Don’t Cut Back on Exercise When the Weather Turns Cold

When we turn back to clocks in the autumn, it can be tempting to turn down the outdoor time with our pets. Shorter days and colder weather make being outdoors less appealing. But, cutting back on outdoor exercise time can be a problem for our pets – especially for high-energy dogs in need of lots of active play.

In fact, insufficient exercise is a leading cause of problem behaviors – from chewing on the furniture, to howling, to having “accidents” in the house. To avoid these problems, Best Friends trainers recommend keeping your pet active all season long.

Go for a walk. Put on a warm jacket and brave the cold. A daily walk or run will allow your pet to release excess energy – and it’s also good for you. (If your daily excursion is after dark, be sure to wear reflective clothing.) If you have children, the daily walk to and from the school bus is a great opportunity for your dog to get some exercise.

Get out and play. Your children will also enjoy rolling around in the autumn leave -- or winter snow -- with a high-energy friend.  if you have children in the household, why not send the family dog out to play with them. Be sure to bundle up in warm outerwear with hats and mittens, if needed.

Join a meet-up group. Dog owners meet-up groups are popping up all over the country, and many schedule indoor sessions during the winter months. It’s a great opportunity for your dog to enjoy some active canine play, while you socialize with other dog lovers. Best Friends hosts meet-up sessions at least once a month at most locations. Go to MeetUp.com and put in your zip code to find sessions near you.

Send your dog to camp. A great outlet for high-energy dogs is a program like day camp, day care or play group. Dogs exercise and socialize with other dogs in a safe, supervised environment. Dogs can benefit significantly by participating just once or twice each week. In addition to giving them exercise, these programs actually improve social skills while diminishing negative behaviors at home. To see if your local Best Friends offers a day camp program, go to the Our Locations page. 

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