3 Essential tips for dogs this winter

Change up meals:

Making use of your dog’s daily food allowance, instead of extra treats, will ensure they maintain a healthy weight.

Using cups, hide their pellets inside a few of them and keep a few others empty. Mix them up and allow your dog to sniff out the food. Once they are successful do reward them by giving them the food to eat. When they’ve gotten the hang of this, increase slowly by adding more cups or increase the distance between cups.

Introduce more play:

By introducing more play into a daily routine you’ll not only keep a certain level of physical activity up, but will also strengthen your bond and this is a win-win situation.

Save a cardboard box, wrap treats in newspaper, hide the paper in the box, then let them find the snacks and work out how to get them.

Ask someone keep your dog busy while you walk away. Call your pet, with a tasty treat ready to reward them when they get to you. Increase the difficulty by adding more space between you and them and then hiding behind something. Use the game to work on their “STAY”

Other activities to try:

Stuff a hoof chew toy with peanut butter or tinned dog food and freeze it overnight, giving it to your dog as a high value reward to empty out.

Freeze some tasty treats (biscuits / bits of sausage etc.) in chicken or beef stock, inside an empty ice cream tub overnight. Let your dog into the yard, giving him time to lick through the block.

Remember:

• Be cautious of feeding or using food in games with more than 1 dog around as you don’t want to encourage fighting. If your dog is known to be possessive, rather separate dogs during the food-related activities.
• It’s all about activating and stimulating the brain, while keeping activity up as best as you can. Mental stimulation can be just as tiring and gratifying as physical activity!

The key is to make it fun for your dog and new games should be introduced slowly and difficulty levels gradually increased. Break from time to time and listen to their body language.

Pet Masters was voted Best Local Pet Store in the Best of Ekurhuleni Readers Choice Awards 2015. Not only are they the largest pet retailer, but they stock a wide range of food, pet care, livestock and products. A pet lover’s paradise!