Rainy and winter days at home with your dog don’t have to be dull and boring. There’s a ton of fun activities you can do to keep your spirits up! Besides, who says you’re only allowed to play with your dog outside?
If you’re one of the pet moms or dads who seem to have trouble keeping your fur baby busy, you’ve definitely come to the right place. We know how challenging it can be to think of such ways, which is why we’ve decided to create this post.
Bored dogs often get into trouble. Why? Well, if you give them nothing entertaining to do, they’ll look for it themselves. That’s why you see holes in your shoes or scattered trash on the floor!
Playing with them not only makes them lively and happy, but it helps ease destructive habits such as chewing or excessive barking. Plus, it allows them to exercise both physically and mentally.
With that in mind, here are seven easy ways to play with dogs indoors:
Hide-and-Seek
Does your dog love looking for stuff? If so, they’ll definitely love a game of hide-and-seek with you! Dogs are natural hunters, after all!
Command your dog to sit in a room while you go hide someplace that’s hard to find, like in a closet or behind your bathroom door. Once you’ve settled, yell out their name or a release word and wait for them to catch you.
You know what would make it even more exciting? Having more people join in the fun!
If you have kids or you have your friends over, be sure to have them tag along. Everyone’s gonna have a blast, that’s for sure.
Alternatively, you can hide treats instead of yourself. Stash them in good hiding spots: under the couch, inside a drawer, on window ledges, or behind the curtains. You might want to start easy by placing a treat or two in plain sight before hiding the rest in the areas we just mentioned.
You’ll hone their hunting skills, get them running around inside as they please, and satisfy their tummy with delicious treats! What more could they ask for?
The “Which Hand” Game
Playing with your dog while improving their scent game? Yes, please!
“Which Hand” is a simple activity where you’ll have your dog guessing which of your hands is holding the treat. Then again, it can be something else besides dog treats, like some chopped fruits and veggies. Carrots are actually excellent for scent work training, in case you’re not aware.
If they place their paw on the correct hand, open it up and give them the treat. If they choose the wrong hand, don’t let them feel discouraged. Instead, keep the game going until you run out of goodies. Who knows, your dog might turn into a master sniffer when the game ends.
