I think I’ve made it clear that the winter and I are not friends. I’m pretty much over the snow and cold at this point and have begun contemplating my move somewhere warm. I think Dogs in Maui has a nice ring to it, don’t you? Until I can make my Hawaii move though, I’m stuck here in the cold with a dog that is tired of being inside. It’s pretty clear my dog does not enjoy all this inside time, but when there’s barricades of snow at every driveway it’s kind of hard to even take a walk. I’ve had to become very creative in my indoor activities, as well as try out some news toys to keep Hunter from keeping me up every night with all of his energy.
Here are some of my favorite dog toys for when you’re stuck inside:
PetSafe Busy Buddy Twist ‘n Treat Dog Toy
As I’ve mentioned before, my dog is an aggressive chewer. I pretty much can’t buy him any sort of toy that in any way could be eaten – plush, stuffed or anything that has a rope or could be too easily chewed up. For this reason, I love this Busy Buddy line of toys. My dog enjoys this twist’n treat one. I try and put some bigger treat pieces in it to make it a little harder for him. It seemed to take him longer when I first got this toy, so I think eventually they either figure it out or it loosens up, but it’s still a fun toy that I know he can’t eat so I like it either way.
Busy Buddy tug-a-jug
This one is really my favorite, because it gets my dog moving around and using his brain. The only downfall to this one is that I had to remove the rope at the end since he started eating it. I left part of it inside to keep something blocking the opening of the jug, and it seems to be enough to block the treats from coming out too easily. Hunter is a big fan of this toy. I think this is a good one for any active, energetic dog. And it’s even better when you can keep the rope on the end. One recommendation: don’t let your dog play with this near any tables or couches. I think I ended up getting more of a work out than my dog from all the times I had to move furniture to retrieve the jug after it rolled under something.
Peanut Butter Bones
When I know that I want to keep Hunter busy for a while, I get him one of these bones. He absolutely loves these things. The larger size will keep him busy for hours. It is a life saver when you are tired and want to keep your dog entertained.
My dog also enjoys Kong toys and Nylabones, both great toys for aggressive chewers.
What have you and your dog been doing this winter? What toys would you recommend?
If you’re looking for some other indoor activities, here are some my dog and I’s favorites: http://dogsinthecle.com/cold-weather-dog-activities/
Dogs in the CLE 