🐶 Avoid the winter blues: keeping our pups happy indoors 🐶

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🐶 Don’t Let Winter Cold Snap Up Your Fun! 🐶

Winter’s icy grip can confine our furry friends indoors, leaving them restless and bored. Keeping our canine companions mentally and physically stimulated is crucial, even when the weather turns frigid.

Engaging in activities can prevent destructive behavior, alleviate anxiety, and maintain their overall well-being. From interactive toys to training sessions, there are numerous ways to ensure our dogs stay happy and healthy during the cold months.

Plus, staying engaged with our pups is good for our mental health too!

Sit & Stay Pro Tip — Engagement Brings Joy

Snuggling up for a long winter’s nap is perfectly okay occasionally, but dogs need stimulation. When they can’t frolic outside all day because of bitter cold or winter storm weather, we have to keep them occupied to reduce anxiety and even depression.

For those who work from home, that may sound daunting. But there are plenty of ways we can engage with our dogs on their level without constantly being preoccupied by playtime.

Interactive Toys

• Puzzle Feeders: These toys dispense treats or kibble as your dog solves puzzles, stimulating their mind and providing mental exercise. You can also buy or make a snuffle mat (we have a DIY video below in the Smile Section.)

• Chew Toys: Durable chew toys can keep your dog occupied and satisfy their chewing instinct. Look for toys made from safe, non-toxic materials.

• Treat-Dispensing Toys: These toys require your dog to work to get treats, providing both mental and physical stimulation. Our editor’s favorite is a puzzle ball that her Puggle pushes around like crazy until every treat falls out.

Training Sessions

• New Tricks: Teach your dog new tricks, such as "roll over," "play dead," or "shake paw." This can be a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your dog.

• Agility Training Indoors: Set up a simple obstacle course indoors using furniture, boxes, or other household items. This can help burn energy and keep your dog mentally engaged.

• Scent Work: Introduce your dog to scent work by hiding treats or toys in boxes or under blankets. This can be a great way to stimulate their sense of smell and keep them mentally sharp.

Physical Exercise

• Indoor Play Sessions: Engage in indoor play sessions with your dog, such as fetch or tug-of-war.

• Short Walks in Mild Weather: If the weather permits, take your dog for short walks to get some fresh air and exercise.

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Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

Here are the recent recalls and advisories:

• Blue Ridge Beef - Puppy Mix for potential salmonella.

• Hollywood Feed - Carolina Made Chicken Chips Dog Treats for potential salmonella.

• Gaines Family Farmstead - Chicken Chips Dog Treats for potential salmonella.

• ANSWERS - All beef and chicken dog foods for potential listeria and salmonella.

The Smile Section

If you have a photo and/or story that can make us smile, send it to [email protected].

Vet Recommendation — Cold Weather Paw Problems

Per the American Veterinary Medical Association, keeping an eye on your pup’s paws in winter is a good idea. Regularly check your dog’s paws for signs of cold-weather damage, such as cracks or bleeding. If you notice sudden limping during a walk, it might be due to an injury or ice buildup between their toes. To reduce iceball formation, consider trimming the hair between their toes.

Treats

• 🐶 Surfin’ Dog: Check out Sugar, who was just inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame!

• ✍️ Curated dog content: I Love Every Dog creates adorable, heartwarming, and real (not AI) daily content about dogs, like this post about a pup and his kitten friends.

Want your dog to be featured?

We’d love to!

Think your dog can make us smile? Submit a pic to [email protected] for a chance to see your pet in our Smile Section!