Bad Weather and Active Pets

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

02 Nov 2009 11:32 AM

Fall and winter in the Pacific Northwest often means rain. And rain means MUD! There are days I want to walk my dogs in hip boots and a full-length coat (at least I have the coat, in a muddish shade of brown so the splatters don't show).

There are some days I don't want to leave the house at all. Lally (my boxer mix) is the same way! She's a funny little girl: she hates the rain, and hates getting wet. On days when the skyfall is constant, it's hard to get her more than a few steps outside the front door to piddle!

Moose, on the other hand, doesn't seem to notice or mind the rain. He's easy. If I say "walk" and grab the leashes, he's ready to go.

But on those days where 2/3 of the committee votes for staying inside, it can be hard to work of excess energy. One great thing about walks is the stimulation; the other great thing is the energy use. When the dogs are restless, a nice long walk is a good way for all of us to blow off some steam. But in the rain (and mud) a long walk can become a challenge.

Lucky for me, I've come up with some indoor games that help use up some of that restless energy.

• There's always ball. Lally's favorite ball is a soft, rubbery Freaky Squeaky ball. Even if I threw it right at the window, it wouldn't break anything... so it's pretty safe for indoor play. If your playful pet likes to play ball, a nice soft one can be perfect for indoor use. And the room doesn't have to be huge and open, either. If I toss the ball onto my bed, Lally hops up there to get it. If it goes underneath a chair, she'll crawl under to fetch it. Obstacles can be part of the game!
• There's always chewing. A special, long-lasting treat can serve as entertainment and distraction... and exercise! Dogs especially get a particular satisfaction out of chewing -- but that doesn't mean other pets wouldn't enjoy a special treat. I try to keep some interesting chews and rawhides on hand for days when the dogs need some entertainment.
• There's always other games. I've talked before about indoor games -- hide and seek, chase, and others. Get creative! Figure out what your pet likes, and turn it into a game. If they're food motivated, play "hide the treat". If they like to play ball, find an indoor-safe version of outdoor ball games.

If you're feeling really creative -- and have the floor space -- an indoor agility course is a lot of fun. Create an obstacle course for your pet to go through, over, and under. Make it fun, have plenty of treats and praise for rewards... you can even invite other pets to come take a run through your course the next time the weather outside is frightful.

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Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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