Activities For Large Dogs On Cold Days

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Introduction

If you are the owner of a large dog then you may dread cold days when you might be stuck inside with your pup. However, there is plenty to do with your big dog on cold days that you may never have thought of before. Once you try a few of these fun activities, you may actually look forward to freezing weather when you can just hang out with your dog, further developing your wonderful bond!

Indoor Fetch

Popular
0 Votes
Cold Day
Free
Easy
20 min
Items needed
Treats
Ball or Toy
Activity description

Big dogs typically like to get a lot of time running around and playing fetch may be one of your dog's favorite things to do (all dogs love a good game of fetch!). However, when the weather turns cold, fetch may not be in the plan for you and your dog - who wants to go outside in the freezing cold to toss a ball around?! Luckily, you can play fetch with your dog inside. That’s right, even your big dog can play fetch inside despite their extra large size. So get ready to give your dog some great exercise regardless of the cold weather.

Step
1
Stairwell fetch
Stairwell fetch has to be one of the best workouts your dog could get on a cold day. Start at the top of a stairwell with your pup and toss their favorite ball down. Have your dog run down the stairs to retrieve the ball and then back up to give it to you. Up and down, up and down…your dog will be warmed up soon!
Step
2
Clear a space
Set up a room for fetch in your house by pushing all of your furniture to the side and clearing out anything that may be in the fetch path. Once your room is opened up, you will find lots of room for your dog to run! Toss the ball for your dog as long as they’d like to play.
Step
3
Up fetch
Instead of playing fetch where you throw a ball far, why not try throwing a ball up instead? Toss a ball straight up in the air and see if your dog can jump up to catch it. This is the perfect way to play fetch with your large dog in a small space. They will get lots of exercise on a cold day!

Alone Time

Popular
0 Votes
Cold Day
Cheap
Easy
30 min
Items needed
TV or Radio
Treats
Treat Toys
Activity description

If you need to leave your dog home, stuck inside all day, on a cold day, then you may want to set them up with some activities that will keep them entertained. It can be hard being a big dog in a small space all day and when it is cold outside, especially when a long walk outside later in the day may also be out of the question. When you provide your pup with a way to stay busy even when you are not home, you will also feel better about the fact that they are alone. You may even want to install a camera to watch how much fun they are having when you’re gone! 

Step
1
Puzzle toys
Puzzle toys are fantastic for large dogs who have to stay inside on a cold day. Most puzzle toys have compartments where you can hide treats for your dog. Your large dog will need to figure out how to open the compartments in order to get to their prize.
Step
2
Hidden treats
If you don’t want to buy any extra toys or puzzles for your dog, simply hide some treats around the house for them. Place treats in hard to reach places or behind furniture or objects to make the game even more challenging for your pup. Just remember to check and make sure your dog got them all, you don’t want to have a treat hidden under your couch for months!
Step
3
TV
Leave some music or the TV on for your large dog while you’re gone. The sound will help comfort them and make your dog feel as though someone is home with them. You may even find that your dog has a favorite style of music or TV show that they prefer.

Outside Fun

Popular
0 Votes
Cold Day
Free
Easy
30 - 60 min
Items needed
Treats
Collar
Leash
Activity description

Just because it is cold doesn’t mean that you have to be stuck inside. In fact, there is a lot you can do in the cold weather with your large dog that you can’t do when it is warm outside. So, if you and your dog don’t mind the cold, then you need to get outside and give these activities a try. If your dog has short fur, try putting a coat on them to help them stay warm in the colder weather. You may also want to consider doggy shoes if you are in an extremely cold spot or if there is a lot of salt on the ground which can hurt your dog's paws. Safety first and then fun in the cold with your large dog!

Step
1
Snowball fetch
If you are lucky enough to have a good amount of snow on the ground, try playing a round of snowball fetch. Make a snowball and toss it to your pup. The snowball will hit the ground and “disappear” in the other snow, making your dog search frantically. Make another snowball and show them that you’ve had the ball the whole time (they’ll fall for it every time!).
Step
2
Sled dog
If your large dog is one who likes to run and is fairly strong, give sled pulling a try. Find a local club where you and your pup can go to learn how to pull a snow sled safely. Once your large dog is trained, you can head out for a ride anytime there is some snow on the ground.
Step
3
Ice skating
Take your dog ice skating at a local pond or field. While you can ice skate around, your dog can have fun slipping and sliding across the ice. It may take a little while for your dog to learn how to balance on the ice, once they do, they will have a blast and want to go ice skating all the time.

More Fun Ideas...

Skijoring

Skijoring is a perfect activity for your large dog in the cold weather. Grab your cross country skis and get the proper harness for your pup. Then you can get a fun ride while your large dogs gets some exercise in the cold weather.

Snow Hurdles

Build some hurdles and jumps for your dog out of snow then teach your dog to run and jump over them. This is the perfect way for your dog to warm up in the cold weather!

Conclusion

Just because it is cold outside doesn’t mean you and your large dog can’t have fun. So check the weather report and get excited when you see that a cold front is coming. It can be fun to do different things with your dog based on the cold air. Whether you choose to go sledding, play an indoor game of fetch or set your dog up with some fun things to do inside, the cold weather won't hurt your desire to have fun! Â