Exercise and play
Should exercise change with the seasons?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Yes. Summer heat often means shorter, earlier or later walks and more indoor games to avoid midday sun, while winter cold, ice, and shorter daylight hours can call for coats, paw checks, and more indoor enrichment to make up for cut short outdoor sessions.
Adjusting for heat
In warmer months, moving walks to early morning or after sunset, shortening midday activity, and testing pavement temperature with the back of a hand before walking all reduce heat related risk, particularly for flat faced or heavy coated breeds.
Adjusting for cold and ice
Shorter but more frequent walks, paw balm or boots on salted or icy pavements, and a coat for short coated or senior dogs can keep winter exercise safe without cutting activity to nothing during the darker months.
Filling the gap indoors
When weather genuinely limits outdoor time, indoor games, puzzle feeders, and training sessions can maintain a dog's overall activity level without asking it to be outside in conditions that are not safe.
Key takeaways
- Summer calls for cooler timing and shorter sessions, especially for heat sensitive breeds.
- Winter calls for paw protection and awareness of ice, salt, and shorter daylight.
- Indoor enrichment can offset outdoor time lost to extreme weather in either direction.