When winter weather moves in, it might not be tempting to exercise your dog for long periods of time outdoors. Those endless games of fetch in the park can get pretty chilly! It’s still important for dogs to get out for regular walks. But on bad weather days (when there’s a big storm or extremely cold temperatures) you can keep the walks short and try these indoor activities for your dog instead.
Lack of exercise can make some dogs get into all kinds of mischief or even cause anxiety, so it’s a good idea to make sure your dog isn’t bored or full of pent-up energy. Here are some indoor enrichment games you can play with your dog. Some exercise their bodies and others stimulate their brains. Thinking hard can tire out your dog just as much as playing hard!
Tug-of-War
It’s easy to play tug with your dog indoors using a favourite toy or an old rolled-up towel. It may not seem like your dog is doing much, but pulling back with their full body weight is good exercise for your dog’s legs and core. If you have a dog who likes to jump, hold up a toy just out of reach and they’ll do some “plyometrics” (it’s the latest buzzword in exercise, meaning power work) as they jump in the air to grab it.
Hide and Seek
First, ask your dog to stay where they are. Head to another part of the house, away from where your dog is, and then call them to come to you. Start by just standing in another room. Then, gradually increase the difficulty by hiding behind doors or furniture. If your dog can’t find you, give a short whistle after a couple of minutes to provide an extra clue. Give your dog lots of praise or a treat when they find you. Many dogs get excited when they “win” this game by finding their human. It’s part of the same instinct that makes dogs so great at search and rescue jobs. That’s why this is one of the best indoor activities for your dog.
Stair Fetch
If your home has stairs, you can create an intense cardio workout by playing fetch at the bottom of the stairs. Throw a ball or toy up to the top of the stairs so your dog must run up to get it, then run back down to return it to you. If you’ve ever done any stair climbing yourself, you know how quickly it raises your heart rate! When your dog starts getting tired, play fetch on a flat surface to return their heart rate to normal gradually before they stop completely. Dogs need to cool down just like humans after a workout! This game is not recommended for toy breeds or short-legged dogs because they could be injured by repeatedly running up and down the stairs. For small dogs, throwing a toy or ball across the room or down the hall should provide enough exercise without the stairs.
Seek the Treats
Hiding some of your dog’s favourite treats around the house can get them using their nose, which is very stimulating for a dog’s brain. Compared with humans, dogs use 40 times more of their brain capacity for smell than we do. You can start off easily by “hiding” the treats in plain sight the first time you play. As your dog gets better at this game, make the hiding places less obvious and farther apart. Just make sure you don’t hide treats in parts of the house with dangerous goods (like household cleaners or paint) or places you have trained your dog not to go.
Snuffle Time
Snuffle mats have become very popular items for dogs. Usually they are made from felt pieces attached to a backing. The dog has to poke their nose around the pieces to find treats or pieces of kibble that you’ve hidden. If you don’t want to buy a special mat, you can wrap the treats in the folds of a blanket or towel. You can even use some old clothing that you don’t wear any more. Roll the treats into the towel or blanket to begin with. as your dog gets better at finding the treats, make the folds and twists more complicated. It’s best to use older towels or blankets, or ones that you use specifically for the dog, because your dog might try to bite their way through to the treat!
For commercially made snuffle mats and enrichment toys, we encourage you to visit Inspiration Included. They support PAWS and have a variety of pet supplies in their online shop.
You can find more indoor activities for your dog using homemade toys at the Go Pet Friendly website, the ASPCA website, and the Humane Society website.
NOTE: Never leave your dog unattended with enrichment toys. These are meant to be used with a human constantly supervising. Unsupervised dogs may tear, chew, and swallow things
