Conquering Cabin Fever
Winter is tough on all of us. Not much sunlight, not much time outside, too much sitting on the couch snacking. And your dog feels the same way! Even previously well-behaved dogs may start to protest lack of exercise by barking, chewing, and jumping. No one is out in the yard to play with them, walks are few and far between, and your dog is BORED! The best defense with a behavioral challenge is always a good offense. Here are some tips to keep the peace at home with your favorite furry friend.
Walking a dog off of your property allows the dog to be mentally stimulated as well as physically exercised. They get to sniff around and see what the neighbors are up to. Imagine how bored you get running to nowhere on a treadmill. If your dog is house bound all winter they get bored too. If it is too snowy or icy to safely walk your dog down the road, then put them in the car and let them do errands with you. Suddenly a simple trip to the supermarket turns into a big event! Maybe on the way you and the pooch can stop at a park and walk around a parking lot that has been plowed. Safer for both of you, and a new sniffing spot for the dog. There may be some other dog friendly places to visit that you never have thought of. A well behaved dog on a leash can go in most pet stores, some banks, and maybe some other retail establishments. When in doubt, ask first. You may be surprised at how many places are dog friendly.
If your dog is not comfortable going new places then provide new mental stimulation at home. Have the kids teach him 2 new tricks or obedience commands. Learning is stimulating for a dog and can exercise their brains just as hard as a walk exercises their bodies. Use interactive toys that allow you to actually feed your dog their kibble in the toy. Make them work for food! You can even hide a few treat dispensing toys around the house when you leave. Pooch will have a blast searching out the toys and enjoying the prize inside. To discourage weight gain, parcel out his regular daily feeding into the toys rather than adding extra food to his diet.
Dogs that are bored usually resort to their own devices to entertain themselves. Unfortunately the behaviors your pooch will choose probably are not high on your list of desirable actions! Chewing the legs off the dining room table is never a good solution to doggy boredom. It takes some extra energy during the winter to keep our dogs fit and entertained. The effort is well worth it!
< Back to Pets with Patti Articles
Walking a dog off of your property allows the dog to be mentally stimulated as well as physically exercised. They get to sniff around and see what the neighbors are up to. Imagine how bored you get running to nowhere on a treadmill. If your dog is house bound all winter they get bored too. If it is too snowy or icy to safely walk your dog down the road, then put them in the car and let them do errands with you. Suddenly a simple trip to the supermarket turns into a big event! Maybe on the way you and the pooch can stop at a park and walk around a parking lot that has been plowed. Safer for both of you, and a new sniffing spot for the dog. There may be some other dog friendly places to visit that you never have thought of. A well behaved dog on a leash can go in most pet stores, some banks, and maybe some other retail establishments. When in doubt, ask first. You may be surprised at how many places are dog friendly.
If your dog is not comfortable going new places then provide new mental stimulation at home. Have the kids teach him 2 new tricks or obedience commands. Learning is stimulating for a dog and can exercise their brains just as hard as a walk exercises their bodies. Use interactive toys that allow you to actually feed your dog their kibble in the toy. Make them work for food! You can even hide a few treat dispensing toys around the house when you leave. Pooch will have a blast searching out the toys and enjoying the prize inside. To discourage weight gain, parcel out his regular daily feeding into the toys rather than adding extra food to his diet.
Dogs that are bored usually resort to their own devices to entertain themselves. Unfortunately the behaviors your pooch will choose probably are not high on your list of desirable actions! Chewing the legs off the dining room table is never a good solution to doggy boredom. It takes some extra energy during the winter to keep our dogs fit and entertained. The effort is well worth it!
< Back to Pets with Patti Articles
© Well Bred LLC, 2005-2011 - Website maintained by www.bizbuilderguy.com
Pets With Patti Articles
Follow Us:
