Indoor Excersies for Dogs During Bad Weather

Bad weather can mean a variety of things: freezing temperatures, dangerously high temperatures, pouring rain, snow, etc. Whatever kind of bad weather you’re dealing with, in the end, they have the same result: your poor pup is stuck inside, getting more bored by the minute. To help alleviate some of this pent up energy, here are a few ways you can exercise not only Fido’s body but their mind as well. 

Freshen Up Those Obedience Skills 

What’s a better excuse to go over your dog’s obedience training than when you’re stuck inside with them all day. Our furry friends love to please, so strengthening some of their already known tricks (and maybe even teaching them some new ones) will keep them stimulated and happy. Plus, there are treats involved, and that’s always a good time for your canine companion. 

Try to keep these sessions short, though, (15 to 20 minutes or so) and always try to end on a positive note. You don’t want Fido to associate training with negative feelings, and following those tips can help you to avoid that. 

Doggy Puzzles 

Brain Games for your dog are highly underrated. There are a ton of doggy puzzles out there, and you may have never even thought they were an option. 

Instead of just an everyday toy that they chew or drag around, dog puzzles promote mental stimulation in your pooch. With these toys, they usually have to work their brain and solve simple problems that lead to yummy rewards (treats). These are also the perfect games for a bored pooch stuck indoors.

When looking for dog-related brain games, keep in mind your pup’s skill level and interests. Some breeds require more of a challenge than others, which will play a big part in how involved or stimulated they get by the puzzle. If something is too easy, Fido will get bored of it pretty soon. But if something is too hard, it could just cause your canine to become overly frustrated. 

Hide N’ Seek: Dog Edition 

Hide N’ Seek for dogs relies heavily on their sniffing abilities, and will consist of your pooch finding hidden treats you’ve planted around the house. Here are steps on how to get it started:

• Toss some treats onto the floor as your dog watches you; as your pup comes to eat the treat, say “go find it!” 
• After you’ve done this a few times, start placing the treat in boxes or on low shelves while your pup watches, saying “go find it” each time they go to retrieve their snack. 
• Once your furry friend seems to get the hang of it, try putting them in another room while you hide the treats.
• For the first couple of rounds, be sure to place the treats in the same places you were earlier. When you let Fido out, once again recite to them, “go find it!”
• If your pooch seems to have trouble with this, try standing next to where you placed the treats, or throw a few pieces in that direction. 

The more you practice, the better your four-legged friend will get, and soon you’ll have to hide their treats more rigorously.

Create an Indoor Obstacle Course

Even though you and your canine companion are stuck inside, it doesn’t mean you have to sit around doing nothing. You can still get some exercise in with enough creativity. You can get fancy and buy some pop-up tunnels and free-standing weave poles to place around the house. Or you can build your course by using chairs, tables, and couch cushions. 

Lousy weather doesn’t always have to mean you’ll have a bored dog on your hands. With these fun tips and tricks, both you and your pooch will be having a blast rain or shine, inside or out.