Brrr, it’s cold outside! But that doesn’t mean all of the great training momentum you and your dog have built up over the past months has to come to a screeching halt.
Even though it’s winter, your dog still needs the physical and mental stimulation that come from learning new skills. Here are some ideas for keeping up with training and exercise when there is snow and ice outside.
Teach a Skill Indoors
Choose a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) skill your dog doesn’t know or needs to work on and set up a daily training time indoors. You can easily work on skills like “sit,” “down,” “come,” and “stay,” in a small space.
If you’re ready to move beyond CGC skills, try teaching your dog to heel. You can even move furniture, such as small tables or chairs, so you have obstacles to use as you refine your dog’s heeling skills.
Tease Your Dog’s Brain
One exciting activity to consider participating in with your dog is AKC Trick Dog. It’s easy to teach tricks for dogs at all levels and put together an AKC Trick Dog routine indoors.
Novice tricks include behaviors such as barking on cue, shaking hands, getting in a box, or jumping through a hoop. Watching training videos can be helpful as you’re getting started if you’re stuck indoors. Trick training is a great way to provide mental enrichment for your dog. Plus, it’s a positive and fun activity that both you and your dog can enjoy.

Provide Indoor Exercise
There are plenty of ways to ensure that your dog gets enough exercise, even if you can’t get outside.
You can have your dog chase a ball and work on their retrieving skills in a hallway or work on some canine freestyle moves. If you’re working towards earning your dog’s CGC or AKC Community Canine title, you can also practice your CGC exercises as speed drills.
Another great way to ensure your dog gets enough mental stimulation and socialization is enrolling in an indoor training class during the winter months. Whether you’re looking to brush up on basic obedience skills or work towards competing in a new sport, training classes are a wise investment for dogs of all ages.
Don’t Forget About Outdoor Exercise
Even when it’s winter, there are breaks in the weather. Put on your coat and go outside with your dog for a brisk walk. In city settings, where sidewalks are clear, you can also practice the AKC Urban CGC skills.
Before embarking on any outdoor outings, be sure that your dog is appropriately prepared for the weather. Some dogs may benefit from wearing a jacket or sweater. Wearing dog boots can also be a good idea if the sidewalks in your neighborhood are salted.
It may be cold outside, but with adequate preparation, you don’t have to let winter stand in your way when it comes to dog training.