A: Dogs and cats tend to have the same problems people encounter in the winter -- it is cold and wet outside and nobody wants to go out there. We tend to see a lot of weight gain, destructive boredom, and more fighting with house mates. Here are a few tips to try to make the winter seem shorter and reduce the cabin fever for everyone:

For dogs, indoor winter time is a great time to work on basic obedience and training. You do not need much space, and mental work can tire a dog out as much as physical work. If you can set aside a small amount of time each day for training, you and your dog will get some mental exercise. That can help pass the time until you both find it more pleasant to be outside again.

Another good activity for dogs is to use a toy that allows you to hide food inside. This gives your dog something to work on and is a good mental and physical game. Depending on how you hide the treat inside you can provide minutes to hours of work and entertainment.

For cats, Ohio State's veterinary school has a good Web site on indoor cat activities. See www.vet.ohio-state.edu/indoorcat.htm.

Cats are easier to exercise in a limited space than dogs. One of the basics of indoor cat life is regular play with a toy. Most cats will chase anything that moves -- feathers on a string, laser pointers, small mice. Just make sure you put toys away if kitty might eat them.

Other tricks you can use for cats are hiding meals in different places, making cats go up or down stairs for food and throwing individual pieces of food for exercise.