Best Ways to Keep Your Dog Engaged During the Winter

Winter can be hard on both dogs and humans, the weather can feel very gloomy and the daylight is so short making it hard to get outside to play! We are here to tell you about our favorite indoor ways to entertain your dogs and how to take advantage of the winter daylight schedule! There are so many fun things you and your dogs can do during the winter months and keep your pooches happy.

INDOOR PLAYTIME

There are plenty of ways to keep them entertained indoors that are simple to accomplish. Our favorite way to pass time is learning new tricks, it’s really important to also exercise them mentally, too. You can work on new tricks or work on tricks they’ve been struggling with. So far this winter, Paisley has learned 3 new tricks and we strengthened one trick she struggled with. I have also taught our new puppy, Wilder, several basic commands and kennel trained him! It has been really fun to watch them advance and know that we are being productive with our time, because let’s be honest, its a lot easier to just watch Netflix all afternoon!

The dogs also love playing with interactive toys (that I have way too many of.) These toys keep your dogs busy and happy because they often involve getting rewarded with treats! A few of their favorite toys can all be found on chewy.com. They love the Kong wobbler, the Zippypaws Burrow Toys, and Ethical Pet Seek-a-Treat. They are all great toys to have around the house when you don’t have time to get out and the dogs absolutely love the mental stimulation.

OUTDOOR PLAYTIME

Aside from all the fun things you can do with your dogs inside, winter playtime outside is so so much fun when you can find the time!

We are lucky enough to have a flexible schedule and amazing trails really close by. We absolutely love hiking in the snow and the joy that my dog’s faces show while playing in the snow is like nothing else! I suggest starting by finding a few trails close to your house and then figuring out your schedule for the week and allotting time for a hike or walk at least twice a week! The best way to avoid crowds on busy trails is going on the weekdays or early mornings on the weekends.

While hiking or on walks we love to play snowball catch or fetch! The dogs are so obsessed with it and it tires them out pretty darn fast. There are so many ways close to home to entertain your dogs and keep them happy. Find a local dog owner and start a meet-up group and schedule regular meet-ups together.

Our favorite thing to do is snow hikes; we bundle up and get our dogs in proper gear and head into the mountains. I always sacrifice my day off for these dogs, I just love them so much it’s worth it and I wouldn’t want to spend my time off any other way!

Let us know in the comments how you keep your dogs active and engaged during the winter time!

Christin Navarrete

Hi there, I’m Christin! I am Paisley’s dog mama. We currently live in Utah state and are from the PNW. We spend our time exploring Utah and Oregon and cannot wait for you to read our tips and tricks to being the best dog parent!