Entertaining Your Dog Inside
Whether it’s the pandemic, cold weather, or other issues keeping us and our pets indoors, it’s important that dogs get their exercise, both physically and mentally. If you can’t go outside, you might need to get creative. Try some of the following suggestions, and you might even find a hidden skill of your furry companion!
Hide-and-seek
Begin by having your dog sit and stay as you hide. This is also good for reinforcing those basic commands that he might not have had to use in awhile. After you have hidden and your dog has stayed put, go ahead and call them to find you. This also works with children hiding, as it can wear them out too!
Scent Work
If you’ve never done this with your dog before, start by hiding treats for your dog to find. A simple way is to offer 2 boxes, a treat in only one of them. The reward is simple enough – they get the treat in the box. You can increase the difficulty as your dog improves. Flip the box over to make it more difficult to open. Add more boxes. Place the box out of initial sight, then hidden altogether. Get creative and challenge your dog’s mind!
Use Old T-shirts
Old t-shirts can be cut into strips and then braided, knotted, or tied in a way that your dog might play with. If your dog doesn’t seem interested, weave some treats in for him to find. You can also turn these into snuffle mats, where treats can be hidden.
Stuff Kongs
Kongs make specific treats for their toys, but you can also use smaller dog treats, peanut butter, canned pumpkin, and Greek yogurt. One way to prolong their meals is to stuff the food in the Kong and seal it with peanut butter.
Improve Obedience
When your dog has basic obedience down, you have many options for moving forward. There are intermediate and advanced classes at most training facilities. If you can’t seem to find an incentive to work on more advanced training, take a look at the Canine Good Citizen program for adult dogs or AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy for pups.
Indoor Swimming
Swimming doesn’t have to be limited to a summertime activity, especially if your dog lives for the water or has joint pain that doesn’t allow for more traditional exercise. Some dog daycares have indoor pools and some public pools made for humans offer dog days in the off-season. Dock diving is a dog sport that has indoor facilities nationwide. If your dog also enjoys retrieving, this could be the sport for him!
Agility
If you’re looking for focused exercise and an increased bond between you and your dog, agility is a great option to try. Breed doesn’t matter in this sport and can include tunnels, jumps, A-frames, weave, poles, see-saws, and more! If you’re looking to participate in events, classes are divided by jump height so don’t worry about competing against a Great Dane if you have a Corgi.
Keeping your dog stimulated both mentally and physically in these unprecedented times is very important. Whether you’re looking to keep them active during your busy day or exercise with them, there are many options. Find what your dog enjoys and excels at and keep it going! Constantly challenge and increase the difficulty of your dog’s exercise to avoid boredom.