Finding time for outdoor activities and poor weather conditions are the biggest obstacles for UK dog owners.
A study conducted by Lands’ End, clothing and home décor retailer, also found that nearly two thirds of dog owners changed their dogs’ activity depending on the season – one in three keeping dogs more active in summer and one in four saying that activities depend on weather conditions.
More than a third found that lack of time for activities was the most challenging aspect of owning a dog, followed by health care and costs associated with having one, while lack of time (51%), weather conditions (21%) and lack of energy (17%) were identified as the worst challenges to spending quality time with dogs.
Blue Cross clinical compliance manager Alison Thomas said: “If you aren’t able to head outdoors on dark and cold evenings, make sure your dog feels exercised and is mentally stimulated through games inside the home.
“In colder months, short-coated breeds, like greyhounds, Dobermans and Staffordshire bull terriers struggle the most to cope with the cold so make sure your dog has some winter clothes, like a cosy doggy jumper or coat on when they go outside.”
