Being stuck inside during the winter months can make it much harder to find ways to keep our pets exercised and entertained, but the importance of both never goes away! Keeping their mind and bodies active can help keep them happy and healthy for longer, while also giving you more time to spend with your furry friends too!
Regular exercise helps:
It is good to remember that just 10-15 minutes of mental stimulation, (activity that requires your pet to concentrate and process information), is as physically exhausting as 30 minutes of moderate exercise, like walking or playing!
Take a look at some of these wintertime ideas!
Fun & Stimulating Toys Are A Must!
There are a variety of different toys available to keep your pet entertained, including several types of puzzles and treat toys. Puzzle toys keep your pet mentally engaged while offering them tons of entertainment! Treat toys, on the other hand, offer more of a satisfying reward that will keep them interested and leaving them less likely to get themselves into mischief.
Each one of our pets has different personalities and interests and no one is going to know them better than you! Anything can be a toy to our furry friends so do not feel afraid to try out something different or outside of the box! Let them have fun with it!
Training Time!
Bad weather is the perfect opportunity to spend some extra time on training your pets! Trained pets know how to behave in a variety of different circumstances and can make them much easier to manage on a daily basis. Not only is training your pet beneficial, but it is also a fantastic way to pass the time! Training works on both mental and physical stimulation, which is vital in keeping our furry friends happy and healthy! Your training can be a refreshing of old habits or working on brand-new tricks, it is up to you! Your pets will always appreciate the extra attention.
Fun & Games Around Every Corner!
The winter months can sometimes feel much longer than the rest of the year. It helps to keep yourself and your pets busy, so that everyone can make the most of their time spent inside. Making up new games or playing old favorites can help create a fun and exciting routine that both you and your pets can look forward to!
Try Out Some Of These Classic Favorites:
Playdates!
Winter can be an isolating and lonely time for some of us and our pets are no different! Do you have any family or friends with pets? Invite them over! This will help break up some of the monotony of winter life while also giving you all a chance to socialize and engage with each other more. Horses in particular are herd creatures and thrive when given plenty of social time and attention. But remember that every animal is different and have unique needs in all regards. You know your pet and know what will be best for their overall health and happiness!
Grooming/Massage!
Grooming or massage might not exactly count as exercise (We wish!), but it can still be extremely beneficial to our furry friend’s health, flexibility, and circulation!
Here are some additional benefits:
All of our pets have unique needs, that often change throughout the year and throughout their lives. Being aware of those needs and making the effort to keep them both mentally and physically engaged all year long can make all the difference to their ongoing health and happiness!
Heather Carter
Author