Can you keep them entertained when indoors?
If you get cabin fever from staying inside during cold and wet winter days, then your dog most likely feels the same. “Physical and mental stimulation are very important for dogs, especially for some breeds,” as Dr. Hannah Weitzenfeld, senior manager of animal health for the BC SPCA, explained.
She also advised that if you cannot get outdoors as often as you were initially used to, there are still plenty of ways to make sure your dog gets enough exercise and playtime. Here are some of the most useful tips you can try to keep your pet entertained when confined between 4 walls!
Keep away
If you share your space with a few other people, whether it’s family members, roommates, or visiting friends, you can turn your living room into a nice, impromptu playing field for a game of “keep away.” All you actually need is a soft toy or ball, as well as an open area clear of any fragile items. The game is quite simple.
All participants toss the toy back and forth, as the dog runs between players trying to catch it. The excitement of the chase rapidly burns off energy, and the unpredictable nature of the game keeps your pup in an alert state.
Stair ball toss
If your home has stairs, then you might be sitting on the ideal indoor cardio gym for your little pup. Tossing a ball up or down the stairs could encourage your dog to climb and then descend, building his muscles and improving coordination.
It’s even more useful for high-energy breeds, such as Border Collies, Retrievers, and Terriers. Just stand at the top and toss the ball down, or do the reverse. Make sure the stairwell is carpeted or safe for fast movement in order to prevent slips.
If your dog is a senior or suffers from joint issues, you can modify the game by limiting the number of steps they need to navigate or avoiding them altogether.
For more bonding, you can even run up and down the stairs with your little doggo. You only have to be prepared for a serious workout for you!
Go fetch
Fetch is not just any outdoor game. As a matter of fact, it can be a wonderful indoor activity, especially if you have a long hallway, basement, and open-plan space. You can use a soft toy or even a ball to protect your furniture and walls.
You can start slowly, to encourage your dog to retrieve and bring the toy back. You can also reward them for returning and dropping it with a treat and praise. And here’s the great part about it: you can keep the sessions short and fun.
If you notice your dog is bored, just change toys or locations. Try using toys that bounce aimlessly or squeak to keep your dog engaged. You can also rotate toys to keep things fresh.
Chase
At times, the best games are the simplest ones. You can play “chase? Indoors, and it’s a great way to give your dog a workout and make them laugh at the same time. Let your dog chase you all over the house and reverse the roles.
You only have to make sure your flooring is adequate for safe running. This game is really great for homes where noise isn’t a problem, since there’s bound to be a bit of barking and scrambling.
This is fun in dog language. Naturally, you can add commands such as “stop,” “go,” or even “turn around” to add a training element to the whole game.
Hide and seek
Hide-and-seek is not only for the kids. It’s one of the most soul-fulfilling, mentally enriching games you can try with your dog indoors. It starts by telling your dog, “stay here,” then playfully hiding somewhere in the house.
As soon as you are ready, call their name and wait for the entertainment to begin. When they finally find you, offer them plenty of praise, pets, and even a treat. You can even increase the difficulty as your dog gets better at the game.
You can hide behind the furniture, inside your closets, or under a blanket. If you play with someone else, rotate the hiding spots and keep the dog guessing. For some cognitive boost, use their powerful sense of smell and problem-solving skills to efficiently track you down. It’s amazing for rainy-day brain work.
Obstacle course
Creating an indoor obstacle course is a wonderful way to combine physical and mental exercise. You don’t even need to have fancy equipment. The only things you really need are household items and some creativity.
You can use cushions to jump over, dining chairs with a blanket carefully thrown over for a tunnel, and broomsticks well-balanced on books for jumping hurdles, with a couple of boxes to weave around. You can walk your dog through the course the first time and use a treat to guide them.
Food puzzles
Mental stimulation can truly be as tiring, and yet important, as physical exercise. Dogs are definitely up for a challenge, especially if it involves food.
Food puzzles, treat-dispensing balls, as well as interactive toys such as Kongs with peanut butter or kibble, can definitely keep your dog quite busy for longer periods of time.
These toys will also encourage problem-solving and reward persistence. If you don’t have any kind of commercial puzzle toys on hand, you can just DIY your own with a few items like an empty plastic water bottle with a kibble inside it or a cardboard box with crumpled newspaper and some hidden treats, as well as a muffin tin with treats covered by tennis balls.
Learning new tricks
Cold days at home are ideal for improving their obedience or teaching them fun new tricks. Whether it’s just “shake,” “roll over,” and “play dead” or “put your toys away,” this kind of trick training keeps the dog’s brain sharp and deepens the bond between the two of you.
You should always use positive, reward-based training methods. Also, try to keep the sessions short, like 5 to 10 minutes at a time, and end on a high note to keep the dog motivated. You can use treats, toys, and just a lot of verbal praise to reinforce good behavior.
Extra tips for indoor dog enrichment
Dogs can get easily bored, exactly like us. Rotating toys every couple of weeks will keep things exciting, and it will also give favorites a second life. You can hide some treats around the house, letting your dog use their nose to find them.
You can start easy, then increase the difficulty as your dog gets the hang of it. When your dog needs way more calm than chaos, just give them a chew toy, a frozen Kong, as well as a calming snuffle mat with treats carefully tucked inside.
Final thoughts
It is well-known that winter can limit your time outdoors, but this doesn’t mean that it should limit your dog’s quality of life. With some creativity and a bit of time passing, your home can easily become a playground, gym, and training audio studio all in one.
If you found this article useful, we also recommend checking: Pet Distress Signs: 5 Ways to Know When a Pet Is Begging for Help
