How to beat the winter blues for your dog

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Nature’s Recipe®. The opinions and text are all mine.

We live in the northeast which means when winter comes, we have very short days and it’s usually too cold to spend time outside. Our dog Gemma, a Rottweiler, loves to be outside. She is very active and needs to keep busy. In the winter, especially when it snows, she can only spend a short amount of time outside. Her paws will get too cold and she is not the type of dog who will wear a sweater or doggie boots. She starts to go stir crazy, as do I, during the winter because we’re stuck in the house. I was recently asked by Nature’s Recipe to create some unique tips for using a product and I wanted to share with you how I keep Gemma active and healthy. She lives her life to the fullest every day and winter won’t get in her way!

I try to incorporate dinner time with an activity so Gemma isn’t getting too many treats throughout the day. When using treats you need a very tiny piece so you’re not waiting for your dog to finish each one. Try a jerky type that you can cut into tiny pieces, no bigger than a pea. Starting to play a game about 30 mins before dinner allows you to use part of your dog’s dinner as treats. I grab a handful which will be enough until dinner time. We use Nature’s Recipe adult chicken meal/rice dry food. I can now purchase the food while I’m shopping for my other essentials at Walmart. Convenience and value is what I’m all about!

 

When it comes to Gemma’s food I like her to have a high-quality protein with no corn, wheat, poultry by-product meal, artificial flavors or preservatives.

Let’s get started!

Games! Dogs love to play games. These games are the trick to training you and your dog. You use specific words and hand movements for each task you want your dog to perform. They will be happy to oblige because they’ll be receiving a treat.

Note* Before each word you should say your dog’s name. The words I use may not be the words that you want to pick for your dog but be consistent. 

Sit and Lay

Most dogs know “sit and lay” but I still include these when we’re playing for reinforcement. When the dog completes the command, be sure to say, “Good Sit!” then give the treat. If it’s before dinner and you’re using the dog food, you only want to use one piece at a time.

Stay

For dogs to learn stay, you will want to gradually work the time up. As they progress you can walk away giving positive feedback. Every few seconds say “Good Stay” working more time in between as you go. Walk back to your dog and give the treat (dog food). Once she has it down you can ask the dog to come to you.

Round

This is a new one for us but it helps to keep my floors clean. After she goes out, I call her in and she has a towel that she steps on. I say, “Gemma Round” and she spins wiping her paws. It took us only a week for her to be able to come in and automatically wipe her paws. I love this so much!

Touch

This is a super fun game for you to play with your dog. You stand in front of your dog, who should be sitting. You say “Touch” and put your hand flat out. The object is for her to touch her nose to your hand. Move your hand in different places so it becomes a game.

Look

This one I do randomly during the day. You want to say “{Dogs Name} Look” when you don’t have their attention. Once they look your way and you know you have their attention, give them praise and a treat. This will come in handy if you see they’re concentrating on something they shouldn’t.

Here

We use this command all the time but I still like to include it in games. I’ll combine it with stay. While I’m commanding Gemma to stay, I’ll walk into the other room and say, “Here.”

Free

When we’re done playing or I want her to know she can do what she wants, I give her the command of “Free.” An easy way to teach this one is to have them stay when you first put their food down. Make them wait a few seconds and tell them “Free” and point to their food. They will understand that this means to go do what they want.

Come

We use this word for urgency! Although we train her to know it, it’s not used as a common “come here.” This would only be used in an instance when I needed her to come to me quickly. An example would be; we were outside and an unleashed animal was walking by, or a child was walking up to her. To train for this it’s easier outside and with two people but it can be done in the house. Drop a treat a couple feet from her and while she’s going to get it and eat it, you run to the other side of the room and yell “COME.” Again as soon as she comes, drop a treat a couple feet away and repeat a few times moving as quickly as possible creating urgency around the word and your tone.

I hope these tips will help you and your furbaby to beat the winter blues and have a little fun! Dogs love to learn new activities and games. Although we stay away from jumping and running in the house, these games will still stimulate the dog’s brain, keeping them happy. I want to help my Gemma stay happy and healthy. Another way I keep her happy is giving her favorite flavor of Nature’s Recipe (Chicken). Nature’s Recipe makes purposeful recipes with ingredients from nature to provide exactly what your dog needs to feel like his most vibrant self, each and every day.

At your next trip to Walmart, take a walk to the pet aisle and look for the Nature’s Recipe that your dog will love.

Do you play games with your dog? What do you do for play time?