Simple Ways to Keep Your Dog Busy Indoors. Simple Ways to Keep Your Dog Busy Indoors. January 1. 8, 2. 01. By Jen Gabbard. 39 Comments. Looking for some easy ways to keep your dog busy? ![]()
Keeping your dog entertained can be a challenge. And trying to come up with ideas on how to keep your dog busy can be more exhausting than actually getting up and doing it. The Benefits of Keeping Your Dog Busy. Bored dogs get into trouble. We’re their main source of entertainment, so if we’re not giving them stuff to do they’ll come up with activities of their own – and that’s when we end up with chewed up shoes and curtains. By playing with your dog a few times a day you can decrease the likelihood of them developing destructive habits such as excessive barking or chewing. There is a growing acceptance among scientists that play is very, very important and the type and frequency of play are a really good indicator of a dog’s quality of life. ![]() You don't have to live diminished and crippled by anxiety. You can be free of worry. Here's how to calm your anxious mind. ![]() So if you’re looking for some indoor games to play with your dog you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a list of 3. Play Find The Treats With Your Dog. Nose work games are one of the easiest ways to tire out your dog. When you teach your dog some basic nose work games such as . Give your dog the cue to “find the treats” and encourage your dog to pick them up, remembering to praise them every time they find one. After your confident that your dog understands what “find the treats” means you can making it a bit more challenging. Have them stay in another room as you hide the treats, and start hiding them in spots they have to sniff out such as under a rug. Play the the Shell Game With Your Dog. The shell game is a simple problem solving game for dogs. To play the shell game with your dog let your dog watch as you place a treat under one of three cups. You then shuffle the cups around and encourage them to . Looking for some easy ways to keep your dog busy? Keeping your dog entertained can be a challenge. And trying to come up with ideas on how to keep your dog busy can.Teach Your Dog to Clean Up His Toys. If your dog’s toys are kept in a container you can teach them to put their toys away. I know it sounds weird to teach your dog to clean up after themselves, but it’s actually a lot of fun. Teaching your dog new skills boosts their confidence, and it’s a great way to give them more mental stimulation. If your dog already knows “drop it” have them pick up a toy and give them their drop it command once they’re standing over the container. Praise them like crazy, then rinse and repeat. Eventually with consistency you’ll have a dog that will be able to clean up after himself. Use a Stuffed Kong to Keep Your Dog Busy. Kongs are my favorite toy for dog boredom. If you want to keep your dog busy for awhile try stuffing a Kong. You can freeze some peanut butter or broth inside, or just put some treats in there and give your dog something to work for. If you’re not sure what to use here’s a list of 3. Kong stuffing. Using a stuffed Kong is a great way to keep your dog busy while you’re at work. Put your stuffed Kong in the freezer overnight and give it to your dog in the morning as you’re leaving. A frozen Kong will last 3. I love using classic Kong’s because they’re nontoxic, indestructible, and dishwasher safe. If you’re looking for a great Kong alternative that’s just as durable check out the West Paw Zogoflex toy; their smaller size makes them perfect if you’re watching your dogs weight. Stuffing a Kong is an easy way to keep your dog busy & entertained. Play a Game of Tug of War With Your Dog. Playing a game of tug of war is one of the best ways to engage in meaningful play with our dogs. It’s a great way to mentally and physically exercise your dog. And since it doesn’t require a ton of room you can play it indoors. And contrary to what some people say playing tug will not make your dog aggressive, and letting them win will not make them dominant. Letting your dog win just makes the game more fun for your dog, and it will encourage them to play more. Dogs that play tug with their owners have been found to be more obedient and have higher confidence. Tug is a great way to exercise your dog as long as you have your dog follow a the basic rules of tug such as . Teach Your Dog to Help With Chores. Dogs love having a job to do, even if it’s something as simple as fetching you your slippers. You can make them feel even more useful by teaching them the names of some items you wouldn’t mind having retrieved. If you want to impress all of your friends teach your dog to fetch you something from the fridge. When teaching your dog to open the fridge tie a towel around the handle so it’s easy for them to pull open the door. And if you’re feeling like a superstar you can teach your dog to help out with daily chores. Play Interactive Games With Your Dog. To keep my dog busy on rainy days I love using interactive games such as tug, find the treats, puzzle games and fetch. Interactive games are an easy way to give your dog plenty of mental stimulation, and they can help