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Winter is a time of the year that makes exercising very difficult for both dogs and humans. Snow and ice on the ground make walking a challenge, and the cold weather makes it uncomfortable to spend long periods of time outside. Despite these less-than-desirable conditions, it is possible for you and Mickey to both get the exercise you need. Take a Walk Yes, this means that you will have to brave the snow, but it is still a good way to let Mickey get some exercise while enjoying the beautiful sights of winter. In order to combat frostbite, you and Mickey have to wear the right clothes. You should layer your clothes to help keep you warm. Wear a ski mask to help keep your face from freezing. Mickey needs a warm coat, a hat that covers his ears and boots. Make sure that the boots have a non-slip sole to help Mickey gain traction on icy ground. Build an Obstacle Course If you have a garage or a spare room where you can build an obstacle course for Mickey, take full advantage of the opportunity. You don’t have to build anything fancy, but you can make him one that will keep him busy. If Mickey is a small dog, this won’t take up a lot of space, but you will need a little more room for Mickey’s obstacle course. You can make tunnels out of refrigerator boxes. Check with local rent-to-own stores or appliance stores for boxes. You can make balance boards by securing wooden planks to milk crates. Make agility posts by attaching driveway marking poles to a piece of sanded plywood. Shoe boxes and other similar items make good obstacles for Mickey to jump over. If you are making the course in the garage, get some sand to spread over the floor. This will provide Mickey a better workout than having to step on concrete. This will also help to protect Mickey’s joints. If you don’t want to deal with sand, consider using some outdoor carpet, which is usually fairly inexpensive at home improvement stores. Play Hide and Seek Playing hide and seek with Mickey can help to exercise his muscles, as well as exercising his brain. To play, show Mickey a treat and then go hide it somewhere. While you don’t want to make it too easy to find the treat, you do want to challenge him a little. You can cover the treat with a small box or place it in a toy. If you have someone home with you and Mickey, you can hide from Mickey. Just ask the person there with you to hang on to Mickey’s collar while you go hide in another room. When you are in your hiding place, call Mickey and let him try to find you. Call his name every minute or so to give him clues where you are hiding. Get Him Some Exercise Equipment Treadmills can provide Mickey with a great winter workout and offer him incredible conditioning. Make sure that you only allow Mickey to use the treadmill when it is on a low setting. You can also invest in a safety harness that attaches to the emergency shut-off switch. If Mickey loses his footing and slides off of the treadmill, the shut-off switch is activated when the cord from it to the vest is tightened. You can get a good workout while Mickey walks on the treadmill if you workout on a stationary bike or elliptical trainer near the treadmill. If you don’t have those, you can always run in place next to Mickey or do an aerobics video while he walks on the treadmill. Remember the adage, if your dog is fat, you’re not getting enough exercise? Winter is no excuse for either of you to stop your workout routine. Both of you need ample exercise to stay fit both during winter and for life. Puppy City has been around for over 50 years, we pride ourselves in being the home for quality puppies for sale in Brooklyn, New York. We also have all of the supplies you will ever need, from dog food, to wee wee pads, to all the treats you will ever need in a lifetime. Visit us at http://www.PuppyCityNY.com
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