5 Ways To Keep Your Dog Exercised & Stimulated This Winter. When it is snowing or raining outside, it can be difficult to muster up the motivation to take your dog or puppy out for a well deserved walk. Your pet may feel the same as you, cowering away from the front door as the cold weather snaps at his or her face.

If your pooch has gone into ‘hibernation mode’, he may sleep most of the day as well as through the night. If this continues, your dogs vitality and energy could decrease over time, leading to health problems such as weight gain and lack of muscle tone.

Much the same as humans need exercise and variety for well being, and for the release of Serotonin, dogs are the same. Exercise is just as important to a dog as food, water and sleep. Without it, your dog will most likely start to display depressive symptoms.

Following is a great list of activities that you and your pet/s can enjoy when the weather outside is terrible. Not all of them will get your dog tired out physically, but they will provide the stimulation needed to occupy a dogs mind, tiring him out mentally.

1. Simple game of fetch. If your home is something larger than a flat, or if you have a long hallway or landing, then your dog will love to play fetch inside as much as outside. You can use cheap tennis balls  or this, especially if you want the ball to bounce for an added challenge for your dog.

Reward your dog with a small treat from time to time when he brings the ball back to you and drops it for you to throw again. Never take a toy or ball from your pets mouth as this will encourage a tug game on his terms. Instead, teach your dog to leave the toy on the floor, and reward with praise or his favourite food.

2.Tug. Buy some strong tug toys or ropes, and use them to play a simple game of tug. Only play it on your terms. If your dog starts to play too rough, stop the game and try again later. Train your dog to obey a release command, and reward with a treat or praise. You don’t have to over feed your dog here, most of the time excitable praise will be all your dog wants.

3. Hide and seek. If your dog is well behaved, and listens to commands well, this will be very enjoyable. Ask your dog to come to a particular room, for example the kitchen. Ask him to sit and stay. Go and hide in a place of choice, not too concealed to begin with. With an excitable voice, ask your dog to ‘find me’!! When he finds you, make a fuss of him and give him a treat. Repeat, make it harder each time.

4.Train your pooch to use dog agility equipment. You can get some really cool agility products now. There are tunnels, hoops for jumping, see-saws and more. If you have a spare room such as a room you use as a gym or a clear garage, then this would be the perfect spot.

5. If you are short on time, then the best investment would be in a dog treadmill. Dog treadmills are different to human treadmills as they are smaller and have safety features that are specific for pets. They also look much better, and most are fold away and compact.

If you know that your dog loves to run, then this is perfect for you. Here are the links to the best priced treadmills for dogs in the UK, US & Canada.

US, Canada & Worldwide

>>>>Find more on Pet Run Dog Treadmills for Toy Dogs (US)

>>>>More about Small/Medium Pet Run Dog Treadmill for dogs up to to 44lb (US & Worldwide)

>>>>Learn more on Large Pet Run Dog Treadmill for dogs up to 88lb (US & Worldwide)

>>>>Learn more on XLarge Pet Run Dog Treadmill for dogs up to 132lb (US & Worldwide)

>>>>Learn more on Super Pet Run Dog Treadmill for dogs up to 265lb max 59 inches long (US & Worldwide)

UK & Europe

>>>>Find out more about Dog Jogger Motorised Treadmill for small  dogs

>>>>Learn more about Dog Jogger Motorised Treadmill for medium dogs

>>>>Find out more about Dog Jogger Motorised Treadmill for large dogs