Keeping your dog entertained in winter

Old Man Winter is blowing his frosty breath upon us, which means less time outside and more time inside entertaining bored pups. Instead of hunkering on the couch, burrowed in five layers of blankets, looking up cheap housing near the equator, this is a perfect time to work (and play) with your doggo. Your dogs get just as bored as you do (cooped up and bored is a bad combination for anyone, especially four-legged furkids), and even if they like cooler—or cold weather for the Northern folks—you may not, so unless you’re a skier or enjoy the sensation of being colder than the Grinch’s heart, you probably are wondering what your dog may enjoy doing with you in the comfort of the indoors. Here are some ideas for keeping your dog entertained in winter.

We get it, many dogs love to romp around in the snow. But many dogs don’t like the cold. And really, there’s only so much cold your pup (and you) can handle. So, it’s good to have options for indoor activities that you can do. 

Keeping your dog entertained in winter: The doggy field trip!

Fur-tunately, our pups never had it so good with dog-friendly establishments. Here are some pointers to make things enjoyable for both dog and non-dog people alike.

Is your dog comfortable in public?

Stop and pawnder about the last few times you’ve been out among oodles of doodles with Fido, then do an honest assessment of their behavior. Would you be comfortable being in public with your dog behaving the way he/she does? The puggle is real with all the sights and smells of the big world, no doubt about that. If not (or if a refresher is in order, because hey, even a good boi has to be a bad, bad, bad boy sometimes), a good place to start is a certified trainer who works on positive correction.

Contrary to a popular saying, it is never too late to teach an old dog new tricks; in fact, it might be the best thing for them! Mental stimulation is key to keeping their brains active and limit age-related disorders, plus dogs thrive on a good op-paw-tunity to show off skills at doing impawsible feats (and we appreciate demonstrations that don’t involve turning couch legs into art that could be exhibited at the Doggenheim Museum).

Also, remember your dog feeds off your behavior, verbal or not. If they sense you nervous, they will respond accordingly; if you raise your voice or yell, they will get even more excited (and possibly more destructive). Training is not just for them, it’s for you also! After a few short sessions, you’ll be with the Wizard of Paws, happy y’all have a brain.

Ease your dog into public settings 

From breweries to beaches or arboretums to zoos (yes, certain small wildlife zoos do allow well-behaved dogs!), you will want to ease yourself into the process of being in public with your dog. Leave the “raise the ruuuff” to the young folk; we are now aiming for Barkingham Palace, living our best lives!

The best start? A pet store, where they will familiarize themselves with other dog scents on objects (I saw that Fluffy, no leaving your scent on that door!), see unfamiliar people, and allow you to work on commands with other woofers (and subwoofers) and people present. If they go mutts with joy seeing and smelling all the things, it allows you to correct the behavior immediately.

That little sniffari also allows you to gauge their behaviors among other living things and discover pet-tential areas for improvement. Don’t forget to get them a treat or toy for being the star of Breakfast at Sniffany’s!

Exercise is key before hanging out indoors

So Rover or Fifi look quite fetching and want to show off their puppin’ good behaviors? You go, rockstar! Where are you going? A brewery where you may sit for a bit and enjoy socializing for both of you? A dog-friendly mall where they will keep you moving away from those pawsome deals staring at you through the windows (by the way, just how much IS that fluffy in the window?)? A bark-b-que?

Either way, you will want to exercise them before making your royal entry in front of the paparazzi, because, let’s face it, we’re there because we read the latest issue of Vanity Fur and want our children to be elegant. It will get some of that good energy out (Jurassic Bark? Well we all know how THAT ends), allow them to potty and give you a sense of how their attitude is (some dogs do get crabby!) that day.

Bring entertainment if sitting around

If you’ll be sitting for a bit, bring a favorite (non-squeaky) toy or chew from Dylan & Rainey, a frozen Kong filled with treats (you’d be amazed at how fast puppers passes out after conquering King Kong!), and a blanket for them to spread out on. It has the smells of home which comforts them (even though you’re there, it’s new territory for them) and just may keep them so good all the people will want to pet them and compliment you for the tail-waggin’ good behavior!

If you’ll be walking, give your dog a job to do. Maybe they like carrying a favorite toy, or a small bag; some dogs even like a small backpack which has their poop bags and your keys in it. Anything to make them feel like they’re working. Oh and don’t fur-get water…the stress of a new place and regular thirst can take a lot out of a doggo.

Don’t forget potty breaks

We need potty breaks and they do too! Take them out periodically, even if it’s just in the barking lot (remember to watch their little paws if it’s hot)! Let them get a good sniff in, use the bathroom (we know you’re pawsome and never forget to clean up after them) and a chance to stretch their legs. We bet you could use that stretch too (don’t yawn please, the Yawnalleuia Chorus isn’t nice mid-day!).

Don’t stay too long

If your dog discovers the ambience isn’t for them and they head over to the bark side, causing an interrufftion among the other puppers, don’t feel embarrassed or shameful about having to leave. It says you are responsible (and keeps the place dog friendly for others); chances are, they won’t remember when you come back after training with a much calmer dog! The rufferees, however, remember you if they must ask you to leave or control your dog, and nobody wants to be on the business version of the Top Ten Most Unwanted for engaging in too many faux-paws!

Other options to consider

So after all this, you’re probably thinking “my doggo is the best, where can I go with them?” Generally, the following national chain stores allow dogs in, but you should call before visiting: Home Depot, Lowes, Tractor Supply, PetSmart, Petco, some Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Nordstrom’s, and Bed Bath and Beyond. We like the free site Sidewalk Dog, which began in Minnesota, but has expanded to Seattle, Denver, and Chicago (and is looking for other locations to promote)—sorted by location or category, plus tips and giveaways, all free! There are other sites you can Google, but not all of them are current. When in doubt, call the establishment you wish to visit and politely ask. You just might be surprised! You sometimes have to get creative when keeping your dog entertained in winter.