Bringing the Fun Indoors 🐶

Making the most of wet, Wintery days...

Hello, and welcome back.

This month, we’ve been sharing with you the benefits of embracing light and the outdoors during the Winter months to help boost your mood and wellbeing. But, what if the weather takes a nasty turn and the rain is just too much to endure?

Getting soaked might not be your idea of fun, but have you considered how downpours can affect your dog? Rain amplifies smells and sounds… so for more sensitive dogs, it could make the world a harder place to be. Rain can make our dogs cold, especially difficult for puppies or older dogs. Our dog’s fur also has sensory nerves in the hair follicles, so the sensation of rain falling on their coat might make them feel uncomfortable. Taking that all into account, can you see that it’s not just your dog being a diva when they don’t want to walk on wet days?

As an alternative to walks, I’m going to share with you my favourite indoor, wet-weather activities to enjoy with your dogs.

Free Work

Sarah Fisher’s “Free Work” gives our dogs the freedom to explore novel items / environments and provides us with the opportunity of being able to simply observe. It’s effectively a doggy obstacle course built out of a variety of items, such a snuffle mats, towels, tubs, yoga mats, cardboard… really anything that’s safe for your dog to engage with. It’s a low-impact activity that all dogs can enjoy, no matter their age or breed. Set up a range of items - of different heights and textures - and arrange an array of treats on and around the items. You can also add in ‘scent’ such as animal fur, leaves, or herbs. Let your dog explore this area, freely with no time-limits. Watch how they move, which items they enjoy interacting with, and the type of food or scent that most interests them. Get to know your dog better with regular Free Work sessions.

Eating Experiences

Mealtimes are such a sensory experience for us humans - from conversation, to candles, to a range of cutlery… as well as all the textures and tastes we can enjoy. Compare this to a traditional bowl of dry dog food, simply put down once or twice a day for our dogs to hoover up. The process of eating and, importantly, chewing can boost feel-good hormones for our dogs, as well as improving oral hygiene and digestion. Make more of your dog’s meals as often as you can. Add in a handful of dog-friendly fresh food or, if you already feed a fresh diet (well done you), add something novel! Think leafy greens, nuts, seeds, berries, or fresh protein. Lay the different pieces of food out on a board or plate for your dog to be able to choose the order they enjoy them in. Make sure there’s different textures that encourage your dogs to slow down and chew instead of guzzle.

Use Their Brains

Think less “rain, rain, go away” and more, “train, train, come and play”! While walks are very important for physical health, don’t forget your dog’s brain needs a workout too. Whether this is teaching them a simple new trick, working on an already existing behaviour to up it a level, or giving your dog a food puzzle toy… mental stimulation can be more tiring for our dogs than a purely physical workout. Playing games is also a great way to bond with, tire out, and teach lifeskills to your dog.

What’s your favourite indoor activity to enjoy with your dog?

Until next time, have fun!

Caroline