Keeping your doggie busy in hot, cold, or rainy weather.

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With the temperatures here in Buckeye, Arizona reaching 116 degrees, it is not safe for dogs to go outside and play for very long. This leads to a lot of pent up fur-baby energy. So what are you to do?  Whether you live in a hot climate like Arizona or a rainy or snowy climate, here are my top 5 ideas for you!

  1. Water – Swimming is great exercise for a dog.  If you don’t have a swimming pool, then you can get a plastic kids pool for your dog or toss a ball for him into some sprinklers! Remember even though they are wet, it is still best not to allow them to stay in the heat for very long. (Hot weather)
  2. Take a walk in an air-conditioned or heated pet friendly store such as Lowe's, Home Depot and of course pet stores.
  3. Stuff a Kong toy with healthy leftovers and your dogs kibble and freeze it. Once frozen it becomes a time consuming, energy using tasty treat for your dog. Be aware of foods that are toxic for dogs such as grapes, raisins, and chocolate. The ASPCA has provided a great list on foods that you should avoid feeding your dog. The Kong website also offers a variety of recipes for stuffing the Kong toys as well. Be sure to give it to them in their kennel or on tile so that any mess they make can be easily cleaned up.
  4. Have your dog go on a Scavenger Hunt. Hide treats or a little bit of kibble in a bowl in various locations inside your house. It is a fun game for your dog to search and find them. This game also helps dogs learn how to use their noses to find their food rather than just having it appear in a bowl in front of them. Be cautious if you have more than one dog so that they don’t end up fighting over food.
  5. Amazon and Chewy offer a wide selection of interactive dog toys to keep them busy. Team up with friends who also have dogs and rotate the interactive toys amongst you all. This will allow the cost to be split and for the dogs to not get bored of the toy. Your dog will be kept busy by building up his or her mental and physical skills without a huge chunk taken out of your wallet.

We hope these ideas have been of some help!