THE FAMILY PET
Exercising
Your Pet
In Winter
W
hether you hunker down
in your house for the
winter or love the great
outdoors, your pet still needs fresh air
and exercise. These are good for you, too.
DOGS
Dog owners need to consider a
number of things when it comes to exer-
cise for their pet. This includes the dog’s
paws for snow, ice, salt, and other de-
icing chemicals when coming in from a
walk.
size, breed, and age.
A younger dog has a lot of energy
and is still growing, while an older ca-
nine is slowing down but still requires
daily exercise. Both young and old may
benefit from shorter, non-intense walks
while all dogs should also have plenty
of activity.
Certain breeds, such as those with
short noses (pugs, Boston terriers, bull-
dogs, etc.) may have breathing difficul-
ties in extreme heat and cold weather
and may not be able to handle vigorous
exercise. However, this doesn’t mean
that brief walks and fresh air aren’t a
good idea.
Size, both in terms of dogs that are
overweight and smaller dogs, may need
to enter slowly into an exercise program
that doesn’t over exert them. Larger
dogs on the other hand need more physi-
cal activity.
Western New York winter weather
can be challenging with cold, snow,
wind, and ice. A fenced back yard isn’t
enough for exercise. Your dog (and you)
should walk a mile or more each day and
you’ll both benefit. Walk around a typi-
cal four block area twice a day and you
can easily meet this goal.
You’ll keep warmer walking briskly
with the proper clothing, but need to
keep in mind that your pet’s fur may not
be enough. Even breeds with thick coats
shouldn’t be outside for long periods
of time in below-freezing weather. Re-
member to check and clean your dog’s
44 WNY Family February 2019
If your dog likes the car and an
outdoor activity isn’t possible, take her
with you in the car to a pet store that
welcomes pets. She’ll love the smells
walking up and down the aisles. Try a
doggie day care where she can interact
with new friends and spend the day so-
cializing (and you can go to the gym!)
If the weather really prevents you
from going out, try running your dog
up and down the stairs or across a long
room. A game of fetch by tossing a toy
or treat up in the air is great for exercise.
You can make your canine work for her
treats by hiding them around the house
or putting them in a kong or other chal-
lenging treat dispenser.
CATS
Winter or summer, cats don’t get a
free pass on exercise because they may
be strictly indoor pets. Lack of exercise
can cause obesity that can lead to health
issue such as arthritis, diabetes, breath-
ing problems, and other issues.
Contrary to popular belief, an in-
door cat needs more exercise than just
walking around your house. This is eas-
ily accomplished through play (espe-
cially when your cat knows he owns you
and not the other way around.)
Exercise and a lot of mental stimu-
lation are essential to overall health.
The key is to find an activity they en-
joy. Without it, they can easily become
bored and developed unwanted behavior
problems.