In this episode of How to Have a Happy Dog Without Going for a Walk, we’re diving into all things festive food and treats! The Christmas season is filled with delicious indulgences, but not everything we enjoy is safe for our dogs. From harmful foods to healthy alternatives and tips for rewarding good behaviour, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you navigate the holiday season with your four-legged friend.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

• Foods to Avoid: Learn about the festive favourites that are toxic or dangerous for dogs, including chocolate, grapes, raisins, cooked bones, and more.
• Healthy Alternatives: Discover safe, nutritious, and dog-friendly treats that let your pup join in the festive fun without any risks. From carrot sticks to sweet potato chews, we’ve got plenty of ideas to keep tails wagging!
• Rewarding Calm Behaviour: Find out why it’s so important to reward calm, relaxed behaviour during the busy Christmas period—and how to avoid reinforcing pestering or over-excitement.
• Portion Control Tips: With extra treats around, balancing your dog’s diet is key. Learn how to adjust meal sizes and use their regular food creatively throughout the day to keep them healthy and happy.
• Interactive Feeding Options: Explore fun ways to make mealtime more enriching with puzzle toys, treat-dispensing Kongs, scatter feeding, and homemade activities. These ideas are perfect for keeping your dog mentally stimulated and engaged while you’re busy with holiday preparations.
• Activity of the Week: The Dog Wand: This week’s fun game involves creating a “dog wand” with a toy attached to a string. It’s ideal for dogs who are hesitant with toys and provides fantastic physical and mental exercise.

This episode is packed with tips and ideas to keep your dog safe, happy, and included in the holiday celebrations. Whether it’s avoiding risky foods, sharing healthy treats, or engaging them with fun and enriching activities, you’ll walk away with practical advice to make this Christmas enjoyable for everyone.

And don’t forget—our Wags Without Walks membership is the perfect gift for your dog this Christmas! It’s full of enrichment ideas, training games, and monthly challenges to keep your dog entertained and fulfilled, even when walks aren’t an option. There’s a special festive offer running until 25th December at midnight, so don’t miss out!

Links Mentioned in This Episode:
🎁 Wags Without Walks Membership
📘 My Book: The Vet Says Rest

Stay Connected:
🐾 Instagram: @lauracartercanines
🐾 Facebook: @lauracartercanines

Let’s make this Christmas the best one yet—for you and your dog! 🎄🐾

In this episode of How to Have a Happy Dog Without Going for a Walk, we tackle how to keep your dog calm and happy when holiday guests are visiting. From managing over-excitement to creating safe spaces and using enrichment activities, we’ve got you covered with practical tips to make the festive season stress-free for both you and your dog.

What We Covered in This Episode:

• Creating a Safe Space: Setting up a quiet, cosy retreat for your dog away from the holiday hustle and bustle to help them decompress and avoid overstimulation.

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• Managing Over-Excitement: Tips for controlling greetings, using stair gates, leads, and coaching guests to keep interactions calm and positive.

• Enrichment Before and During Visits: How mental stimulation through games like snuffle mats, puzzle toys, and scent work can tire your dog’s brain and help them stay relaxed.

• Impulse Control Games: Fun activities that teach your dog patience and self-control, making them better equipped to handle the excitement of visitors.

Discover More with Wags Without Walks!
If you’re looking for more ways to keep your dog happy and enriched this holiday season, my Wags Without Walks membership is here to help! Packed with fun activities, monthly challenges, and practical games, it’s designed to keep your dog mentally and emotionally stimulated, even when walks aren’t an option. It’s the perfect gift for your dog (and yourself!) this Christmas. Join today at lauracartercanines.com/wags-without-walks.

Want to Learn More?
Check out my book, The Vet Says Rest, available on Amazon! It’s full of tips, tricks, and activities to keep your dog entertained and happy during times of restricted exercise. Perfect for when walks aren’t possible due to weather, injury, or recovery.

Connect with Me on Social Media:
Stay up-to-date with the latest tips, tricks, and activities for you and your dog by following me:

• Instagram: @lauracartercanines
• Facebook: @lauracartercanines

I love seeing what you and your dogs are up to, so tag me in your posts and share your enrichment adventures!

