Tag: indoor activities

Rainy Day Activities for Dogs

Posted on March 21, 2024 - 12:50 pm by
A black dog looking out a window while it’s raining outside.

It’s raining, it’s pouring, Max and Luna aren’t snoring — they wanna have some fun! While some dogs enjoy spending rainy days curled up on the couch with their favorite soft toy, there are plenty of other dogs who are bouncing off the walls (literally) ready to play on a rainy day. The good news is there are lots of fun activities that both you and your dog can enjoy.

How to Entertain Your Dog on Rainy Days

If you’re wondering what to do with dogs on a rainy day, wonder no more. We’ve listed some exciting indoor activities for dogs to do when they’re stuck inside — but rainy days don’t have to mean that you can’t go outside at all. Going to pup-friendly indoor places gets you out of the house while still staying dry. You could grab a bite to eat at a pet-friendly cafe or schedule a playdate with your pup’s BFF (best furry friend). We’ve also listed some outdoor ideas for active dogs who love playing in the rain and aren’t afraid to get a little (or very) wet or muddy.

Indoor Games for Dogs (and You!)

As well as keeping your furry friend entertained, indoor games provide your dog with mental and physical stimulation, which can help them stay out of trouble. To keep your dog active, you can build them an indoor agility course out of random objects you have around your house (e.g., cardboard boxes, brooms, hoops, pillows). An indoor obstacle course is a great game to get your dog’s brain going as they try to navigate through the course. If they love doing agility exercises, you could also build a backyard agility course for when the weather’s nice.

Until they get the hang of it, you may need to lead your dog through the indoor agility course with a few treats or their favorite toy from the toy box. Or you could do the obstacle course while your dog watches to show them how it’s done! You’re entertained and so is your dog — it’s a win-win!

Indoor fetch (with something soft) will get your dog moving, too. Just make sure you’re playing in an area that won’t damage your house (or your dog) if things get a little wild. Chasing bubbles is another great way to keep your dog active indoors. Just make sure they’re dog-safe before you blow bubbles for your dog to chase and wonder, “I had it in my mouth! Where did that sneaky bubble go?”

Puzzle Toys Are a Fun Game

Hiding treats or toys in puzzle games can entertain your dog, and they’re mentally stimulating, too. You can even make your own puzzle by hiding a treat in a muffin tin with tennis balls on top. Your dog will have to use their nose (and brain) to sniff out the treat from underneath the tennis balls.

For your average canine, puzzle toys that only require one step to be completed to dispense the treat or toy may be good enough. But if you have a brainiac who needs more of a challenge, you can try a puzzle toy that requires two steps to be activated before they’re rewarded. If you haven’t used a puzzle toy before, check out these tips on introducing your dog to food puzzles.

Tug of War Is Always a Favorite

Whether they’re playing against their pet parent or another dog, most dogs love a game of good old tug of war. It’s a fun way to release pent-up energy, and it’s both physically and mentally tiring. Just remember that you should always be in control of tug of war games — deciding when to stop or start the game — but you should also let your dog win and allow them to celebrate their “prize” to satisfy their prey urges.

Create a Scavenger Hunt or Play Hide and Seek

Does your dog enjoy finding things? Try creating a scavenger hunt or playing hide-and-seek. They’re basically the same game — in one your dog is trying to find yummy treats or toys and in the other they’re finding you! You may have to teach your dog what they’re supposed to do, but dogs who love tracking down interesting scents (or you) will soon catch on.

Outdoor Rainy Day Dog Activities

If you have an active dog who is an outdoor-loving ball of energy, you don’t have to try to contain that energy indoors. Why not hike a trail or find some muddy puddles to jump in? Yes, both of you may get wet and dirty, but that’s part of the fun! Of course, we don’t recommend going outside in inclement weather, especially if there’s lightning or if it’s freezing cold, but if it’s just a simple rain shower, why not?

If you’d rather not get sooo wet and muddy, you could both put on some rain gear to help keep you dry. Yes, there are raincoats for dogs! Part of your rainy adventure could be going to the pet store to buy your dog a raincoat and then testing it out.

How to Get Those Muddy Paws Clean

If your dog goes outside on a rainy day, even if it’s just to go potty, it’s highly likely that you’re going to be met at the door by muddy or wet paws. And if your dog enjoyed a good mud-rolling session, you might be having trouble telling what color your dog’s coat used to be. How do you get your dog clean before they decide to redecorate the inside of your home in an earthy brown color?

First, get the bulk of the mud off with some old towels. If it’s just on their paws, you could use dog wipes or baby wipes. If you see more mud than dog and have a place in your home where you can keep a muddy dog temporarily, one of the best ways to remove mud from your dog’s fur is to let it dry. Dry mud is easier and less messy to comb or brush out — or your dog may shake off the dry dirt themselves.

Sometimes the mud mess calls for a bath. You can try giving your dog an at-home grooming session. Or you can save the bathroom cleanup and take your dog to a self-service dog wash — stopping by on your way home from your outdoor rainy day adventure would be a good idea!

Rainy Days Don’t Have to Be Boring!

Next time it’s pouring rain and your dog’s staring forlornly out the window, try some of these activities. It’ll help both of you stay entertained and keep away those rainy day blues.

