Fun Winter Activities For You and Your Dog

Is your dog getting worse cabin fever than you are? Just because the weather outside is frightful doesn’t mean that either one of you will enjoy staying indoors for weeks on end. There are many activities you can do outside, as long as you properly prepare for the colder weather.

Your dog will probably enjoy romping in the snow

If your dog has short hair, consider buying a sweater or a coat to protect him or her from the cold. And if you live in a snowy area, you might purchase some booties to protect your dog’s feet from ice balls and the chemicals used to melt ice. Read our article on winter safety to learn other ways to protect your dog from the cold.

Once you and your dog are properly fortified for a trek outdoors, you might enjoy a short walk to keep yourselves in shape. If it’s too icy in your neighborhood, see if there is an indoor walking facility near you that allows dogs. Maybe the local high school or park has cleared off their tracks so you can walk without fear of falling. If you will be walking near a body of water, make sure to keep your dog on the leash to prevent him or her from falling through ice.

If you’ve gotten a lot of snow in your area, your dog will likely love to romp in it. Although you need to be gentle, your dog may even like a good old-fashioned snowball fight. And if you live in an area that really gets clobbered with snow, you might find that your dog enjoys mushing like the sled dogs of Alaska. Check out our article on the sport of dog sledding.

Dog parks are a wonderful option for those winter days when the weather isn’t too harsh. Most people avoid these parks in the winter, so your dog may have a lot more room to roam and not as many distractions as usual.

And if it’s really, really awful in your area on February 15th and 16th, your dog may enjoy snuggling with you on the couch while you watch the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on USA Network.