Winter-time Fun for Pets - Indoor Activities to Keep Active

We manufacture our foods in freezing cold Chicago, and we definitely experience all 4 seasons.  There's been snow on the ground for a couple of weeks already, but what does that mean for your pet?

Freezing temperatures and snow on the ground won’t stop your four-legged friend from wanting to romp and play – it’s essential to his health and keeps him from destroying your house! Despite this instinct, outdoor play is not always possible when the weather outside is frightful! Fortunately, there are plenty of indoor activities to stimulate your pets’ minds and keep them physically active during the winter months.

Puzzle toys filled with nutritious treats and scavenger hunts are wonderful indoor activities that combine food and play (your pet’s two favorite things!). Try using Evanger’s Nothing But Natural Jerky Treats at only 6 calories each. For pure exercise, try a doggy treadmill or a modified version of “fetch” using tennis balls or rope toys. Even the stairs can become a useful exercise tool during the winter – have one person stand at the top and another at the bottom, rewarding your pet when he reaches the top and bottom of the stairs continuously.  But again, it's important to use a low-calorie treat during these exercises.

Winter weather can be a good reason to focus on basics, such as obedience training and grooming – both maintain the bond between pet and owner while keeping your pet calm at the same time. Anything you can do to keep your pet’s mind occupied will go a long way towards ensuring your pet stays healthy and happy during indoor periods.

And if you have a winter breed, the best thing you can do is get outside for a winter hike.  Your dog will LOVE it and probably want to spend more time outside than you will.  If you bring a camera along, we're sure you'll get some memorable shots of your dog enjoying the outdoors.  It might be hard to get moving, but bring the family along and make it a big adventure!

Here's a snapshot of our Evanger's Mascot, Yukon, enjoying his winter hike through the local Forest Preserve.  This is one of his favorite memories, and ours!