As you put another log on the fire, you look out the window and see a swirling storm. The meteorologist warned of heavy snow drifts for the second day in a row. You’ve already experienced a winter of back-to-back snowstorms, and you long to escape the house with your puppy for more than just a bathroom break.
You’re trying to channel your inner Elsa, muttering under your breath, “The cold doesn’t bother me anyway,” but the truth is – it does! Your puppy is going stir-crazy and wants to play all day. The lyrics you identify with more are, “The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside, Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I tried.” “Elsa, help!” you cry out. “I can’t hold it back anymore!”
Some of us may have experienced this conundrum during the beginning of the pandemic a few years ago when we were not sure how much to interact with the world outside our door. Others of us didn’t have puppies during that time and are now learning ways to exercise a dog indoors when the weather turns nasty during cold winter months. You could muster an outing to an indoor location if it’s just cold, but sometimes you may be stuck inside your house if it’s too dangerous to venture out beyond the quick potty breaks.
Stop trying to think of your own solutions and take our handy list of ways to keep a high-energy dog active inside during cold weather.
Is an Energetic Dog Breed Right For Me?
When searching for puppies for sale, you should learn all you can about your dog breed before you choose the right dog breed for you. A responsible dog owner knows he or she needs to consider which dog breed fits their lifestyle carefully. If you’re unsure about how an energetic dog breed would be a good match for you and your household, you can ask yourself, “Am I ready for a puppy?” with a list of questions to consider, including:
- Is everyone in your household on board with the decision to get an active dog breed?
- Do I have the time and energy to devote to its intense needs?
- Does my living situation allow for enough space to constantly be moving around?
- Can I afford the extra opportunities I might need like classes, doggy daycare, a dog walker, or dog sports to keep them active?
@skythehuskie Indoor Zoomies? DONE. #doggo #husky #zoomies #dog #animal #crazy #meetmypet ♬ original sound - Sky
What Are Some High-Energy Dog Breeds?
Active dogs vary in shape, size, and temperament, but one thing is certain – high-energy dog breeds love life no matter what the circumstances may be. These sporting and working dogs never pass up an opportunity to play and are always “on.” These breeds usually need a minimum of one hour of intense exercise a day, preferably more, to keep their needs met.
While not a comprehensive list by any means, here are some of the top energetic dog breeds:
- Boxer
- Vizsla
- Dalmatian
- Weimaraner
- Border Collie
- Siberian Husky
- Belgian Malinois
- Labrador Retriever
- German Shepherd
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Some doodle mixes
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- Poodle (standard, mini, and toy)
- Australian Shepherd (mini and standard)
- Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler
The importance of exercise in high-energy dogs
Physical exercise is paramount to the health and well-being of an active dog. Exercise keeps their muscles and joints in excellent condition, which is important in helping prevent issues like hip and elbow dysplasia in dogs.
Not only does physical exercise help their bodies, but it also enhances their mental health and brain function. Dopamine and serotonin, often called “happy hormones,” release endorphins and reduce stress levels by boosting a dog’s mood. Physical activity can also keep their brains sharp. According to a study conducted by researchers at the Dog Aging Project at the University of Washington in Seattle, physical activity was shown to be beneficial for brain function. They found that inactive dogs were 6.5 times more likely to develop canine cognitive dysfunction than active dogs the same age in a study examining 15,000 dogs.
Not only do dogs with lots of energy need physical exercise to release pent-up energy and keep their bodies healthy, but they also need a significant amount of mental stimulation to keep their brains functioning properly. It’s not a coincidence that the top high-energy dog breeds are also some of the smartest dogs in the world.
What happens when their needs are not met?
You may have heard the term, “A tired dog is a happy dog.” While other breeds may be content with a 20-minute play session, an active dog’s mind is always thinking, and you have to stay one step ahead of them to cater to their energy needs.
Living with a high-energy dog can be an intense yet rewarding experience. Your friends with active dogs are probably happy to share what the puppy years (and beyond) were like to give concrete examples of what your life could look like.
Without proper channels to expend their energy and stay occupied, an active dog will make its fun to quell boredom. If you think like a puppy and get down on their level, your house is probably a buffet of tempting items to gnaw and destroy. Excessively barking, digging, counter surfing, pantry raiding, and ruining shoes, baseboards, couch cushions, and more are favorite pastimes of dogs with no outlet for their energy.
Health problems can also worsen without proper exercise. In addition to cognitive decline, these canines can suffer from obesity in dogs, which brings on a set of health conditions that can be painful and even shorten their lifespan.
What about dog breeds that love cold weather?
Some high-energy dog breeds also happen to be cold-weather dog breeds that thrive in harsh weather conditions. They have no problem diving into snow drifts and lying in the frigid cold as if it’s a comfortable, cozy bed.
If you live in a cold climate, you may assume selecting a dog breed that loves the winter is an easy solution. And while yes, cold weather environments are ideal situations for these dogs, sometimes even the conditions are too bad to go outside. What then?
Ways to Exercise Active Dogs Inside
Although the temperature may be plummeting, your dog’s energy is not going to take a nosedive like a barometer reading. Read on to discover how to exercise your high-energy dog inside.
Enlist help
If you have multiple people in the household willing to split puppy duties, get the family involved so you aren’t the only one responsible for entertaining them all the time. Under an adult’s supervision, kids and dogs can match each other’s energy levels and have lively, boisterous play sessions. When living alone, see if it’s in your budget to hire out some help. Invite a friend over with a dog to visit while your dogs have fun playing together if the weather allows travel.
@mo_mountain_mutts You guys asked to see the dogs getting on the bus #foryou #dogs #puppybus #alaska ♬ original sound - Mo_Mountain_Mutts
Doggy daycare
An indoor doggy daycare is an excellent solution for entertaining your dog during bad weather, assuming you can drive and it is open. These facilities are equipped to keep your dog occupied with ample opportunities for playtime, stimulation, and socialization. They can play to their heart’s content alone or with canine friends and come home happy and exhausted.
Attend a dog-friendly event inside
Many businesses like breweries host dog-friendly events for well-behaved dogs. You can find such events via social media, a local calendar, or word of mouth. One example of a business that offers events where dogs are welcome is a dog specialty bar called West Street Dogs in Raleigh, NC. They offer Monday Night Trivia, Small Dog Playtime for dogs 30 pounds and under, a walk-in daycare and packages, and a full-service bar. Dogs must be at least 6 months old and fully vaccinated, so leave young puppies at home for places like these. Your dog will love greeting other dogs and romping around with new friends while you can also escape the house and socialize. It’s a win-win situation as long as you are safe on the way there and back due to inclement weather driving conditions.
Brush up on old and new training commands
What better time to work on puppy training commands than when stuck inside? You can continue basic obedience training or choose to teach fun dog tricks to impress your friends and family the next time they come over. Either way, you’re working on important canine manners and providing a clear direction of what to do to keep them away from undesirable behaviors.
Teach rally sport
If you don’t have access to an indoor facility for agility work, have no fear. Why not try another dog sport? Rally is a dog sport where dogs and their handlers navigate a course that includes various signs or stations. At each station, a dog is asked to do a specific obedience task or behavior like sitting, heeling, or weaving between cones. In addition to tutorials online, find an app such as the Pocket Rally Dog Obedience App featuring written, audio, and video instructions for each difficulty level including official rules and regulations. You and your dog will strengthen the bond you have together while working on training commands in a fun, positive way while you’re stuck inside together.
Introduce new interactive toys
Think outside of the box that holds balls for fetch when thinking of keeping an energetic dog active during bad weather. Toys designed to interact with your puppy will keep them guessing what will happen next or occupied enough to let them burn off some mental energy. Some are simple toys, while others are high-tech pet gadgets for your dog. Have a few different ones on hand to rotate out to keep the novelty aspect fresh. Your dog will love that some of these incorporate treats!
- Buy an indoor ball launcher if you have a long hallway or walls that can withstand impact. Choose one that has an adjustable distance. Keep away from windows, picture frames, lamps, electronics, or anything that could be knocked down until you know how it operates. Even better, you can easily teach your dog to load the ball and push the button to launch manually or wait for the launch feature to do it for them.
- Balls with automatic wobbling features keep them guessing as to where it will vibrate and travel next. Some even light up and make noises.
- Some interactive puzzles and balls dispense treats slowly to keep your pup’s focus. They have to solve the puzzle or open a slot for the treat to come out. These are also a great idea to use occasionally during feeding times if you need a way to slow down dogs that are fast eaters.
- Speaking of treats, put some peanut butter and little bits of treats in a durable Kong toy designed for tough chompers and freeze it. They’ll spend hours trying to get out all the goodies!
- Hide small treats and toys in a snuffle mat, a flat mat with raised fabric and textured components meant to satisfy dogs that like to dig. Your dog will feel accomplished when they find the treat or toy, and it will also satisfy their need to sniff everything.
@whataboutbunny I miss Uni😢 #iambunny #booktok #fluentpet ♬ original sound - I am Bunny
Get involved in playtime
While there are toys that can be automated without your participation, it’s always fun to get in some exercise yourself by playing with your dog directly. Some games dogs enjoy with their human companions are:
- Hide-and-seek
- Treasure hunts
- Blowing flavored bubbles
- Building an indoor obstacle course
- Teaching them how to work talking buttons for dogs
- Creating paw print keepsakes and mementos or DIY mentally stimulating dog toys
- Celebrating National Peanut Butter Day on Jan. 24 by making peanut butter-inspired treats with your dog. You can let them lick the bowl!
Don’t be afraid to play Tug-of-war
You might hesitate to see our suggestion to play tug-of-war with your high-energy puppy because you have an idea of how it will teach them to be aggressive. However, the opposite is true. Tug-of-war offers many physical and psychological benefits by strengthening their muscles, engaging their minds, and building confidence. It’s also a good way to sneak in some training commands like “Give” or “Drop it.”
Keep a Pawrade Puppy Active Year-Round
If you’ve been thinking of looking for puppies for sale during winter months, don’t waste time searching on internet message boards or social media. You never know when you’re going to get scammed.
At Pawrade, we have done all the work for you vetting breeders who pass our rigorous screening. We can help you choose the right dog breed for you based on your lifestyle to see if a high-energy dog is the best fit. In addition, several of these high-energy breeds make excellent family dogs that are great with kids.
We can’t wait to hear from you! Contact a Puppy Concierge team member to start a seamless, scam-free puppy adoption experience.
