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How to Engage Your Dog in the Cold Weather

December 26, 2016 by Mary Telesz

Cold WeatherThe season is changing and not every pup appreciates the cold weather. As a dog owner, you must know that just like people, they all have their own preferences and personalities. It’s no surprise that many short haired dogs aren’t as keen on the snow, as that of their long-haired counterparts.

Whether you decide to venture out into the cold, or are looking for ways to entertain your dog during the downtime, there are a variety of ways in which to keep them engaged and happy.

Prepping for Play in Cold Weather

Your dog won’t be up for playing if they are incredibly uncomfortable. Prior to exposing them to the cold—just like a human—they may need some extra protection. Pet safety in cold weather is important, and winter wellness will encourage your pet to get out in the cold more often to play.

There are many factors that contribute to how quickly a dog gets cold in winter weather. In addition to their coat, body fat, age, and genetics can also play a role. If your dog is shivering when they are outside for a short amount of time, chances are they will need an extra coat for protection.

You should always buy more than one sweater or coat, as they will get wet with play. Additionally, some pet owners use booties on their dog’s feet. If you choose to go this route, make sure they fit properly and have some slip resistance.

Games and Activities

Encouraging your dog to get out into the cold weather may take a little coaxing. Injecting fun into the activity can take their mind off of the temperature, and allow them to get the exercise they need. The following are a few ideas for how to play with your pup in the great outdoors:

Obstacle Course

Go to your local pet store and a grab a few new toys. You can use them, along with other clever items from your yard, to create different exercises your dog can perform—essentially forming a mini-obstacle course for them to tackle.

There are many videos online of people doing this in a variety of creative ways. Your pup will be enticed by the thought of exploring the new items, which can take their mind off of the cold. You may also need to bring treats along for motivation.

Hide-And-Seek

Just like babies, dogs also love when you disappear into thin air. Toss something to your dog in the yard and when they are distracted, run and hide. They will be infinitely intrigued trying to understand where exactly their master went, as they chase you in circles around the car!

Share in the Fun

It makes no sense to go to the gym, only to come home and neglect your dog. Why not choose to share your activities with them? In addition to simply jogging outside, dogs can join you on other winter adventures, like snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Dogs always enjoy a good snowball fight too.

Additionally, you can try out a new sport that involves your dog. Skijoring is the downplayed version of dogsledding, and only requires your dog to pull you on a set of skis. As with any activity that involves a dog pulling you, be sure you are equipped with the right leash and harness to avoid straining your pup.

Change of Scenery

It may take a different location to get your furry friend excited about playing outdoors. Find out where your local dog park or run is, and take them there if it is close. You may also want to consider any open space in general that is away from their familiar surroundings. Just makes sure you leash them if it is not an enclosed area.

Grab A friend

Many dogs may be motivated by other dogs and/or people. The cold weather is always more exciting with a friend. If you have a pal that also has a pup, and they get along, consider setting a play date. This is particularly helpful for dogs that are shying away from going outdoors. If they see another playmate out and about, they are much more likely to follow the leader and enjoy themselves.

Hire a Professional

Sometimes it may take hiring a pet care professional to get the job done. If you are busy during the day, but you want your pup to get out of the house, you may want to consider the services of a professional to pet sit and walk your dog. This way you can ensure they are enjoying the cold weather, during the warmest parts of the day.

Indoor Activities

Some pets simply may not enjoy going outside during the cold weather at all, but they still need exercise and stimulation. There are plenty of activities to do with your dog during the winter weather that will keep them on their toes.

Nose Work

If you are absolutely caught indoors during the weather, you can help your dog practice being a better detective. Nose work involves strengthening the power of your dog’s sense of smell. The game starts by hiding treats within a close radius, and then slowly expanding the distance until you are hiding them throughout the house.

Your dog will enjoy literally sniffing out the clues, all the while getting a decent amount of exercise indoors. Additionally, the activity builds both focus and confidence in your pup. Eventually, you can introduce target odors and teach your dog valuable competition skills.

The Fetching Robot

Having a dog is a big responsibility and keeping them engaged requires a lot of work. Since we live in the age of technology, some of this responsibility can actually be shouldered by technology itself.

There are a variety of models on the market, but the essential idea behind a self-fetching robot is that your dog can actually play with themselves. The technology works much like that of a tennis ball machine. It shoots the ball out of a bottom tube, and your dog can return it through a funnel on the top. If your dog is particularly rambunctious, this is an activity that can keep him entertained for hours.

Indoor Training Class

There are a variety of different classes you can bring your pet to that will allow them to get the exercise they need, all the while indoors. Most facilities are climate controlled, so you do not have to worry about your pup being cold. Some classes train for sport, while others simply engage the dogs in fun activities.

Prior to attending a class, make sure the instructor is certified and has reliable references. You should always attend the class with your dog, so they can remain comfortable and enjoy the activity. Try and find a trainer that uses positive reward-based training, so your dog can truly enjoy themselves—and not feel as if they’re doing work.

Pet Safety

It is critical that if you do bring your dog outside, you make sure to watch them closely and keep them safe. The following are some things to be cognizant of while romping in the snow:

Avoid ice: When walking your dog outside, avoid any lakes, ponds, or patches of thick ice. There is no way of knowing if it can support your dog’s weight, and it is a risk you do not want to take.

Recognize Issues: If your dog is shivering or whining excessively, it is time to go inside. Just like humans, every dog has a different threshold for feeling cold. If they appear to be miserable, there is no point in playing outside any longer.

Wipe Down: During the winter, there are a lot of chemicals on the ground. From road salt to antifreeze, your dog’s fur can pick it all up. It is important to wipe down your pup after outside play, to rid their fur of the toxic chemicals. It may even be a good idea to give them a bath if the road is particularly salted.

Dogs are not immune to cold weather, simply because they are born with coats. There are hundreds of species of dogs that hail from all over the world, and each adapts to the weather differently.

Some key factors, however, are constant. Short-haired dogs are usually going to need a coat. All dogs need to be wiped down post cold-weather play, and every dog should have a chance to experience the cold weather. Being a responsible dog owner means engaging your animal in all forms of climate conditions, and making sure they are comfortable at all times. Contact Local Paw Pals for more information.

Filed Under: Pet Care

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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