How to Keep Your Dog Entertained Indoors
By chibitail. This guide is general information, not veterinary advice.
Some days a long walk is not possible: storms, heat, a sore paw, or a work day that runs late. Dogs left with nothing to do find their own entertainment, and it often involves shoes. The good news is that mental work tires a dog as much as physical exercise, and most of it fits in a small flat.
1. Let them sniff
Sniffing is hard work for a dog's brain. Hide a few pieces of kibble around one room while your dog waits in another, then say "find it". Start easy, in plain sight, and make it harder as your dog learns the game.
2. Scatter or puzzle feeding
Instead of a bowl, scatter part of a meal on a towel and fold it loosely, or use a puzzle feeder or snuffle mat. A meal that takes ten minutes to find instead of thirty seconds to eat is enrichment you do every day anyway.
3. Five-minute training sessions
Teach something new: touch your hand with their nose, spin, go to a mat, wait at the door. Two or three five-minute sessions a day are better than one long one. Keep treats small and end while your dog still wants more.
4. Hide and seek
Ask your dog to wait, hide behind a door or curtain, then call once. When they find you, celebrate. It practises recall and burns energy in a hallway.
5. Tug, with rules
Tug is a great indoor game if it has a start and an end. Invite your dog to play, let them win sometimes, and teach "drop it" with a treat swap. Stop if teeth touch skin.
6. The name game
Teach your dog the names of two toys. Put both on the floor and ask for one. When they bring the right one, reward. Some dogs learn dozens of names.
7. Stairs and obstacles (for healthy adult dogs)
Walk up and down the stairs together a few times, or build a small course from cushions and a broom handle on two books. Keep jumps low, and skip this for puppies and older dogs with joint problems.
8. Something to chew
Chewing calms many dogs. Offer a safe chew suited to your dog's size, and supervise. Take away anything small enough to swallow or that is breaking into pieces.
9. A toy that moves on its own
Some dogs love a toy that runs away. Self-moving balls such as our Rolling Chew Ball or the oval Wobble Rugby Ball roll and change direction by themselves, which can keep a dog busy while you cook or answer emails nearby. Watch the first sessions, put the toy away afterwards so it stays special, and remember that no toy is chew-proof.
10. Rotate the toy box
Dogs get bored of toys they see every day. Keep most of them in a cupboard and bring out three or four at a time. Swap them every few days and old toys feel new again.
Do not forget rest
Adult dogs sleep a lot, often more than half the day. An overtired dog can be as unsettled as a bored one. After a play session, give your dog a quiet spot and let them settle.
When indoor games are not enough
If your dog is destructive, barks all day or cannot settle even after exercise and play, talk to your vet or a qualified trainer. Boredom is one cause, but anxiety, pain or not enough sleep can look the same.
