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5 Winter Activities for Dogs & Owners

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Winter Fun With Your Dog - Beagle
Being active during the winter is tough – not just for humans but dogs as well. None of us really want to go out in the cold, and sometimes our dogs can be included in that, just wanting to snuggle by the fireplace. To keep all of us happy and healthy, its important that we get moving during the winter and do some sort of activity. Luckily, getting our dog involved is not only fun, but makes exercising not so painful! Below are five of our favorite outdoor activities with dogs!
 

  1. Hiking – During the winter, hiking is one of our favorite activities. Reya loves exploring the woods, and it’s even more fun if she go through a snowy trail. Don’t forget that during the winter you should still carry a backpack with a first aid kit, food, and water for both you and your dog.
  2. Tracking – While it may sound silly, this is the equivalent of hide and seek for dogs. By having your dog track treats and other items, you are helping with their problem solving skills, allowing you to turn playtime into training as well. If you have not worked on tracking before, consider talking to a local trainer or looking for a book on tracking.
  3. Snowball Fight – One of our malamute’s favorite activities is catching snowballs. Snowball fights are fun for the entire family, but just make sure you are throwing loose snowballs so that they don’t accidentally hurt your dog or cause harm if they decide to catch or eat the snow.
  4. Fetch – Did you think playing with balls and Frisbees was only for the warm weather? Guess again! Dogs love chasing things outdoor just as much as during the summer, and it’s even more of a challenge if thick snow is involved!
  5. Sledding – As silly as it may sound, dogs love sledding in some form. Some like pulling, others like nothing more than to get on a sled with humans and have some fun. Others may have just as much fun chasing kids as they slide down a hill! Just make sure your favorite sledding spot is nowhere near roads!

 

Of course, make sure to keep your time outdoors limited. The last thing you want to do is make your dog sick. Once you come in, make sure you take care of your dog’s winter grooming needs, such as getting them dried off and taking care of their paws. If your dog is anything like our Reya, they will also be quite interested in getting food and water since keeping their body temperature regulated during the winter requires extra calories.

 

 

About 

Susan Bewley is a professional writer who has been writing content online & in print format for over 10 years. As well, she is an alumni of the University of Louisville with a Masters Degree in Special Education. When not working as an online business consultant or ghost writing, she can be found writing on Budget Earth, on her own novel, or working with various entities in the pet industry.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I love these ideas; it really is a good idea to go outside and enjoy some outdoor games with your dog instead of being cooped up inside all day! Thanks a lot for posting!

  4. What a lot of great ideas. I have had dogs all my life and have never went sledding with them. I don’t go sledding anymore but my grandchildren do. This would be a great/fun activity for them to do with their dogs and while they are doing that, they can have a snowball fight.

  5. I always try and keep my dog busy during Winter by taking her on walks playing with her toys and such it’s very important for them

  6. I love these ideas. My dogs adore playing in the snow. We’ve never tried tracking before, but it sounds really interesting. I’m definitely going to look into it. Thanks!

  7. We even play kickball in the snow with our dogs=Even though its much like fetch,or chase. Thanks so much for the great ideas

  10. These are great ideas, I know it’s fun to play and do outside activities with your fur friends! I didn’t know about the sledding activity though.

  11. We don’t really have harsh winters in in South Carolina, but these tips are great where it’s colder. My dogs love going to the park.

  13. These are some fun ideas. Mickey and I have done a few of them. I usually let him off his leash to run in the woods by our house and he has fun chasing (or trying) birds and squirrels and bunnies. He has a really high prey drive. We have also had a few snowball fights. He likes to eat every snowball I toss his way. We have had a lot of fun this winter, but I am so ready for Springtime!

  15. these are some good ideas for people who have dogs who like to go outside in winter and play in the snow and cold

  16. These are fun things to do with your dogs. These are really some great ideas. Thanks!

  18. These are great ideas & I used to do some of them with my dog, Jasper. But now he is 15 years old & has arthritis in his hind legs & last year, he had a tumor removed from his bottom.
    With our winter this year, he couldn’t do these things. It was really hard for him to walk in the snow & it was really COLD!!
    Hopefully soon, he can start getting some more exercise!!

  20. These are wonderful ideas. if I still had a dog I would love to try the tracking option with her.

  21. We were blessed to have a Golden Retriever for 16 1/2 years…he had 2 favorite things..1) fetching anything and playing in the snow. Now we have a 4 year old Golden who will NOT fetch, is scared of snowballs thrown towards her but will walk through the snow for miles.

  22. I love these ideas! We have three dogs who have been bored all winter – this is great! Thanks so much!

  23. Sledding with my dog sounds awesome! Too bad we live in Georgia, where the “snow” comes maybe one every few years, and consists of less than 1/2 inch of flurry. Wonder if there’s a way to recreate this experience for him without the snow? Maybe a mudslide?

    Great ideas!

  25. all these sound like so much fun. I will have to try the sledding one next year with my boxer. he might like it

  27. Great! I know I need to do more with my dogs in the Winter but it has been so cold this year in Ohio that I didn’t even want to go out!

  28. I like the ideas of snowballing and sledding. I never thought of these and keep our two small dogs inside most of the winter as they don’t like the cold on their feet.

  29. This is such a helpful article. My dog and I gain weight during the winter because we’re so inactive. I’m going to incorporate some of these activities next winter! Thank you!

  30. I kept my little Chihuahua Rocky so busy this winter ..It also gave me something to do too.I hid snacks in living room and he had to find them .He loves to use his snoot..so then we get on a bus and visit a nursing home on Tuesdays so he can see all his friends who cannot wait to see him..He is so loving and warm .He smells diabetes too good so i keep him off that side of hospital but we have fun with the others. as long as he don’t find no more diabetics i will be ok ..The little elderly folks are so happy too ..Makes there week better and happy

  31. These are all great ideas. I did not know a dog might like sledding though. Thank you so much for sharing

  32. I like the hiking suggestion to give them exercise and especially for terriers, to get them to use up that nervous energy!

  33. I really love dogs.. I hope those activities are applicable in the Philippines too 🙂

  34. I hate the winter! I know it’s best that I stick with the cat. I have to admit some of the activities do seem fun. I think sledding would be a hoot.

  35. These are great tips for dog owners. I will be sure to keep these in mind for next year! Thank you for sharing.