Cabin Fever

Not all dogs get out and enjoy wintery weather like this guy! So, we thought it might be good to post the following article about cabin fever:

Going inside - and staying there - provides physical protection from the elements, but also opens the door to a mental hazard: boredom. A bored dog can wreak considerable havoc on his household in the form of excessive barking, hyperactivity, and destructiveness. Worse still, if the dog's efforts to relieve his boredom prompt him to partake of poisonous plants or other toxic substances, he'll need immediate veterinary attention, and you are likely to face a significant bill.

To prevent such occurrences, be sure to dog-proof your home; in other words, put any toxic, hazardous, or other forbidden items beyond your dog's reach. Then, find ways to provide your dog with plenty of indoor physical and mental exercise. Here are some activities that you and your dog can do together indoors to help the two of you stay sane:

Fetch:
A rousing game of fetch - particularly if it requires your dog to go up and down some stairs a few times - can give him a good physical work out.

Tug-of-war:
As long as you are not having aggression problems with your dog, a good tug session can siphon off considerable excess cannine energy. Rules of the game: The person needs to start the game, the person needs to end the game, and most of the time the person needs to win the gam.

Hide the toy:
To give your dog a mental workout, try hiding a toy or treat and then directing him to find it. Hold the item for him to see, then place him in another room so he can't see where you hide the object. Once you've hidden the toy, allow him to come out and look for it. When teaching this game, put the toy or treat in plain sight, gradually increase the difficulty until your dog understands how to look for it.

source: The Family Dog