Indoor Winter Activities for Your Pet
When winter arrives, the cold weather can make it hard for pet parents to keep our pets entertained and healthy indoors.
The team at PetSmart Veterinary Services – Alpharetta has rounded up some fun and safe indoor winter activities for our pet active and happy during the cold season.
1. Schedule Daily Interactive Toy Time
Investing in interactive toys is a great way to stimulate your pet mentally and physically without having to brave the cold weather. Puzzle feeders, treat-dispensing toys, or toys that encourage problem-solving can provide hours of entertainment for your pet (and you!). These toys also contribute to pet wellness by keeping Fido or Kitty’s mind sharp—and encouraging movement.
2. Create an Indoor Agility Course
Setting up a small agility course is an excellent indoor activity for dogs (and sometimes even cats!). Use household items like cushions, tunnels, or cones to create an obstacle course for your pawsome pal to enjoy. Train your pet to weave through, jump over, or crawl under obstacles. This helps them burn off energy and stay in shape. Win-win, right?
3. Play Hide-and-Seek
Ready to tap into your inner child? Hide-and-seek is a fun, interactive game that can work with both dogs and cats. Just hide treats or toys around the house and encourage your pet to find them. If you want to join in on the fun, have one person in your household hide along with the treat or toy. Hide-and-seek is a great activity because it’s low-impact, social, and mentally engaging to boot.
4. Challenge Your Pet to a Round of Tug-of-War or Fetch
If you have some extra space indoors, a game of tug-of-war or fetch can help your pet stay active without going outside. Tug-of-war is great for dogs with extra energy to burn, while fetch can work in a hallway or open space in your home. This is also a perfect opportunity to teach your dog or cat when to grab hold of a tug toy and when to let go on your command.
5. Run Daily Training Sessions
Winter is an excellent time to teach your pet new tricks or reinforce good behavior. Training sessions can hit all the sweet spots: they engage your pet mentally, help her stay social, and provide light activity. Practice basic commands, like “sit,” “stay,” and “come,” and try a few fun tricks, too.
Focus on Pet Safety
Always remember that pet safety is crucial when you do any indoor activities with your pet. Avoid overly-strenuous exercises, and make sure there’s plenty of water available, even indoors. With the right activities, you can make sure your pet stays safe, happy, and healthy all winter long, regardless of how cold it gets outside!
For more tips on making it through the colder months, reach out to our caring team at PetSmart Veterinary Services – Alpharetta.