Activities to keep pets busy on a snowy day

Snowy days with pets may seem like a challenge. Our four-legged companions need daily exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy.

However, in the biting winter cold and deep snow, going outside may not be an option. Even with their furry coats to keep them warm, getting wet in the snow can cause health issues for pets, including hypothermia.

This means that on the worst days of winter pets may need to be kept inside, to keep them warm. However, this does not necessarily mean a lazy day.

There are plenty of games that can be done to keep pets entertained and stimulated indoors. Playing with your pet can help strengthen your bond. If you can’t face the frost but need a way to keep your four-legged friend busy, then read on for a list of tips:

Tug of war

Tug of war is one of the best indoor games for dogs to play, and most cats enjoy it too!

Not only will it give your pet essential exercise, but it is something that you can do as a pair, which will mean that you are both having fun.

Tug of war is also a great way to train your pet’s behaviour. They can be taught to sit, drop or give during the game, which will show a great deal of obedience.

Making, or purchasing, a durable toy to play tug of war with will keep pets stimulated indoors during winter. This will ensure that they do not feel trapped, bored or ignored.

It is also important to make sure that the game is safe and that neither of you are pulling too hard.

Treat puzzles

On snowy days, mind games for dogs and cats are an incredible way to ensure that pets do not get agitated indoors.

Specially designed toys that require your pet to complete a puzzle before receiving a treat or praise can keep both them and you entertained on a wintery day. There are many different types of toys, which will suit every pet’s personality.

These range from Kong toy wobblers, which will require your pet to bat the toy around to receive a treat, to hide and seek toys where they can hunt the treat.

Toys like this will train their curiosity, and their natural hunting instinct.

Grooming

A snowy day can also be a great opportunity to give your pet some pampering time.

If you’ve been behind with your dog grooming, a cold day can be the perfect time to catch up with it.

As pets need regular grooming to keep their coats and claws healthy, a day where running around outside isn’t possible can be the perfect chance to do just that.

A bonus to this is that there will be less of a chance of stray hairs making their way over your furniture while you are playing indoors!

So you can see, a snowy day does not necessarily mean that you can’t have fun and stay healthy with your pets.

To keep your pet safe, regardless of the weather, it is important to be sure that you have a quality pet insurance policy in place. This will mean that in the case of any unforeseen accidents during the festive period, your pet’s health is looked after.