Showing your puppy love during the cold winter months can come with its complications. Depending on your dog’s breed and age, they will need to expend a certain amount of energy despite the freezing temperatures outside. Luckily, the puppy stage is also full of cozy cuddles and bonding through the care you provide. Knowing what our furry friends love will help us all win at winter care.
Puppies Love Routine
No matter what the weather does, keeping to an established daily routine is important. School or work may get cancelled due to the weather, but try to maintain the schedule your pup has grown accustomed to. More cuddles are always welcome, but potty breaks and feeding schedules need to stay consistent. Potty training in the winter months is always difficult, but even a fully potty-trained dog can balk at the frigid temperatures outside.
Skip sleeping in and face the chilly outdoors with your pup. Dogs are all about pack leadership. Where you go, they’ll follow. If your furry friend is showing signs of hesitation to go outside and reverting to taking care of business inside, you may need to bundle up and go out with them. For their safety, don’t use any salt or other chemicals to melt the snow in their area of the yard. Salt and other chemicals can be damaging to their paws. Shoveling a path to their potty area and keeping it clear is best. If you can’t avoid the chemicals, make sure to clean their paws regularly and/or provide protection. If they still refuse to go outside, use a leash, experiment with booties and sweaters, and keep them in their crate until they successfully potty outside.
Puppies Love Play
Play for dogs is an important aspect of their development. A walk around the block may not be possible with the winter weather, but indoor play can take its place to expend energy and keep to your routine. If you don’t want to lose the progress you’ve made with leash training, make a game of walking around the house. Create a path to walk on and place items for them to avoid along the way. Walk your pup on a leash around the house. Use the same commands you would normally, and if they go for one of the items, teach them to “leave it.” When they follow your commands, reward them with a treat.
It may seem silly to take a walk in the house, but this is actually a great place to start leash training, and it feels like play to your puppy. If you’ve started a routine of taking walks, this keeps it alive despite the cold. At the end of your walk, play fetch by throwing or rolling a ball down the hallway.
Other boredom busters for your pup are toys. The large variety of toys available can be overwhelming. Quality is important, but know none of them will truly last. It’s also important to keep a close eye, so when it inevitably gets torn apart, you can take it away. Low-quality toys with poorly sewn seams and little attachments are more likely to get swallowed, as well as the squeakers. Toys that hide treats can be especially helpful for dogs that need more brain stimulation. Rotating toys can also help make things new and exciting.
Puppies Love Cuddle Time
Most puppies are great cuddlers! Depending on their temperament, they may want to be in your lap, or they could just want to lie at your feet. Either way, dogs know how to relax, especially when all their other needs are met. To optimize this relaxed state, pair cuddle time with coat care. While relaxing with your pup, get them used to grooming by brushing their coats. Also, touch their toes and check their teeth. Adding this to your cuddle time while your pup is in a relaxed state will make grooming a habit they welcome as a part of bonding with you, instead of fighting against it.
If your puppy shows discomfort during any part of their grooming, calmly encourage them. Keep sessions brief, but build on their capacity daily. Helping your pup feel comfortable during grooming is important for their overall health. Once you’ve built up their tolerance, brushing should be done three to five times a week. While baths are given once every three to six weeks. This enables the natural oils to help their coat shine and prevents their skin from drying out.
By touching their toes and checking their teeth, you’ll create a trust that will make clipping their nails and brushing their teeth easier. In the winter, it is especially important to keep an eye on their paws! Your groomer will also thank you for the efforts you put in to make your dog comfortable during these necessary care tasks. Starting this habit early will help your puppy overcome their fears of the unfamiliar.
Puppy Love for the Win!
By keeping routine, play, and cozy cuddles a priority, no matter how the weather throws curveballs this winter, your pup will be ready to face whatever this year has in store right alongside you! If you are still looking for that cute cuddler to make the boredom of winter more exciting, take a look at our available canine companions! Gladys will be happy to help you find the perfect match!