How to Keep (or Get) Your Pet in Shape this Winter

Ellie, adopted senior Pit Bull, wearing her winter coat and matching hat for the first time, November 21, 2017

Hi. I’m Ellie, Brody’s cousin! He thought I’d be better at writing about this post’s topic, staying in shape for the winter, because I’m not very good at that. You see, I love cookies and peanut butter and anything I can eat.
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It’s getting harder for me to walk these days (I’m 9 now). I have painful arthritis in my knee, so it’s important for me to lose those extra pounds. I’ve slowly started to accept that this is a time of transformation. I plan to shed my pounds like trees shed their leaves. 

I’ve made a list of fun activities to stay in shape this winter, hoping to encourage myself and my parents to stay on track. I hope it encourages you too! Winter can be fun!

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Indoor Activities

• Runway- I love when my parents make me a runway to fetch indoors. A hallway is a great spot. My parents move the dining room chairs so I can run underneath the table and into the living room! Just make sure to remove any dangerous or breakable items. My cat brothers, Leonard and Tiny, love to use the runway to chase paper balls and mice!
• Hide and seek- Hide and seek is so fun. My dad calls me and gives me a treat, and then Mom hides and gives me a treat when I find her. This will work one-on-one if your dog will run for a ball and bring it back to you while you hide! I don’t tend to share and like to keep the ball all for myself. 
• Laser pointer- Every now and then my parents and I find a small red dot running around the room, and I try to catch it for them. Somehow, its avoided capture for years, but someday I’ll get it! I am starting to think that Mom plays a part in this, but I haven’t thoroughly investigated. 
• Local pet store- I love going to the store that has all the stuff just for me! There are aisles of treats, toys, and small animals. My favorite thing to do is watch the birds and hamsters. It’s great mental stimulation. 
• Puzzle toys- I wish mealtime could last forever, so I love pushing around my puzzle toy until all the kibbles come out. There are tons of toys that hide bits of food to slow down even the quickest eater. If you don’t have a puzzle toy, you can hide kibble within three out of five plastic cups and encourage your dog or cat to use their nose!
• Training- All that time spent indoors is great for training and learning tricks. This winter, I want to learn the “sleep” and “eat” commands, but the parents insist on “spin” and “paw.” At least I get lots of pets though!

Outdoor Activities

• Walks- I know walking around in the winter can be cold, but it’s nice to get fresh air any time of the year! Watch out for salt, and make sure your dog wears booties or you rinse the salt off of their feet after the walk. Dogs with short hair (like me) might also like a winter jacket. I love my new jacket and matching winter hat! 
• Playing in the snow- This activity isn’t so great for an arthritic dog like me, but sometimes I find the energy to zip around my backyard after a fresh snowfall. Chasing toys and snowballs across the yard really adds to the experience.
• Hiking- What’s better than a walk in nature? Tons of parks are open to hikers and their companions during the winter season. My favorite destination is Moraine State Park in Butler County. Just make sure to use flea and tick preventative before your trip. Fleas and ticks are active any day of the year over 45 degrees. 

Good luck keeping off those holiday pounds!
If you have a favorite winter activity, let me know in the comments!