Indoor Games to beat boredom

"Youwouldn't put a dog out in this weather!" We like to use this expressionwhen it's snowing, raining, frosty and cold or there's a storm raging. But infact, house pets want to be challenged both physically and mentally – and,indeed, regardless of the weather outside. Disruptive behaviour can be thepay-back for boredom. So that it doesn't come to this, dog and cat owners canbe brought into play. The experts at the Maxi Zoo specialist retail chain havesome stimulating ideas. 

Intelligence game: Nowadays retailersoffer a wide choice of board games which challenge the instincts of ourfour-legged friends for play and food. Cats can roll away balls, pull on astring or dig deep to get at a hidden treat. For dogs there are some reallytricky mental exercise tasks in which they have to solve several puzzles(moving blocks, pushing rollers, pulling out bars) until they find theirreward. If you like simplicity: hide a treat under a paper cup and challengeyour dog to take it. If that works well, introduce a second cup. Let him watchwhere you place the reward. Make a fuss of him if he finds the treat first timeround. Increase the game to a maximum of three cups.

Hide and seek: Some animals, evencats, love searching for their master or mistress. So hide yourself in anotherroom and praise your pet when it tracks you down. You can also hide a treat oryour pet's favourite toy somewhere in the house and let them find it forthemselves. Combine the rewards with specific tasks, like running through atunnel. You can even construct one yourself using a blanket and two chairs. 

Hunting games: Our feline friendslove to hunt. Little wind-up mice or seesawing feathers on an angling rod willsatisfy her instinct. Special "play circuits" or ball tracks alsochallenge all the senses: you let balls speed along them which your cat canglimpse through spy-holes. This promotes full concentration, trains reflexesand speed. 

Agility course for dogs: Jumping overbroomsticks, running around some bottles, crawling through a play tunnel,long-jumping over a flat obstacle – just let your imagination run free.Anything goes as long as it can't cause injury or anxiety. 

Clicker training: The so-called"clicking" works with both dogs and cats. The animals learn, at thestart, to connect the clicking – simply a specific clicking noise – with areward. Thereafter you can teach your for-legged friend much with the help of aclicker. Instructions on this form of training can be found in courses orspecialist books. 

Very important: Don't over-exertyour pet when playing games! Sometimes just a few minutes, distributedthroughout the day are enough. Try to get along with few words and preferablystop if thing get frustrating. If you're using real toys, you shouldn't leaveyour pet alone with them.

Fun and games in the Snow

Most dogs love the snow. Boring their noses deep in the glorious flakes, running, playing, catching snowballs, what could possibly be more fun in the winter? With our great game ideas you and your pet can enjoy the snow-covered winter world even more by exercising your dog to the full while at the same time strengthening the bond between you. But first: If your dog is one who likes to eat snow, it's best to pass up on the snowball throwing, it will motivate your four-legged friend to eat even more of it! Take a handful of treats with you instead. Find an area covered in powdery (clean!) snow and "sink" the food in it. On the command "Find!" your dog can dig away after the morsels to its heart's content. Nose work exercises a dog to the full, tires him out and keeps the spirits up, more importantly it diverts your canine pal from stuffing himself with too much snow and catching a stomach lining infection.Alternatively, you could bury his favourite toy in a big pile of snow. He will certainly have huge fun uncovering it again. You could also build a ball run. On a slope of firm snow, dig yourself a track for a ball and let him roll it around from top to bottom. You can vary the game by letting your dog try to catch the ball on its way down. Or you can let get him to take the ball only when it has rolled down the run, that's a great way to teach him obedience and it simultaneously strengthens his frustration tolerance.Walking in the snow is also great fun at this time of year. Your pet will have even more to sniff around for as the territory markings of his canine peers are now covered in snow, as it were. Always provide a bit of variety. This makes your dog attentive and guarantees that he always has his eye on you as it could be that something else exciting could happen any time. Here's how you do it: As you're out walking, simply let your scarf or a glove drop in the snow. Then it's up to your dog to find it and bring it to you. Great, when it works, your pet brings the warmer then you swap it for a tasty reward. Alternatively, you can also let the bag of treats fall or a dummy, if you're using one. Rest assured, your dog will root it out. And will find winter time just as much fun if not more so! Remember that if you are in areas that are salted or if you dogs paws become chapped Maxi Zoo have special balm in stock to avoid uncomfortable, or sore paws.

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