With a foot of snow outside, dogs are (a little) more reluctant to go outside to play and run around. They find it difficult to move around so probably want to do their business, check the perimeter for intruders, and go back inside. Although dogs should be walked twice a day, especially the high-energy ones, many people don’t have the time or inclination when there’s a foot of snow on the ground, icy, windy and cold out!! In Columbus, OH our snow has finally all melted and we are getting some warmer temperatures. But for a while when I came home from work, Ty, our Border Collie, would bark at me to play with him. And he’s not the ball-fetcher type of dog. He just wants to rough-house and wants me to try to take his stuffed toys and balls from him. I also have a 14-month daughter to watch and keep up with as well. I really just want to sit down and relax! How are we to keep our dogs active and getting enough exercise (and stop them from pestering us as soon as we get home)?
Doggy Daycare
One option is the Doggy Daycare service! If you go to work all day and your pet is stuck inside, he is bound to have some pent-up energy. But not if he went to the doggy daycare and he’s been running around and playing with other dogs all day. Now, every doggy daycare business can be different and allow certain freedoms and restrict others, so check out the facility and rules and procedures before signing up with one. For example, there may not be as much room as you’d like for the dogs to run around, and some have smaller outside areas than others. This also may not be a good option if your dog has socialization issues, such as aggression or anxiety/fear towards dogs or people. Ty has always been a little aggressive towards other dogs on our walks, so I have yet to try such a service (but he’s great friends with our neighbor’s dog, so I think he just needs some time to get used to the other dog). In the winter (or any time your dog’s not getting enough exercise or walks) it sounds like a GREAT idea!
Pet Sitting/Walking
An alternative could be to have a pet sitter/walker come to your house to play with the dog and take him for walks. When choosing the pet sitter/walker who is best for you, you should ask which activities the pet sitter provides, whether it’s simply walking, letting outside in your own backyard, or includes one-on-one play time.
What are some of the services you use to combat winter canine cabin fever?