cut down on problem behaviors such as excessive chewing or barking. But take it from me; if you’re going to play fetch indoors use a lightweight ball to avoid breaking all of the things. It’s also a pretty good workout. Minute for minute it’s one of the more physically demanding games we play. Make Your Dog Work for His Food. We give our dogs a nice comfy life – they get a warm bed, lots of attention, and their meals for free. But our dogs were bred to work alongside us, many of our dogs are missing out on some mentally stimulating activities. One of the easiest ways to challenge their minds is to make them work for their meals. You can make your dog perform some tricks before he gets his dinner, or you can have them eat from a food dispensing toy. Teach Your Dog The Names of Their Toys. Have you seen Chaser the Border Collie? She knows over 1,0. We can’t all be overachievers like Chaser, but we can teach our dogs the names of their toys. Start by playing with one specific toy and giving it a name while you do. After some practice & praise your dog will assign that verbal name with the chosen toy . Once your dog has learned that specific toys name you can test their skills by seeing if they can pick it out among their other toys. Dogs have the ability to learn hundreds of words. Start teaching your dog the names of his toys and play a game of . Teach Your Dog to “Go Find” Their Toys. Once your dog knows the names of some of their toys teach them the “go find it” game. Have your dogs toys in a pile or container and tell them to “go find” their favorite toy. As your dog gets better at this game you can make it more challenging by increasing the number of toys they have have to sift through. Keep it fun for them by rewarding them handsomely with a treat or quick game of tug when they succeed. This game will give your dog a great mental workout. Teach Your Dog a New Trick. Does your dog know how to weave through your legs and jump through a hoop? There’s always a new trick you can teach your dog. And teaching your dog how to weave through your legs is a lot easier than it sounds. Here’s a list of 5. Once your dog knows a bunch of tricks you can step it up a notch and combine their learned behaviors into new tricks. Teaching your dog a fun new trick like weaving through your legs. Work With Your Dog on Some Clicker Training. If you don’t have a clicker I’d recommend picking one up next time you’re at the pet store. When training a dog every second matters; it’s so easy to miss the chance to communicate with our dogs the instant they do the behavior you desire. When you use a clicker you can mark the exact moment your dog made the right choice. Play The Which Hand Game With Your Dog. If you’ve been thinking about teaching your dog some scent work games this is a great game to get you started. The only thing you’ll need is some dog treats, and if don’t any on hand you can use some chopped up fruits & veggies or make your own homemade dog treats. How to Play the Which Hand Game: Place a treat in one of your hands. Close your fists and hold them out in front of your dog. Let the dog choose which hand it’s in. When your dog sniffs or paws the correct hand open it up and give them the treat. If he chooses incorrectly don’t discourage him, it takes a few tries to catch on. A gentle “touch” command will be helpful. Tip: Chopped up carrots make excellent treats for scent work games and training. They’re low in calories, easy to prepare, and (most) dogs absolutely love them. Play Hide and Seek With Your Dog. Playing a game of hide and seek is by far one of Laika’s favorite games. If your dog doesn’t have a good stay command down you can ask a friend to help by having them distract your dog as you go and hide. Get Some Puzzle Toys For Your Dog. Keep you dog mentally stimulated by giving them a puzzle to solve. There are a ton of dog puzzle toys available, as well as treat dispensing toys like the Kong Wobbler. There’s also a ton of great DIY toys out there you can make. I love the simple muffin tin game – if you have a muffin tin and some tennis balls you’re ready to play. If you want to give your dog something to chew on for awhile we love Best Bully Sticks and Benebones. Just be sure to opt for odor free bully sticks if you’re sensitive to smells. Master the Basics of Obedience Training. Does your dog know all of the basic obedience commands? Does he have a reliable recall and stay? Even well trained dogs need a refresher course now and then to keep them sharp. All dogs should have a reliable sit, down, stay, drop it, and come here. You can keep your dog interested in his toys by engaging in a game of tug or fetch. Play a Game of Fetch With Your Dog. Most of us do have some extra room indoors for a simple game of fetch, but if you live on the 5th floor with a St. Bernard you should probably skip this game. Hallways, stairways, and big living rooms are popular choices. My dog and I love playing soccer in the basement with her Jolly ball. Be careful with heavy toys around anything that’s fragile or able to be tipped over, and it’s probably not a good idea to play fetch inside the kitchen.
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