Keeping pets fit and warm
during the winter months
PET BULLETIN
‘Mews and Yips’ from the Central Aroostook Humane Society
Carolyn L. Cheney
Board of Directors
The winter months can create chubby dogs and chubby masters if we don’t get some exercise — either inside or outside. The other day my Henry (my 70-pound spoiled boxer) and I were sitting together in my recliner enjoying the coziness of our wood-fired warmed living room.
The wood heat made us so relaxed and sleepy we almost dozed off. I decided it was time for Henry and me to get going and get some exercise. Now Henry isn’t keen on the cold. He much prefers either my recliner or my husband Joe’s recliner; however, I told him it was time to go outside.
There are a number of ways for dogs and their humans to get exercise. Henry has a bright blue mini basketball which he loves so I throw it for him and he retrieves it, and this goes on for about 20 minutes. When he has decided he has had enough we go in. The next day he watched me hide little dog bones in deep snow. He was quite intrigued by this, and spent considerable time digging them out and eating them. Other times we just go for short walks around the neighborhood.
Please remember dogs, especially short-haired dogs, can get chilled very quickly so don’t leave them out too long, especially on bone-chilling days. Many people get cute winter outfits for their dogs so last year Joe got Henry a coat — actually it was a hand-me-down, but Henry didn’t know that — and red leather boots for his sensitive feet. Now it was quite a job getting Henry all dressed for the outdoors. The coat wasn’t a problem but those boots sure were. Once we finally got him outfitted, we took him out so he could get used to his new attire. He high-stepped it for a bit with his new boots, but he seemed to adjust. The next time we dressed him up there were only three boots. I think he either hid the fourth one or chewed it up. I have never found it. So much for the cute red boots.
Having a play date for your dog is a great way for him to get some outdoor exercise. My daughter’s family has a 7-month-old pup that is about Henry’s size. The two dogs will play tug of war with a two-foot knotted rag until I bring them in after about a half hour, and then they will collapse.
Please remember to always have an I.D. on your dog when playing outside. If a dog runs off, he will sometimes have difficulty finding his way home because the snow hides his scent.
On days when it is just too frigid to go outside, Henry gets his favorite oversized tennis ball from his toy box, and I throw it up the stairs to the second floor, and he runs up and brings it down to me. To give me adequate exercise he sometimes loses the ball under the beds, and I have to go fetch it for him. He likes doing this, but I get tired. Joe often plays laser tag with Henry, and that activity is great fun for him as he darts from room to room. Often I fast walk in my house for exercise, and Henry trails behind me, but he looks at me with a strange stare as if to say “we don’t seem to be going anyplace.”
Enjoy your animals in the beautiful snow. Spring, hopefully, will be here before we know it.
As I have said in previous articles, we at the Central Aroostook Humane Society are very thankful for your donations. In order to properly acknowledge donations we need to have some help. It is very important to inform the person who is honored in a donation. Also, when memorial donations are sent in, please let us know which family member of the deceased we are to notify. Their names and addresses would be greatly appreciated so appropriate notices can be sent.
