Winter

The winter season can be quite boring at times for dogs that are couped up inside the house for the majority of the day.  Yes, it is too cold to be outside for a long hike unless your dog is properly attired, so how do we give our dog stimulation and exercise?  Play Hide and Seek.  If your dog is obedient, have him/her stay in one room and you hide in another.  Call him/her once and wait for them to find you.  Give tons of praise when you are found.  I started doing this with my Weimaraner when he was a puppy, hiding behind a chair, or behind an open door.  Gradually I hid in harder to find places like deep inside the closet or in the basement.  Either he sniffed me out or I made a sound and he heard me, but stimulation incurred no matter; exercise occured as he ran around the house looking for me.  This may not be the best way to exercise your dog, but hey, it’s the winter and we’re stuck inside, so let’s make the best of it.  Have some fun.

Are you having trouble getting your dog to go outside to do his business?  Despite being covered head to paw in fur, dogs do get cold in the winter!  You may not know, but a dogs under belly has much less hair and therefore needs to be protected against the cold.  Breeds with short coats, like Chihuahua’s, Greyhounds, Weimaraners and Whippets etc. will benefit from wearing a coat during a frigid stroll around the neighborhood.   

There are many styles to choose from chic to practical and materials that vary from fleece to knits.  Keep your dog warm during a romp in the snow!

Feburary can bring some of the most unpleasant winter weather to a great majority of the country in forms of sleet, snow and freezing rain.  Our four-legged best friends probably enjoy romping around in a fresh blanket of snow as it can be fun to dig in and run through.  However, snow may hide some dangers that could harm our furry friends.  It is important not to let dogs eat excessive amounts of snow as it could an cause an upset stomach or even hypothermia.  Also beware where dogs are playing.  Snow can easily hide dangerous chemicals, objects or even areas that could be unsafe. 

Winter can be a fun time, enjoy the beautiful scenery!