Bored dogs in winter?

Question

By the time that I get home from work it is dark and cold outside, so I can't really take my dogs to the park like I do at least 2x a week when the weather is nice. I take them on walks, but usually cut them short at night.

My dogs are getting antsy, and causing mischief, lately. Especially the younger of the two, who is just over a year old. I think it is because they're not getting enough exercise, but I don't know how to help them burn their energy in the winter. Appreciate any suggestions.

I take my dogs for walks 2x a day, but am saying that in the winter I cut them to about 20 minutes which hasn't been enough. I take them places with me whenever I can, and they get plenty of exercise on the weekends. My dogs are not fat or abused.

Answer 1

You should play more games with your dog in the winter. Generally, the two most popular are hide and seek and fetch. Most dogs will go for at least one of these. Hide and seek is best done if you can get the dog to sit-stay and then you move off somewhere and call the dog. Big praise when they find you and repeat until the dog is bored (generally when they will be nice and mellow for a time). Fetch is, of course, obvious.

This has worked even in a small place like mine. You can also use different stairways/hallways if you are in a larger building, need more space, and your neighbours don't complain.

You still need to take the dog out as much as possible, however.

Answer 2

If you don't have the time or the desire to walk your dogs because "its cold and dark" then perhaps you should find new homes for your dogs where the people will enjoy going out despite the cold. And since you only take them to the park 2x a week in nice weather how do you expect them to burn energy and have fun? Why would you have dogs that you don;t walk to exercise, you think they should just lay around all day and be happy? You work all day, you have dogs, that is just not fair to them.

Answer 3

Is there a dog park near you? I know the one by me doesn't close at dark and is open until 10pm. Even though it is dark outside and we can't see well, the dogs can and still enjoy playing regardless of how much light is out. If you can find a fenced in park I'd take them there, or even to a running track at a school that is fenced in. Just get them outside. I hate seeing everyong flock to the dog park on the one nice day during the winter and then you never see them again until spring and all their dogs go crazy from having been cooped up for so long, and most have gotten fat too. You know what your dogs need, get them outside and exercised. Why not take them out at least on the weekends, assuming you don't work then? There has to be some days during the week where you get home early enough to get them out while there is still some light left.

Answer 4

I told another yahooligan about this earlier. Pet stores carry an activity ball, you place dry food or small treats inside. The dog has to roll it around to get a piece to drop out. This keeps them very well entertained and stimulates their mind as well. happy dogs rejoice. :)
P.S. After reading other responses I guess I should put my 2cents in as well. Yes walk your dogs, they did not ask to be a part of your home. I moved into the country ( I loath moving with every fiber of my being) just so my dog could have a place WE could run and play un tethered.

Answer 5

Dress warmer and take them out! I don't like being out in the cold weather either, but I take my dog outside, because I know he needs it. A dog doesn't understand things like "it's to cold for me: or "maybe later". They may be smart, but they can't comprehend things like that.

Try playing games inside; fetch, hide and seek, search and rescue(you teach your dog to find things by command and smell like the search and rescue dogs, hence the name), tug of war. Try training your dogs a new trick.

If you wanted to be really lazy, you can get a treadmill and put a leash on the dog, and set the treadmill for something like, 3 minutes for every pound, or whatever you think is good.

If you refuse to dress warmer, then find someone in your 'hood that you trust to come into your house and walk your dogs while you're gone. They only need to come once or twice, depending on if they can walk all dogs at once, or have to one at a time. or ask a family member if they can come over and help out a little.

If you don't start walking your dogs, they will get aggressive, because they have all this frustration built up inside, because they have nothing better to do during the day, and they will eventually take it out on you, because you're there. It's like a woman with pms. No matter who, no matter why, no matter when. The first person they see, they're gonna ***** 'em out! And, without walks, they're can get fat, and they'll become very unhealthy. You may not like the cold weather, but that doesn't mean you have to punish your dogs because of it!

People that do that to their pets, don't deserve animals, and they need to give them up to someone who will take them out in 20 degree weather!!

Answer 6

unfortunetly a high energy dog needs just as much excersize in the winter as they do in the summer. bundle up and put on some boots, go for a jog or go snowshoeing! you need to take the dogs out. being home alone is not a good excuse for not walking the dogs, unless you live in a really bad neighborhood you can take a housekey with you and go take the dogs out.

Answer 7

During the winter since my dog is a toy dog (miniature pinscher) and I take her on any walk past the necessary pee/poop she freezes (she shivers and shakes all over so badly). I feel so bad so I take her in. She doesn't get the exercise needed because of the short walk, but I make up for it inside.

I live in an apartment so it's not completely huge, but it's not small either. We started this game where she goes and picks up a toy in her toy pile and brings it over to me (sometimes she even drops it on my lap or laptop) and we just play fetch. I throw the toy and she chases after it over and over. I often find myself on the floor playing games with her like tug of war, or just silly run around games around a table or whatnot.

When i'm at my boyfriend's parents I bring her and I find myself getting lots of exercise. We play run around the coffee table or family room where I simply just chase her around and try to catch her and she goes nuts. I have to end up stopping sometimes because I get dizzy. Sometimes when we're outside and I take her out and she doesn't want to go in we play run around the house. I remember when it snowed for the first time this winter and she never saw snow I would take her out for short periods of time and just throw snowballs @ her and she'll go nuts.

I mean that's what I do my puppy is 6 months old. So I try to create inside games (my apartment & my boyfriend's parents house) for us to both play to where we both get exercise or if she can simply get exercise in it's fine. I don't know your living situation or how old your dogs are but I thought that I'll give you an idea through my experience of how I try to keep my dog entertain during this time of winter. Good Luck.

Answer 8

when it gets like this and I cant take my daughter with me when I walk the dogs i put them on the tred mil...you can go to like salvation army or something and get a used one that way you dont have to cut their walks short. But i only use the tredmil when my daughter wants to go and its raining out in the winter..otherwise the whole family goes for a walk, we just bundle up if its too cold..

Answer 9

Take them for short walks during the week and real long ones on your day off. If they get no exercise they will get fat

Answer 10

When my lab was younger he was the same way.. I lived around the corner from tennis courts. I found that to be the best place to let him run around.. I would take his ball with us and he would run lose.. I hate the cold weather but he loves it and since it was so close and well lit it worked perfect for us.. I hope you find something to burn off their energy..

Good Luck!!