Fun Indoor Activities for Dogs

Posted on February 22, 2024 - 2:50 pm by
A dog playing with a toy on the floor.

Frigid winter weather. Torrential spring rain. Blazing summer days. Severe fall storms. No matter the season, there are going to be times throughout the year when your outdoor-loving dog is stuck indoors. After longingly staring out the window for a while, your canine companion is probably going to get bored. And that’s not good because a bored dog can quickly become a naughty dog. Especially if they’re a young pup or you’re not home.

So how can you keep your dog entertained indoors on the days that they can’t go outdoors? With plenty of physical and mental stimulation. In the sections below, we’ve listed some fun things to do with your dog at home, as well as some ways to mentally stimulate your dog — and keep boredom away.

Why Do Dogs Need Mental Stimulation?

Dogs need physical exercise to stay healthy and at an ideal weight, but they also need to exercise their brain. Indoor entertainment can be a great opportunity to give their brain a workout and can also help with separation anxiety.

Dog Treats Aren’t the Only Rewards You Can Use

Before we get into the indoor activities, a quick word about treats. A lot of brain games and indoor activities require a reward. If you regularly use dog treats as the reward, it may cause your dog to pack on the pounds. So instead of giving your dog the whole treat, break it into smaller pieces. They’ll still be rewarded but they won’t be consuming as many extra calories. Remember that treats should provide no more than 10 percent of your dog’s daily calories.

You could also use low-calorie treats. Healthy snack choices for dogs include carrots, celery, bananas and blueberries, along with many more fruits and vegetables. Freezing treats is also an option. Puree fruits and vegetables and freeze them inside your dog’s toys and puzzles. But don’t feed too many fruits and veggies because it could upset their digestive system. And you don’t want that to happen while you’re indoors!

Another food to use as a reward is your dog’s kibble. Measure out their daily kibble ration and then use some of it in a treat dispensing toy. That way they’re not consuming extra calories on top of their recommended daily calorie intake. Make them work for their dinner!

Indoor Games for Dogs

If you have a long hallway, a basement or stairs, indoor fetch with a soft toy or ball is a fun activity to play. Keep in mind that playing on carpet will give your dog better traction and stop them sliding everywhere. And make sure you don’t play near any breakable family heirlooms!

Another option is to use household items to build your own canine obstacle or agility course in your living room, basement or even the whole house. For example, make a hurdle with a broomstick, use cardboard boxes and blankets to make tunnels, and put plastic cups three feet apart to make a slalom course. You may have to teach your dog how to do the course at first and use plenty of positive reinforcement, but they’ll soon get the hang of it. If they really enjoy the obstacle course, you could try competitive agility. Guiding your dog through agility courses gets you exercising, too!

Toys and Food Puzzles Keep Dogs Entertained

Puzzle toys help with mental stimulation and they keep your dog busy for a while. In this situation “a while” depends on your dog’s problem-solving skills — it might be hours for some dogs and minutes for others. If your dog is on the smarter end of the scale, there are food dispensing toys and puzzles that require two steps to be completed before they dispense the treat.

Speaking of toys, make sure you’re rotating them every week or so. It’s boring playing with the same toys all of the time, so switch it up for them. You should also look for toys that your dog doesn’t play with. There’s no point having them in the rotation if they’re never used, so replace them with new versions of your dog’s favorite toys. That way they’ve always got a few toys available that they love to play with.

Stimulate Your Dog’s Sense of Smell

A scavenger hunt with treats or toys can give your dog’s nose a workout and is a great way to keep a working dog entertained. Keep your dog out of sight and hide treats (smelly ones work best) or their favorite toys around the room. Put a couple in plain sight and point them out so your dog understands the game. Once they get the idea, encourage them to look for hidden goodies. Make sure you mix up the hiding places each time because smart dogs will always go to where they previously found the treasure.

Fun Games for Both You and Your Dog

Hide-and-seek is a great indoor game to play if multiple family members are home but can also be played with just the two of you. Ask your dog to “stay” and have everyone hide in places around your home that your dog can easily get to. If your dog isn’t great at “stay,” have one person stay with your dog in a different room while everyone else hides. Once everyone is in place, call your dog to find you.

Chase the red dot is another favorite game. It’s not just cats who love to chase the red dot — most dogs love to chase the laser all over the house, too. You could even combine it with the obstacle course.

Brush Up on Your Dog’s Obedience Training

A short training session each day can help keep your dog’s mind active. Dog training indoors is often easier because your dog is typically less distracted than when you do training sessions outdoors. You can have your dog practice their basic obedience commands or you could teach your dog some new tricks.

Physical Exercise Is a Good Idea, Too

Exercising your dog indoors can also relieve boredom and burn off some pent-up energy. Try doing a few quick laps of your house or apartment while your dog walks beside you. If you have them, stairs are a great cardio workout for both of you and they engage different muscles than walking. However, you shouldn’t exercise on the stairs if your dog has joint or balance issues.

You could also invite a furry friend over for a playdate. It’s good for socialization and gives your dog plenty of opportunities to exercise in a fun way.

Now You Know How to Entertain Your Dog Indoors

Playing games with your dog or giving them a puzzle toy is a great way to keep your dog active in winter, entertained in the summer when it’s too hot to play outside, and mentally stimulated during all of the other times that you’re stuck indoors. It will help stop you from getting antsy, too!