As winter continues on, we all try to ward off the winter blues by taking our handful of vitamin D daily and watching endless hours of Netflix. Sometimes, we take hikes in the winter wonderland...or there is skiing...or ice climbing. But let's face it, winter is a time of hibernation and cabin fever can take it's toll. A dog's mental health can suffer. While you can go skiing and ice climbing, a dog can't. They get bored when mental and physical exercise are not consistent. And a bored dog equals a mischievous dog. Luckily, humans are also a creative species and below I have found a bunch of DIY enrichment games for dogs. So start crafting away the winter canine blues!
What you see above is a "snuffle pad". You can purchase these or make them. The picture above is a snuffle pad from an Etsy store:
FleeceBeWithYou. The price of these mats vary depending upon size and weight ($9.00- $50.00) Snuffle pads are also fairly easy to make, but can be time consuming. Just gather all your materials and hit "play" on that favorite Netflix movie as you make this. You can find the instructions
here at
The Wolfdog Blog. Once your snuffle pad is made, you hide little dog treats in the the rug and let your dog sniff them out.
This one is a feeder tube and can be used on cats as well! The
instructions can be found on the blog,
The Dogtipper. Basically, you drill holes in a PVC pipe, seal the ends and let your dog try to get the kibble out by rolling it around (or shaking it). This kind of feeder is great for animals that like to "scarf and barf" as well.
This toy is for blind dogs! The idea comes from the now defunct website
Slim Doggy. Just make sure that you monitor your dog's play with this one so they do not swallow the jingle bell.
This one is called a "Flirt Pole" and the
instructions are found on
Almost A Real Thing. A flirt pole is an excellent choice for dogs with a lot of pent up energy or a high prey drive. Basically, you swing this baby around and let your dog chase after the toy on the end. You can also run around the house dragging it behind you. Good exercise for you and the dog!
A good ol' frozen sock for the big time chewers. Plus, you can find a use for all those socks without a pair! I found this idea on
Instructables.
I have to admit, there is something so satisfying about catapulting stuff. Here is a catapult you can make, again off of
Instructables. As an extra challenge for your dog, catapult a ball up some stairs and let Fido get in some stair climbing!
This one is great for the dog that likes "crinkly" sounds. And, it's simple to make: just wrap a water bottle up in some fabric. You can even get fancy and braid some of the fabric at the bottom to make a rope chew at the end. You can find the instructions at
Ammo The Daschund.
I think I have blogged about this one before, so it must be one of my favorites. This toy was found on the blog,
Leopold's Crate and is great for dogs that like to shred things. You simply stuff a bunch of strips of fabric inside the ball. In the middle of the strips of fabric, a favorite treat is hidden.
Happy crafting everyone and may the force be with you for the remainder of the winter. Be sure to share your Netlix account information with a friend that is suffering the winter blues. 😉
Great ideas, but if you're going to try the last one be sure to supervise your dog very closely. Ingesting a piece of fabric can be lethal.
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