is whether or not your house will make it through the winter unscathed. Whatever you decide is the right fit for you and your fur baby, remember as long as you are doing something together you really can’t go wrong. Stay warm this winter!

Photos Credits:
Dog-Sledding in Alaska via photopin (license)
Moose Duel via photopin (license)
Squirrels and other pictures at the University of Michigan on an awful cold wintry day (January 6, 2014) via photopin(license)
6. desember – December 6 via photopin(license)