With smokey air and closed trails (or for some of us, small hotel rooms), we may need some indoor activities for our dogs. While it might take more work than letting your pup run around in the woods, these indoor activities will help tire them out and keep them from getting in trouble.
Box of Fun
This game is easy to set up and fun for dogs of all sizes and ages. You start with an empty cardboard box. Ideally it is a large, low box. If you don’t have a box, you can also use a larger plastic container, a small plastic kiddie pool, or just create a designated area with raised edges using scrap wood, etc.
Once you have your box, fill it with dog safe items! I use old ripped up toys or fabric, brown packing paper, ripped cardboard, and more. Once there is a bunch of “stuff” in your box, add the fun! You can either add some fun treats by sprinkling them randomly around the box, hide a bone, or hide your dog's favorite toy! If your dog has a toy they LOVE, show it to them, toss it in the “box of fun” and let them find it.
Obstacle Course Recalls
This game is perfect for getting your dog moving, and also improving your dogs recall! The recall is the “comes when called” cue. For this game, you want your dog to have some practice coming when called already. This game will be easier with two people, but also works if your dog knows how to “stay”.
To start, gather some items you can use as obstacles. I like to build tunnels by putting two dining room chairs close together and draping a towel over them to make a closed in tunnel, old PVC or scrap wood, orange cones, etc to create jumps, cavalettis, etc.
Next, find an area where you have a longish stretch of space. I like using hallways. Take your items, and set up an obstacle course! If your dog has never done an obstacle course before, start with only ONE obstacle, and over the course of a few days add more obstacles.
One person will take high value treats to the far end of the course, while the other person holds the dog. The person with the treats will then call the dog to come! When your dog gets to you, give them LOTS of treats!
Food Puzzle Toys
All of my clients have heard me talk about this. Food puzzle toys are a great way to use your dogs meals. There are a variety of food toys you can purchase for both kibble and soft food. Using these toys allows your dog to work for their meals, use their brains, and tires them out a little bit. I like to use the West Paw Toppl for soft food, and the Kong Wobbler for kibbles when getting started.
If your dog is not experiences with food toys, you may need to help them out to start. For the Toppl, you can hold it and encourage your dog to lick and chew it. For the Kong Wobbler, you can fill it and then set it on the floor. Sprinkle some kibble around the edges of the food toy. Anytime the dog moves towards the toy and investigates it, discreetly sprinkle some more kibbles so the dog learns that interacting with the toy makes food come out.
What other indoor actives have you found for your dog? Share them in the comments!
