Fun Ways to Keep your Dog Active and Healthy

As the winter months approach, it is easy to let your dog slip into hibernation. No more long walks outside, days at the pool, or frisbee at the park. While the dropping temperatures put a halt to some of our favorite outdoor activities, it is crucial that our pets still have ways to be active and stay healthy.

One of the most influential factors to your dog’s overall health is their activity level. Like humans, dogs benefit from exercise in many ways. Regular exercise will increase flexibility and endurance, strengthen muscles and joints, and most importantly – prevent obesity. Obesity is a huge issue that dogs struggle with and can significantly decrease life span.

One way to ensure that your dog never falls victim to obesity is to feed them nutrient dense food specifically catered to their individual needs. Our High-Energy food is a meat-based, soy-free, complete and balanced diet crafted for normally active dogs. Enriched with Omega 6 & 3 Fatty Acids, our food also guarantees healthy skin and coat.

In addition to proper nutrition, there are other ways a pet owner can confirm their dog is staying healthy. Ears, eyes, nose, teeth and mouth can also be indicators of a dog’s overall health status. Regularly examining these body parts and being cognizant of any changes or abnormalities is extremely important.

While switching up your pet’s diet and conducting physical exams seem like pretty easy tasks, creating a physical activity regimen can be a bit more complicated – especially in the winter months.

At this point, you might be tempted to throw your pup on the treadmill and call it a day. Finding easy ways to keep your dog active when it’s cold can be challenging. Thankfully, we’ve got some suggestions.

Hide and Seek

Family game night can include your furry friends too! Try a few rounds of hide-and-seek to start. Not only will this get your pup up and moving, but it requires some brain power too. If you aren’t in the mood to hide yourself, your dog’s favorite toy is a great alternative.

Scent Games

Dogs have a great sense of smell. Untapping that sensory ability is a great way to stimulate your pup. Make your pet work for dinner by hiding food at the bottom of a box or in a secret place. You can also hide treats throughout the house during the day and watch as your dog attempts to discover them.

Indoor Fetch

Find a hallway in your house or apartment and play a friendly game of fetch with one of your dog’s lightweight toys. Some people think dogs need tons of space to do this activity, but even the shortest distances will still make your dog active!

Learn Tricks

There is no better time to prepare for the doggy Olympics than the wintertime. You can coach your dog to sit, roll over or shake – right from the comfort of your living room. Try to incorporate a time daily to practice.

Tug of War

While you may remember the strenuous games of tug of war from elementary school, this activity is actually a great way to exercise with your canine. Plus, who doesn’t love a little friendly competition?

Doggy Dates

Inviting another puppy over to play with your dog is one of the best ways to help burn some calories. I’m sure you are picturing your neighborhood dogs tirelessly wrestling or running around with one another. Although humans make great playmates, nothing beats the fun of playing with a fellow furry friend.

Keeping your dog active and healthy year-round doesn’t have to be difficult. With numerous selections from our Joy Dog Food products, you are certain to find one that fits the unique nutritional needs of your beloved puppy. Pair a balanced diet with some great indoor activities and you’re set!