4 ways to keep your dog active indoors this winter

During the frigid winter months, dog owners are often racked with guilt as chilling subzero temps, blustery winds and slick, slippery sleet limit their pets’ outdoor time and in turn, decrease their activity level for months at a time. It’s very important to keep your dog active throughout the year!

Instead of restricting your dog to brief walks and bathroom breaks, winter can be a great time to flex your creative muscles and try new tricks and techniques to keep your furry friends active. While dog expert Cesar Millan recommends putting your pup on the treadmill, that will probably get you some stares (and complaints) from your neighbours in your condo gym.

So if your dog isn’t fond of workout equipment and your neighbours aren’t fond of pets in the gym, put these tips into rotation this winter to keep your dog active:

1) Transform your condo

Let’s face it: most condo units don’t have that much room for dogs to run around without breaking something. To avoid this, consider rearranging your furniture for playtime. This way, your furniture will be more conducive to your pet running off some of it’s extra energy around the apartment without having to go outside.

To stimulate your dog’s body and brain, make playtime memorable by building an obstacle course in your condo! While it doesn’t have to be extensive or elaborate, be sure to include elements that will be both challenging and exciting.  

Even if you aren’t keen on creating an obstacle course, there are plenty of tricks and training lessons that can be done inside, even as simple as blowing bubbles for your dog and moving around a laser pointer for them to chase around the condo.

2) Fun with friends

If your dog is missing out on outdoor time, try setting up playdates with other dogs at least once a week. Even if the playdate takes place indoors, it makes all the difference when there is someone else to play with (who isn’t you, sorry). If your dog has a small social circle, check online for meetups around your city. There will be plenty of adorable animals and you may come across some cool humans too!

3) Make them work for their meals

When outdoor time is in short supply, you will need to consider all of your dog’s senses to keep them stimulated all the time. The stimulation that your dog gets when you challenge their sense of smell rivals running around a park.

You can challenge your dog by hiding treats around your condo and making them search for them, almost as if they’re hunting for their food. This exercise also supports studies that prove that dogs enjoy their food more when they have to work for it.

4) Take a hint from show dogs

Agility class isn’t just for show dogs. Indoor agility classes are a great way to get rid of your dog’s excess energy during winter months and they will go into spring and summer with tons of new tricks to show off!

Agility training comes highly recommended because the obstacles challenge your dog’s mind and body, ultimately strengthening their coordination, keeping them in good shape and upping their endurance. It can also be a great opportunity to bond with your dog and for you both to become more in-tune with one another.

We hope that these tips make for an exciting winter for you and your dog!