Thanks for tuning in to How to Have a Happy Dog Without Going for a Walk. Let’s make this festive season joyful and stress-free for you and your furry friend!

To join Wags without Walks go to : www.lauracartercanines.com/wags-without-walks

Welcome to this week’s episode of How to Have a Happy Dog Without Going for a Walk!

As winter sets in with dark nights and chilly weather, keeping your dog happy and entertained indoors can feel like a challenge. This episode is here to help! We’re diving into fun, creative, and practical Games to Get Through Winter that will keep your dog enriched, engaged, and content when outdoor adventures aren’t an option.

• Tricks and training are a fantastic way to engage your dog’s brain and build their problem-solving skills.

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• • Explore your dog’s five senses with simple, at-home activities.

  
  

  • Discover the joy of scent work, where your dog learns to locate specific scents, such as a red Kong or jar lid.

  
  

  • Learn how Wags Without Walks can help you keep your dog entertained and enriched all winter long.

  
  

  For more enrichment ideas and resources, visit:
  🌐 LauraCarterCanines.com/wags-without-walks
  📸 Instagram: @lauracartercanines
  👍 Facebook: @lauracartercanines

  💬 Let us know your favourite winter game or how you’re keeping your dog entertained indoors—tag us on social media or drop us a message!

In this episode of How to Have a Happy Dog Without Going for a Walk, we’re exploring a fresh perspective on keeping your dog happy and fulfilled. Walks are great, but they’re not the only way to meet your dog’s needs. Life can throw curveballs—bad weather, injuries, or reactive behaviours can make walks tricky or even impossible. That’s where enrichment, mental stimulation, and creative indoor activities come in!

What’s Covered in This Episode:

Why Walks Aren’t the Only Solution

Walks are wonderful for physical exercise, but they’re just one part of a bigger picture. Mental stimulation is just as vital for your dog’s overall wellbeing. We discuss how creative games, interactive activities, and meaningful bonding time can provide enrichment that goes beyond physical exertion.

Winter Wellness and Comfort for Your Dog

Winter brings unique challenges for dogs, including dry skin from central heating and stiff joints in colder weather. We share practical tips for:

Grooming for coat and skin health.

Keeping your dog active indoors with low-impact exercises.

Creating cosy spaces to help them relax during the colder months.

Managing Sensory Overload During the Festive Season

The holidays can be overwhelming for dogs with all the flashing lights, decorations, visitors, and seasonal scents. Learn how to:

Create safe spaces for your dog to retreat and relax.

Gradually introduce holiday changes to avoid overstimulation.

Use calming enrichment tools like snuffle mats and stuffed Kongs to help them feel grounded.

Activity of the Week: Muzzle Training with a Yogurt Pot

Muzzle training is a valuable skill for every dog. Using a yogurt pot or small plant pot, we guide you through a fun and simple way to introduce your dog to wearing a muzzle. This activity not only builds confidence but also lays the foundation for a freeze indication, a key skill in scent work. It’s perfect for quiet, cosy evenings on the sofa and strengthens your bond with your dog.

Wags Without Walks Membership

Need more ideas to keep your dog entertained during winter? The Wags Without Walks membership offers:

• Fun, easy-to-follow activities and monthly challenges.
• A supportive community of like-minded dog owners.
• Resources to keep your dog enriched and happy, no matter the weather.

This episode is packed with ideas to kickstart your journey toward a happier, more balanced life with your dog. Learn how to adapt your routine, create meaningful enrichment opportunities, and embrace the winter months as a chance to deepen your connection with your furry friend.

For more resources and enrichment ideas, visit LauraCarterCanines.com and follow me on social media:

• Instagram: @lauracartercanines
• Facebook: @lauracartercanines

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In this episode of How to Have a Happy Dog Without Going for a Walk, we’re focusing on indoor enrichment and creative ways to keep your dog mentally stimulated and content, especially when outdoor adventures aren’t always possible. Whether it's using puzzle toys, DIY projects, or teaching tricks, there are endless ways to enrich your dog’s life indoors.

• Using Puzzle Toys for Mental Stimulation — Puzzle toys offer engaging ways for dogs to work for treats, making them perfect for rainy or cold days when walks aren’t feasible. From treat-dispensing balls to complex slider puzzles, we explore different types of toys that cater to your dog’s skills and keep them busy.

