Keeping your dog entertained and stimulated, especially while indoors, can sometimes prove to be a challenge. Dogs are meant to go outside, to play and run around in the fresh air. However, sometimes this unfortunately isn’t always possible. Thankfully, there are still ways to keep your dog entertained indoors!
Below I have listed ten ways to keep your dog stimulated and happy indoors for those times when you maybe can’t go outside. I hope you find these tips and tricks both useful and fun for both you and your pup!
1. Teach your dog a new trick!
Teaching your dog tricks has so many benefits, especially for their mental growth! Depending on how old your dog is and how trained they are, they may already know many tricks—or, if they’re younger and less trained, perhaps they know hardly any at all. Search up some new tricks to teach your dog and then get to work (and of course, have fun!)! And of course, make sure to reward them with some treats.
2. Whip up some dog treats.
Although this is something that may keep you more entertained than your pup, your dog will be super grateful for the yummy treats that you make for them! You can also play games with your dog and then reward them with the treats that you make.
There are so many delicious dog treats out there that are also super healthy and nutritious for your pup. One treat I love to make is Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats that I found on the blog Damn Delicious! This yummy treat only requires four ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your house!
3. Play the shell game.
One game that is amazing for mental stimulation for your pup is the shell game, and it is super easy to set up! Grab three cups and then place a treat under one of the three cups. Have your dog watch while you shuffle the cups around on the floor. Then, have your dog try to figure out which cup is hiding the treat underneath!
4. Buy your dog a new toy!
Is your dog getting bored of their old toys? The awesome thing about this day and age is that it is super easy to just buy a dog toy on Amazon and have it directly delivered to your home in just a couple of days! Check out my blog post all about my top ten favorite dog toys on Amazon—that are all under $15!
5. Play a game of fetch.
Fetch is an absolute classic, and more importantly, it is great for your dog’s physical wellbeing. If you have a bigger dog or live in a cramped place, you may want to skip this game, but if you can, try pushing some of your furniture aside to make some room and play a game of fetch with your pup! Your dog will be so grateful for the physical activity and just the chance to play a game with you!
6. Get a stuffed Kong.
I’ve mentioned before in previous blog posts about how much I love Kongs, and a huge reason I love them so much is because they’re a great boredom buster! I personally love filling my Kong with peanut butter, but you can fill them with any sorts of treats or dog food that your dog likes! Your dog trying to get the snack out of the Kong both entertains them and rewards them with a yummy treat.
7. Play tug-of-war!
Another classic game that dogs never grow tired of is tug-of-war! Tug-of-war is also a great game for your dog because it gives them a dose of much-needed physical activity while also boosting their strength and teaching them what is acceptable play behavior and what is not.
8. Make an obstacle course!
You may have to get a little creative with this one, but making an obstacle course for your dog can be really fun! Use blankets, pillows, or whatever else you have laying around to make an indoor dog obstacle course to keep your pup both mentally stimulated and focused. If your dog is able to get through the course, make sure you reward them with a treat!
9. Brush up on impulse control commands and doggie manners.
Every dog could always work on their impulse control commands and general manners. Brush up on the basics, like “sit,” “stay,” and “wait” and see how good your dog is at these fundamental commands. You can even move on to harder ones if you want!
But what is impulse control, and how can you teach it to your dog? Here is an article all about pup self-control and how important it is!
10. Snuggle up on the couch.
After playing all of these games and keeping your dog stimulated, both you and your pup may be feeling a little tired—so what’s better than just chilling on the couch and snuggling? Also, relaxing and snuggling up with your pup helps form a better bond between you and your dog.
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