Beat CCF! (Canine Cabin Fever)

During certain seasons or certain weather, there is a good reason to keep your dog indoors. Some dogs were not bred for colder climates and the colder seasons can be extremely harsh on them. The opposite can be true as well. Some dog breeds are not made for hot temperatures and can overheat quickly. But all dogs need some stimulation to avoid finding less welcome ways to amuse themselves when the weather is not working with us.

Here is a list of some activities you and your canine can enjoy to beat the heat or survive the cold.

• Indoor dog agility course

Amazon, Petsmart, and Petco have an assortment of indoor agility courses that you can match to fit your space. Indoor agility courses can be a bonding experience for you and your dog and can provide some good mental stimulation.

• Snuffle Mats

Snuffle mats are an easy, fun way to entertain your dog. Place some treats on the mat, then hand them over to your dog to let them find the treats. Snuffle mats can be fairly cheap and can be an easy DIY project for you to make for your pup. Be forewarned that some dogs can be a bit of a glutton with snuffle mats and may gain some weight if they're allowed to indulge in them too frequently.

• Chew toys, bones, and ropes

Chew toys can be a saving grace, and they don't always have squeakers! Bones can be a tasty distraction, but make sure they are the right type and size of bone for your dog. You wouldn't give a Chihuahua an entire cow femur bone, just as you wouldn't give a Great Dane a tiny chicken wing. There are also wooden bones on the market now that can satisfy your dog's need to chew that do not splinter. Lastly, ropes can be a fun chew toy, but be careful that they don't shred the toy too much or you may need to take it away from your dog.

• Puzzle Toys

You will probably notice that in quite a few of my articles, I mention puzzle toys. That is because they are so awesome! They can help a dog combat boredom and keep both of you sane. Just make sure you introduce the puzzle toys with a high rate of success at first before making it slowly more difficult.

• Shredding box

I just recently read about a shredding box, that consists of newspapers, cardboard boxes, old towels, and your dog's treats and food. Simply wrap the treats in the old towels and newspaper, and let your dog go nuts. It allows your dog to use the natural urge to shred things in a positive, appropriate way. If they learn that this behavior is only acceptable during this activity, they will no longer aim for the items we as their owners don't want them to shred. Yes, it will cause a mess, but you could always lay down a large sheet to contain the mess to some extent.

• Hide and seek

My lovely old dog and I used to love doing this. At the time, we lived in a one-bedroom apartment, so there weren't many hiding spots, but we always made the best of it. But there are a few ways to play this game. I would ask her to sit and then for her to hold the behavior. Then I would take off in the other direction to either hide in the closet or the small laundry room. I would call for her, to which she eagerly would race towards where she heard my voice coming from. Sometimes she would walk past my hiding spot once or twice, so I would call for her again. Once she found me, she was bouncing with excitement and wagging her tail, begging for more. 

The other way you could play this is to toss a treat away from you with the added cue of "Find it". After several reps of this, start tossing the treat in slightly more difficult locations and eventually out-of-sight locations. You can also do this with a toy if they are more toy-motivated.

• Do some training

Teaching your dog new tricks, or working on behaviors they already know can help keep cabin fever away from your dog and you. Training can be a physical and mental exertion that can do wonders for dogs stuck indoors. The best part? You get a mannerly partner who is willing to work with you.

I hope that you and your canine family members have the best of the upcoming holidays. May this list keep you both sane this crazy time of year.