17/01/2024
🐕🦺❄️January is ‘Walk Your Dog’ month! 🏔️🦮
It’s difficult to get outside with your dog every day with the short days and Scottish weather. It is important to provide your dog with both physical and mental stimulation to keep them happy.
If you are struggling to get outside here are some ideas to try with your dog alongside shorter walks:
1. Scent work - you can try a simple version of this at home by hiding treats around the house. Alternatively, you can find a local class to start training your dog to sniff out particular scents. It really works their brain and tires them out without the need for a big walk, especially those ’sniffy’ breeds like spaniels.
2. Indoor play - you can play with your dog inside with tug toys or you can fill treat balls with their kibble to get them to work for their food.
3. Calming activities - giving your dog a stuffed kong or lickimat is another great way to entertain them. This can be particularly good to relax them after a walk or in the evenings before bed.
If you do go outside be sure to prepare for the weather:
1. If they are a puppy, senior dog or have a thin coat put a jumper on them when it is under 5 degrees celsius (Pip loves her equafleece). This is particularly important if you will be outside for prolonged periods.
2. If you are walking in areas that have salt/grit spread on pavements then rinse off and dry your dog’s paws when you return as it can irritate their skin.
3. Avoid frozen lakes, ponds or rivers. Put your dog on a lead if you are not confident that they will recall from winter dangers.
4. Be careful with anti-freeze - this is very poisonous for both dogs and cats! If they have come into contact with this rinse them off immediately so they don’t lick it and contact your vet.
