Winter isn’t a fun time for a lot of people, especially plenty of pet owners. With it being so cold outside, the thought of going for a walk every day definitely isn’t always that appealing. If you don’t take your pet for a walk, though, how can you ensure they get enough exercise? By doing one of the recommended alternative activities, of course.
Running up the stairs
If you have stairs in your home, you’ll know that going up them doubles as a workout. It’s amazing just how easily something like this can wear you out, especially if you go up and down them several times in quick succession. That’s why they make such useful exercise equipment for your pet when you’re stuck indoors. By getting your pet to run to the top and back down again repeatedly, you’ll ensure they maintain their fitness until things get warmer outside.
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Invite other animals over
If your pet has an animal friend that they enjoy playing with, why not invite them over? No one said that they always have to meet each other outdoors, so you can bring the fun inside when it’s cold. You don’t even have to do anything while they’re together because they’ll undoubtedly wear one another out during their playtime.
Fetch indoors
You might think your pet would get bored of fetch pretty quickly, given it’s such a repetitive activity. However, animals are often willing to play this game for a surprisingly long time. That’s why it’s a good thing to do indoors when it’s far too cold outside. Provided you’ve got plenty of room for your pet to run around in, this is an excellent cardiovascular activity for your animal companion.
Make an obstacle course
If someone told you to do an obstacle course, you’d probably be pretty worn out by the end of it. The same goes for your pet, which is why you might want to consider setting one up in your home. Again, available space factors into the equation here because this activity is only a good idea if there’s room to do it in. However, if this isn’t an issue, you can easily put something together to keep your companion active. Plus, you’ll be exercising their brain as well as their body, which definitely isn’t a bad thing.
Teach some tricks
Having a pet that knows a few tricks is always a good thing. After all, it keeps them stimulated and helps them develop their intellect. Depending on what you teach them, though, it can also be good for their fitness. If your tricks involve exercise, then trying to get your pet to learn them will be a workout in itself. You might be surprised by how much energy they end up using just from trying to master rolling over.
Cold weather in winter might not be that big of an issue for you. If it is, though, and you want alternative ways to keep your pet active, these activities have you covered. They’re what you need to make it through to spring.