by Claire Anderson
The weather feels more and more unpredictable these days, no matter where you live! This article was inspired by the massive amounts of rain California has been getting lately, but inclement weather happens everywhere. Sometimes the weather simply doesn’t allow you to exercise your dog as much as you (and they!) would like. Torrential rain, tornadoes, earthquakes, snowstorms, rainstorms; whatever it is, we’ve got you covered with indoor boredom busters!
1. Use trash (literally!) for enrichment
You’re already recycling, right? Good for you! You can use recyclables as DIY puzzle toys for your dog, an indoor activity that will both enrich and preoccupy them.
My own dog London loves tearing up cardboard boxes and will even forget about the treats inside because he loves the activity itself so much.
Here are some ideas you can do:
Cardboard boxes: put a treat inside it, fold it up, and let your dog go crazy.
Plastic bottles: drop a couple of treats inside a plastic bottle.
Empty paper towel rolls: put a couple of treats inside the roll, fold up the ends, and hand it over!
Egg cartons: put a couple of treats in an egg carton and close it. Let your dog figure it out.
Old towels: lay it flat, throw some treats in the middle, then roll it up into a pretzel. Your pup will do the rest.
2. Nose/sniffing games for your dog
You don’t need a scenthound to have fun with nose games! I’ve seen some bulldogs knock it out of the park, and enjoy every second. You can start out with easy games and work up to some really complicated stuff if your dog enjoys it.
Shell Game: Grab three cups, put a treat under one, and ask your dog ‘which one?’. When they sniff the right one, praise, and lift the cup and let them have their sweet reward. When they are confidently finding it, start moving the cups around before asking “which one?”
Which Hand? Put both hands behind your back, and put a treat in one hand. Offer both closed fists to your pup and ask them ‘which one?’.
Find-It: This is a great game to get your dog using their nose and brain to search for something, which provides mental and physical stimulation and strengthens their independence.
For beginners, toss a treat on the ground just a few feet away and say “find it!” Repeat. Once your dog gets the concept, here’s how you advance it: ask your dog to sit or lay down and then ask them to stay. Place the treat or smelly toy somewhere only slightly hidden (like just around the corner where they can see you). Release them from their stay as you say ‘Find it!’, and allow them to search for the treat or toy until they find it. Slowly increase the difficulty of the hiding spot and soon you’ll use your entire house/apartment for this game!
If your dog gives up and sits next to you for longer than 30-45 seconds, you can help them by standing closer to the treat or toy.
Advanced Scent Games: You can take nose work all the way to a professional level if your dog enjoys it! To get started, Fenzi Dog Sports Academy has online courses!
3. Practice those training behaviors!
You can freshen up on some known behaviors, or you can teach your dog something brand new! Use a treat pouch filled with some small, yummy treats and have an idea of what you want to train. Stay positive and keep training light, without pressure. Remember, it isn’t important to get perfect behavior in one session, the goal is to have fun and work together.
I love taking an existing known behavior and adding to it. For example, if your dog is really good at laying down on cue, add laying on their side, or resting their chin! Give lots of breaks and celebrate small wins!
4. Create an obstacle course
You’ve heard of agility and puppy parkour, I’m sure. Well, you can absolutely play these games in your living room. Start small, with one step stool to climb. When your dog is confident with that, you can add a broom propped up on chairs and teach them to go over or under it. Make a tunnel with pillows, chairs, and sheets. Make weave poles out of household objects or make an easy ramp out of an ironing board. This can be so fun and enriching for both you and your dog!
5. Play hide and seek
Hide and seek can be played with dogs just like it is played with kiddos! Instead of counting, ask your dog to sit and stay while you go hide. When you are hidden, call out your release word and your recall cue! When they find you, it’s playtime! Make it super rewarding. If your dog doesn’t yet have a strong “stay” cue, that’s okay: one member of the family can hold them or have them behind a barrier and when you’re hidden, then they can release the hound!
6. Use puzzle toys
We are lucky to be living during a time when so many advancements in the dog toy industry are being made! Most pet supply stores carry at least a few puzzle toys and of course, you can buy pretty much anything you want online! Our favorites are from Nina Ottossen. There are difficulty levels, so you can find what is right for your dog. (I recommend buying the most advanced puzzles. You can start easy and add difficulty.) It is important to rotate these!
7. Gnawing on long-lasting chews
Chewing and licking are great for enrichment and decompression. Always use appropriate sizes and hardness for your own dog. Check with your vet if you are unsure what is safe or appropriate for your dog. Some great options are raw bones, yak chews, collagen sticks, bully sticks, and tracheas.
You can also fill all your rubber toys with yummy stuff and freeze them. We love Westpaw, Kong, and Lickimat toys. I like to fill them with mixes of their food, peanut butter, yogurt, pumpkin, veggies, meat, and potatoes.
8. Play
Play with your dog. Play with your dog. One more time, for the people in the back: PLAY WITH YOUR DOG! The only requirements here are:
You have to be silly.
It has to be consensual.
Maybe play looks like dance for you and your dog. Maybe it’s rolling around on the floor like hooligans. Maybe toys are a necessary component. Maybe it involves lots of running or no running at all. Be silly, pretend you are five years old. Use silly voices. Pretend. Use your imagination. Reconnect with your inner child and your dog at the same time. I promise, just a bit of play every day will enhance your relationship with your dog and keep you both busy!