Winter Activities to Do with your Dog!

Brought to you by the AKC GoodDog! Helpline – the AKC’s 7-day-a-week training support service
By: Hilarie Erb

Unless you live in a year-round mild climate, you and your dog can get stir-crazy during cold, snowy, or wet winter weather conditions. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of winter activities you can do with your best friend!

Play Indoor Games

There are plenty of creative ways to entertain your dog indoors! Try out some indoor dog games. These might even inspire you to come up with ideas of your own.

Visit a Dog-Friendly Business

Many stores welcome well-behaved, leashed dogs and a trip to your local pet supply or home improvement store can be a fun diversion. If you aren’t sure that dogs are allowed, call ahead to find out. Keep in mind that even places that do allow dogs, say flea markets or dog-friendly breweries, may not be as much fun for your dog as they are for you. Always consider your dog’s welfare in these situations.

Learn How to Groom Your Dog

Grooming is a wonderful way to bond with your dog. Invest in a table and grooming tools; even low maintenance dogs are easier to groom on a table with a grooming arm. The best source of help with grooming may be your dog’s breeder, but you can also find excellent information through your breed’s AKC parent club. Just go to www.akc.org, find your breed in the “select a breed” drop down menu, and scroll down until you see the National Breed Club & Rescue link. By taking time to groom your pet and examining them for skin and teeth issues on a regular basis, you may even save some money!

Crate Train

If your dog isn’t crate trained, now is a good time to get started. The crate should always be a place where good things happen and not a punishment, so be sure to check out How to Crate Train Your Dog in 9 Easy Steps for tips, tricks, and games to make it fun.

Take a Training Class

There are AKC training clubs all over the country that have indoor facilities. These clubs offer classes that can get you and your dog started in these, and more, of these exciting sports:

Click here to find one near you.

And finally: Go Outside!

Did you know, most dogs actually tolerate cold temperatures better than most humans? A Siberian Husky, a Samoyed, a Newfoundland – any dog bred to tolerate and work in cold weather – lives for this time of year. So, get outside and enjoy the snow with the protection they need!

Take special care of your dog’s feet by trimming the hair between their toes to prevent painful chunks of snow from accumulating there. Also, be careful about ice-melt products; some are advertised as safe for dogs, but not all of them! Be sure to wash your dogs’ paws before coming back indoors and before your dog can lick them.

Don’t forget to provide plenty of fresh, unfrozen water to your pup too!

Very small dogs, senior dogs, and of course dogs with short hair need to be protected from the cold. Click here for tips on keeping all types of dogs safe during the winter.

For more tips and advice on training your dog, join the AKC GoodDog! Helpline, a seven-day-a-week telephone support service staffed by experienced dog trainers: www.akcgooddoghelpline.org.

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