We all know that dogs need exercise regardless of the weather come snow, sunshine or rain, they still need mental and physical stimulation. If they don’t get enough activity throughout the day, they may/will invent their own fun activities and I am sure we have all lost a shoe or 4… Luckily, there are lots of things you can do indoors that may keep your dog mentally, physically in shape and less stressed.
A Dog can hear thunder and loud rain four times stronger than we can, meaning the sound of thunder and pouring rain is much louder to them. This increase in noise can cause some dogs to become nervous and overwhelmed. Signs to look out for are if your dog pants, paces, barks, or hides they are afraid and need comfort.
And lastly, If your dog runs around the house looking for a place to hide as soon as it starts to storm, they may be experiencing static electricity in their coats. Did you know that dogs may experience numerous shocks from static electricity during thunderstorms and winter months. Dogs will run for places that are grounded like the bathtub to stop the shock feeling.
These few ideas may be helpful!
- Find the Treat – is a no brainer and Jasper is a sucker for a treat but aren’t all dogs. The purpose of the game is to have your dog sniff out treats you hide around the house or apartment. Keep it fun and positive by praising them each time they pick up a new treat. Have your dog sit in a stay position and place some treats around the room where they can see them. After they’re spread around release your dog give them a cue to “find the treats.” Once you’re pretty sure your dog has a good grasp of what “find the treats” means you can start hiding them in more challenging spots.
- Tug of War – Minute for minute tug is one of the most physically & mentally challenging games you can play with your dog. And the best part is you don’t need a ton of room to play, so it’s a great way to exercise your dog on rainy days. Tug of war is a great opportunity to teach your dog boundaries. The games stops if their teeth touches your hand. Studies have shown that dogs who play tug of war with their owners are more obedient.
- Best comfort to ease nerves – if your dog is nervous, but you know they’re obsessed with playing fetch, try distracting them with the tennis ball. Focusing on something else can help them ignore the stressor. The other option is to pet your dog, or just sit beside her/him and let them feel your calming presence. Physical contact helps lower stress in both humans and dogs. Just be sure to maintain your own calm, positive attitude and of course, sometimes dogs just need a break in a quiet place.
- Relieving Static electricity – Static generally occurs during the winter months when the air is dryer so the best method to relieve static is adding the moisture back into the house and the most effective way to do this is with a humidifier. Spraying a light mist of water or grooming spray on your dog’s coat can also be effective. Removing synthetic clothing from their coats and replacing it with natural material like cotton will remove static from their coat.
