There are many reasons why a dog may not be able to go on multiple walks per day (injury, age, owner unwell or extreme weather conditions) and some breeds are probably happy about this, I know my dogs are! However, some breeds such as: Collies, Boxers and Golden Retrievers need an awful lot of exercise and mental stimulation for them to feel happy and be healthy. Luckily, there are ways to stimulate and tire your dog without even leaving the house. Here are 7 ways to exercise your dog’s body and mind indoors.
*Dogs should always be supervised when playing interactive games.*
7 Ways to exercise your dog indoors
1. Make a snuffle mat
This is a great way to keep both you and your dog busy during those long days stuck at home. Although you can buy them in the shops, snuffle mats are really easy to make and are great for dogs who like to sniff and dig. You can use wash mats, door mats or placemats (with holes in) as the base. Then, you need to cut some old bedsheets, tea towels or clothing into strips about 3x30cm. Thread both ends through holes next to each other on the mat then secure with a double knot. Keep doing this until all the holes are filled then sprinkle some dog biscuits on top for your dog to sniff and search for.
Start with larger biscuits until your dog gets the hang of what they are meant to do then reduce the biscuit size to challenge your dog.
2. Play hide and seek
You may need two people to play this unless your dog is consistent with the ‘stay’ command. One person stays with the dog in one room while the rest of the family go and hide around the house – making sure they have a treat with them to reward the dog when they are found.
For dogs who aren’t getting the game, you could: try calling their name to help them, hiding in more obvious places to begin with or even letting the dog watch you hide in the same room till they know what they are supposed to be doing.
3. Make a puzzle toy
For this you will need: an old tea towel, empty kitchen or loo roll and some small treats.
Simply wrap the treats in the tea towel and thread it through the kitchen roll tube, leaving a bit hanging out of the end. Your dog has to use their teeth (and their brain) to pull the tea towel out of the tube to reveal the treats. For brachycephalic dogs (dogs with flat faces) you might need to hold the tube on the floor for them to paw the tea towel out of the tube as they may not be able to grip it with their teeth.
4. Use stacking cups
You can use toddlers’ stacking cups to make another interactive dog game. Place a treat in each cup then stack them up and watch your dog enjoy knocking them over. This is an easy game for dogs who prefer not to think.
5. Make an obstacle course
The difficulty of your obstacle course will depend on your dog’s age and breed. Use furniture, toys and accessories to create a trail of things to craw under, jump over, climb through, walk around or in and out of etc. You could even add a succession of basic commands in along the way.
6. Create a scent trail
Have your dog stay in another room while you set out treats – hiding them under, in, behind or on objects/toys. Let your dog use their natural senses to sniff out the treats. Scent work is a great way for dogs to burn off excess energy.
If your dog is struggling – my Bulldogs couldn’t smell a sausage if it was an inch away from their nose – begin by letting them watch you hide the treats or you could hide them in plain sight before building up to a more difficult search.
7. Brain training
This is another great interactive game you can make yourself and it is a great way for you to bond with your furry friend.
Get a muffin tray, put some treats in each hole and sit some small toys/tennis balls on top to cover the holes. Encourage your dog to pick the toys/balls off the top to reach the reward underneath. You will need to teach your dog how to do this; not all dogs will pick this up straight away. Brachycephalic dogs may prefer to headbutt the toys/balls off if they can’t grasp them in their mouths.
