Too cold to walk? Boredom busters to keep pups happy this winter!

Going for a walk is undoubtedly the best part of your dog’s day (other than dinner time!). Keeping your dog safe whilst on walks is obviously hugely important, and it is vital to consider weather conditions as part of this. We are all aware of how dangerous hot weather can be for unacclimatised dogs, but are you aware of the dangers of cold weather? Extreme cold weather poses the same risks for dogs as humans, including the risks of frostbite and hypothermia. As a general rule, any temperature below -10°C is too cold for any dog to be walked. Of course, a dog’s size and coat type will determine the exact temperature that is appropriate for it individually. Other winter-related dangers include snow and ice, grit and anti-freeze products, and increased darkness.

As we enter the coldest months of the year, we might find ourselves unable to walk our dogs as we would normally like to. In place of this favourite pastime, it’s important to keep your dog stimulated and content, to avoid boredom and potentially destructive or unhappy behaviour.

Dog brain games are a great way to occupy and stimulate your dog, give them a challenge, provide an opportunity to bond, and keep them mentally healthy. We have collected our favourite brain games below for you to try out!

1. Hide & Seek Treats!

There are a few different ways to play hide and seek with treats. You can take a muffin tin, fill some of the holes with treats, and cover with tennis balls. This will encourage your dog to sniff and nudge its way around the muffin tin to find the treats. You can do the same with upside down cups, allowing your dog to watch where you place the treat and then mixing the cup order to see if they can successfully identify the cup with the treat. You can even play traditional hide and seek around your house, using treats to help your dog find the scent trail to you!

2. Veg Bobbing

You will need some vegetables or fruit that your dog likes (e.g. blueberries, diced squash, carrot or bits of watermelon) and a clean bucket or tub filled with water. Show your dog you are chucking in the ‘treats’ for them to find under water. Make sure you put a towel down first! To increase the difficulty, you can use a deeper bowl and/or not show your dogs what’s being added in for them to ‘bob’.

3. Teaching Tricks!

Teaching your dogs new tricks is a fantastic way to keep their brains busy and healthy. There are a variety of tricks you can teach your dog, such as bowing, speaking, rolling over, and going ‘shy’, all of which should be rewarded with treats to positively reinforce their good work. Dogs love to please their owners, so this will be a hugely rewarding activity for both dog and owner. Remember, training in this way should be done in small bursts to prevent your dog losing interest.

4. Food Puzzles

There is an incredible amount of dog puzzles and activity boards available in shops and online for dogs today. They tend to revolve around a hidden treat that the dog must uncover and find using its nose and paws. They’re a perfect solution for when you don’t have a lot of time to play with your dog, but still want them to get some mental exercise.

4. Spicing up mealtimes

Taking joint first place with walks in the ‘best part of your dog’s day’ competition is mealtime. So, when walks are off the menu due to extreme weather, focus your dog’s attention on his meals to keep him content. Invest in the ‘Lick n Snack’ licking plate which you can use instead of a bowl for your dog’s raw food. Not only does it make meals last longer and provide mental stimulation, but licking also calms your dog, resulting in one happy pup. You could also stock up on some of our raw meaty bones and treats to keep them entertained. They can be fed alone for maximum chewing and endorphin-releasing power, or stuff hollow bones/chews (such as our Moo Tube) with your dog’s raw food for a double-whammy of enjoyment.