Indoor Boredom Busters for Your Dog
Due to the extreme weather conditions and smokey air quality in the British Columbia interior this summer, it’s not always recommended for people or their four-legged companions to spend excessive amounts of time outdoors. So, what do we do with our K9 friends if we can’t take them outdoors to burn off their energy? The following 5 indoor activities are a simple way to keep boredom at bay. It’s essential to keeping our canine buddies mentally stimulated or they will come up with their own ways to pass the time.
“Dogs are social animals and they really enjoy being with us. Play is good for your dog physically, mentally, and emotionally. Your dog gets exercise, they get to work their brain and it helps to build your bond. Everybody benefits from play.” – The Power of Play: How Play Opened Up a New World For My Fearful Dog
Here are the top ten recommended indoor activities for your dog:
1. Find the Treats!
Nose work games are an easy and effective way to give your dog the mental stimulation they need, as well as helping them hone in on some of their natural skills.
All you need to do is grab some treats that your dogs love. Have your dog watch as you place the treats around your home. Give your dog the cue to “find the treats” and encourage your dog to pick them up. Remember to praise your dog every time they pick one up. Once you are confident that your dog understands what “find the treats” means you can make this game more challenging. Have them in another room as you hide the treats, and gradually start hiding them in more complicated spots. The dogs will then have to work at sniffing out the treats making them feel more mentally stimulated.
2. Play a game of Hide-and-Seek!
This is great, ESPECIALLY if you have children and a dog. You can get the whole family involved. You may not think that this game seems all that complex or entertaining, but a lot of dogs get a real kick out of this family-orientated game. If your dog does not have a good “stay” command, get another member of the family to distract your dog while you go and hide. Start with an easy spot at first, and then gradually make your hiding sports more difficult. Once you
are in your chosen hiding spot, call your dog and wait until he finds you. Once your dog has found you, ensure that you engage with them and give them a treat and a lot of praise. This game creates a strong bond with your dog and also helps support a strong recall for your dog.
3. Doggy Puzzles:
Keep your dog mentally stimulated by giving them a puzzle to solve. Dog puzzles are proven to prevent and alleviate
dog anxiety, provide much-needed exercise, and also alleviate boredom. They’re also extremely fun and entertaining for your dog.
4. Play the Shell Game:
This game is a simple yet effective problem-solving game for your dog. To play this game, allow your dog to watch as you place a treat under one of three cups. You then shuffle the cups around and encourage them to “find the treat”. This helps your dog work on their problem-solving skills and also gives them plenty of mental stimulation.
5. Master the Basics of Obedience:
This is a great time to bond with your pet by teaching or reinforcing their basic obedience commands. Even the most well-trained dogs need a refresher course now and again. A solid basic obedience foundation for your dog is essential. Dogs should be reliable in their sit, down, stay, drop it, and recall. Training sessions only need to last 5 – 10 minutes, especially after your dog starts being familiar with commands. Youtube is a great resource when looking for basic obedience dog training videos. This is a great way to keep your dog mentally stimulated and solidify a strong bond between you and your dog.
