The Best Activities For Your Dogs in The Colder Weather

​The cold weather is coming and can be a dampener on your exercise plans; not just for you, but your dog as well. But there is no reason to blame the weather for your inactivity. It’s important that your pet gets daily exercise in some or the other form. The days tend to be shorter in the winter months and your pet doesn’t get the amount of exercise it ideally needs. 

The cooler days aren’t comfortable for arthritic or older dogs as this is when the aches and pains start surfacing with more frequency and severity than normal. This is because they are unable to move around as much; and their muscles and limbs don’t get warmed up. 

This extended inactivity can cause boredom and stress in your dogs and you will notice behavioural issues such as chewing, digging and barking; some dogs tend to add weight during the winter months as well. While getting them outdoors for a spot of exercise may not be easily possible or even advised when the weather is cold, there are some effective ways of ensuring your pets get the exercise they need, even in the colder months:

1. Swimming in an indoor, heated pool 

​Hydrotherapy in an indoor, heated pool provides your dog the perfect exercise opportunity. Since the temperature of the water is in the 29-30°C range, it’s comfortable enough for your pets to get the exercise they need and burn off some of all that pent up energy. Hydrotherapy is also beneficial for dogs that that are recovering from surgery or an injury and help enhance functional movement in older arthritic dogs too. 

Swimming in warm water allows the muscles to work more efficiently and helps to aid blood circulation without risk of cramping. It also helps reduce some of the swelling in joints. The increased limited weight bearing exercise makes joint movement easier; helps regain fitness and can help them to lose weight they may have gained.

Swimming also provides your dog excellent mental stimulus. You can choose to take a “swim for fun” class, a “learn to swim” class, or one for regaining mobility and strength or even for weight loss. ​

2. Join any club that has indoor activities

There are a number of activities for pets nowadays, such as scent work, doggie dancing or even doggie yoga, all of which can be very energizing and fun for your dog.
You are sure to find some clubs in your area that provide some of these services. 

3. Brisk morning walks are refreshing

​While it’s important that your dogs get the exercise they need, a certain amount of exercise is good for you as well. You can take your dog out for a long mid-morning walk if the early mornings are too cold to venture out. 

4. Hide & seek or other games in your garden or yard 

​If you have a yard or garden space, you can turn that into a great play area for your dog even in the winter months. Since the space is part of your home, you can always step back into your house in case the climate is too cold for your pet. Alternatively, you can play some games indoors.

Bring out some favorite toys your pet loves and hide them in different places in the house and get your dog to look for them. You can also hide treats if you like instead. These games are an excellent way for you to bond with your pet. ​

5. Doggie treadmill 

This is a great way of exercising. You can look for a good canine treadmill that can be placed in your home gym or any other area of your home. This helps ensure your dog gets the exercise he needs, without you having to worry about whether the climate outside is too cold. 

You can also get a group of friends with their pets together and simply book our K9 SWiM Hydrotherapy Centre’s pool for an hour. You’ll be surprised at how much fun you and your pet can have in the tepid water of the indoor pool. Your pet will also get the opportunity to socialize with other hounds and can find a great outlet for all their energy they have, by splashing around in the water. 

We also offer a complimentary warm water rinse and a blow dryer to dry your dog before you take them back home. For more information about our hydrotherapy services, feel free to browse our website. ​