• Snuffle Mats and Lick Mats for Calming Enrichment — Dogs love using their noses, and snuffle mats let them forage through fleece strips for hidden treats, tapping into their natural instincts. Lick mats provide soothing, repetitive licking activity, perfect for dogs prone to anxiety. Both options help slow down their eating and offer enrichment in a compact, manageable way.

• DIY Enrichment with Household Items — You don’t need fancy equipment for enrichment! Discover how simple items like toilet rolls, lettuce leaves, and towels can create fun activities. We discuss safety tips and creative ideas for budget-friendly enrichment that encourages sniffing, shredding, and problem-solving.

• Trick Training for Mental Exercise and Bonding — Trick training is more than just fun; it’s a great way to strengthen your bond, challenge your dog’s mind, and reinforce obedience. We talk about how learning tricks benefits both you and your dog, creating a meaningful routine indoors.

• Scent Games for Small Spaces — Scent games like the “freeze” and beginner scent detection are ideal for small spaces. Using objects like coins and red Kongs, we cover scent activities that teach dogs focus and patience while giving them a mental workout.

This episode is packed with practical ideas to keep your dog’s tail wagging through the colder months. Tune in to discover how to adapt your routine for winter and learn some exciting ways to enrich your dog’s life indoors!

For more enrichment ideas and training resources, visit ⁠⁠LauraCarterCanines.com⁠⁠ and connect with us on social media:

• Instagram: ⁠⁠@lauracartercanines⁠⁠
• Facebook: ⁠⁠@lauracartercanines⁠

In this episode of How to Have a Happy Dog Without Going for a Walk, we’re diving into how to keep your dog engaged and fulfilled as the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop. With a few easy adjustments, you can create a winter-friendly routine to keep your dog happy and calm, even if daily walks aren’t as practical.

Highlights:

• Adjusting routines for darker days — Tips for helping your dog adapt to new activity cues and routines, so they still feel fulfilled even when walks are limited.

• Making the most of natural light — Quick ideas to maximize any daylight you do have, whether that’s a short game in the garden or a few minutes of fresh air to boost their spirits.

• Enrichment over exercise — Why mental stimulation can be just as satisfying as physical exercise, and how to make the most of indoor activities with the TESS system: Tricks/Training, Equipment Games, Sensory Activities, and Scent Work.

• Safety essentials for dark walks — Reflective gear, buddy walking, and other key tips to keep winter walks safe and enjoyable, if you do venture out.

• Activity of the Week: Cardboard Box Treasure Hunt — A fun, easy enrichment game that lets your dog use their sniffing skills to hunt for treats and toys in old boxes. Perfect for a cosy night in!

This episode is perfect for anyone looking to keep their dog content through the colder months, with indoor enrichment and a few practical winter adjustments. Tune in to get inspired and learn how to keep those tails wagging all winter long!

For more enrichment ideas and training resources and to join Wags without Walks, visit ⁠LauraCarterCanines.com⁠ and connect with us on social media:

• Instagram: ⁠@lauracartercanines⁠
• Facebook: ⁠@lauracartercanines

In this episode of How to Have a Happy Dog Without Going for a Walk, we explore creative ways to turn your indoor space into a haven of enrichment for your dog, no matter the size of your home. From setting up cosy rest zones to organising toys and using everyday furniture as play props, this episode is packed with ideas to keep your dog happy and engaged indoors.

Highlights:

• How to create designated play and relaxation areas for mental and physical balance.
• Tips for organising toys and enrichment items to keep things fresh.
• Ideas for transforming common furniture into agility-friendly “obstacles.”
• Why cosy, sunlit spots are essential for your dog’s well-being, especially in colder months.

This episode is perfect for anyone looking to maximise indoor enrichment, whether due to limited space, bad weather, or just a busy schedule. Tune in, get inspired, and bring new energy into your time at home with your dog!

For more enrichment ideas and training resources and to join Wags without Walks, visit LauraCarterCanines.com and connect with us on social media:

• Instagram: @lauracartercanines
• Facebook: @lauracartercanines