AVOIDING CHILLY PAWS

Ingenious Indoor Exercise Tips For Your Dog This Winter

By Dr. Ruben Castro

Happy New Year! It is a new year, and in the RGV, according to U.S. Climate Data, the months of January and February, on average, are the coldest. So, how can you ensure your dog gets the exercise they need when the weather is too cold? Here are some tips you can try with your dog so they can exercise indoors:

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This first one is a mental exercise. Order some dog puzzles from Amazon that will keep your dog mentally focused and stimulated when they seek and sniff out the tasty treats you have hidden in the puzzle. These dog puzzles also serve as an excellent accessory for a bored dog. There are many to choose from, so it would be beneficial to check them out.

Use house steps/stairs. If you have a two-story home, you can use the steps for exercise with your dog. Throw their favorite toy up to the top and have them run after it and bring it back down. If you have a small to medium dog, three to five round trips will be adequate for their physical exercise. You can do this twice or thrice daily, depending on their energy level. If you have a larger dog, increase their round trips to about 10, twice, or three times a day, depending on their energy level. Be mindful of dogs with bad joints or hip dysplasia, such as German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, French Bulldogs, and Pugs, among others.

Hide and seek. If your dog knows how to SIT and STAY on command, you can put them in a SIT-STAY and go hide their favorite toy or treat and then have them find it. If your dog does not know any commands, then teaching them to understand and execute vocal commands is a great psychological exercise for them and will tire them.

Agility course running for small dogs. If you’d like to up the ante, you can purchase an agility tunnel that your dog runs through, and you can also add other obstacles to make them go around and over. This is a great time to use the furniture and any objects around your home to add to your dog’s obstacle course.

There are other things to consider to help your dog get mentally and physically spent when the weather is too cold. Some dogs love the cold weather, so if you have one of these, just be mindful of the amount of time they spend outside. Also, remember that the bottom of dogs’ paws are very sensitive, and cold asphalt can be very uncomfortable for them. Lucky for us, the RGV rarely experiences extremely cold weather. Stay safe, and stay warm.

Dr. Castro is a proud Catholic who is a husband, father, and educator born and raised in the RGV. He is a graduate of Northcentral University with a doctorate in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership. He also holds a Master of Science in Sociology from the University of Texas-Pan American and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, with a minor in Psychology from the University of Texas-Pan American. Dr. Castro’s current research focuses on Education, Crime and Deviance, and Race and Ethnicity. He is also the owner of the K&B Dog Learning Cener, Inc. www.kbdoglearningcenter.com