Keep your dog happy - and keep the blahs at bay - with these fun mid-winter activities. Whether you’re the sporty type or a hibernating hound, you can maximize winter’s shorter days by carving out special bonding time with Spot.
1. Fetch is a game for all seasons and climates. If you spend winter in a temperate zone, play with something snow-white that will really pop against a backdrop of grass or sand. Anywhere else on the map, select a fetch-worthy toy that’s colorful - easy for you and Spot to spot!
2. Don’t go cross-country skiing or snow-shoeing alone - include your dog in these heart-healthy activities. Keep Spot connected to you with a harness and hands-free leash. If he’s got a short coat, dress him in a sporty winter jacket - and please protect his bare paw-pads with high-performance booties.
3. Gather some fellow dog-lovers and schedule pet play-dates. For rainy days, locate a dog-friendly indoor space, or an outdoor one with a canopy. After the dogs have romped their hearts out, you humans can reconvene at a designated indoor location to have tea and discuss a good dog book.
4. Wildlife tracking is fun, so bring your favorite dog along for the experience - especially if he’s a hunting hound - and don’t forget a camera to record the fauna you encounter. Just in case you and your best friend become separated in the heat of the hunt, make sure Spot is protected with a microchip.
5. There’s no need to cut your senior dog’s walks short. Enhance his diet with joint-protecting supplements and treats, outfit him with a toasty thermal layer, and make sure your own extremities are sheathed in fleece so the two of you get your daily dose of outdoor exercise together, even when the mercury plunges.
6. A heavy snowfall is a great opportunity for a tandem aerobic workout, with all that white stuff resisting your and your dog’s best efforts to push through it. Spot will happily trek with you through several inches of snow - just put a bright-colored collar on him so won’t disappear from view!
7. Preventing and fighting colds are activities we all do at this time of year, whether we walk on four legs or two. Help boost Spot’s immunity and banish sniffles by seasoning his kibble with antioxidant fish oil.
8. Turn Spot into a real shopping hound by patronizing department stores that welcome dogs, such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales.
9. Heading out for a road trip? Bring your dog in the vehicle with you. But first, rig the seats with padded covers to cushion his ride. (A plus: this will help keep your automobile’s interior looking and smelling good.)
10. Champion cocooners adore this time of year - it’s prime season for curling up with a favorite dog, or three, to watch movies that feature canines. Some popcorn for you, a few treats for Spot ... wintertime living is easy!
