While we all know that dogs need walking come rain or shine, there are just some days when it’s not going to happen. But rain needn’t stop play!
These vet-approved rainy day dog ideas will keep your pet mentally stimulated and stop boredom from setting in.
Why is mental stimulation important?
Dogs, like humans, require mental stimulation to stay engaged and feel fulfilled. Without this, they may show behavioural issues such as barking, chewing, and hyperexcitability. Over time, anxiety and stress can creep in.
By meaningfully interacting with your dog, you will also strengthen your bond, which is a rewarding part of pet ownership.
Rainy day dog ideas
Scavenger hunt
Dogs love using those sensitive noses to hunt out treats! Harness this by setting up a scavenger hunt. You can keep it simple by just hiding a few small treats or toys in some obvious places around the room – try not to let your dog see while you are doing this! Then use a command like ‘go seek’ and let them loose to sniff around. Praise your pet when they find an item.
You can gradually increase the difficulty of the hunt by choosing more obscure hiding places or by hiding more items. Add some extra interest by timing your pet to see just how quickly they can find everything – can they beat their record next time?
Training tricks
Indoor activities for dogs can serve a useful purpose. Why not spend the time on obedience training while you’re at home? Whether it’s the basics like ‘sit’, ‘drop it’, or ‘stay’, or something for fun like ‘roll over’ or ‘play dead’, your dog will get a good mental workout. Just remember to keep training sessions short so that they don’t lose interest. You must also remember to praise them promptly and offer a reward, to reinforce your desired behaviours.
Hide and seek
When your pet isn’t looking, slip into another room and find a hiding spot - behind the curtains, under the bed, or behind a door are all good ones! Call your pet, and when they find you, give them praise and a reward. Make your hiding spots more challenging over time. Your dog will be using all their senses to try and find you!
Puzzle feeders and interactive toys
Having a stash of interactive toys or puzzle feeders can be a lifesaver on a rainy day. Many of these toys your dog will be able to play with by themselves, which might give you a bit of downtime. A variety of toys are available, from treat dispensing balls, to snuffle mats with strips of fabric your dog must sniff through to find snacks, to more complicated designs with levers and buttons that reveal hidden compartments.
DIY puzzle games
Fun games for dogs indoors needn’t be expensive. Here are some homemade ideas –
● Get three cups and hide a treat under one of them. Mix the cups around and see if your dog can find the treat again.
● Fill a large cardboard box with scrunched up paper and bury a few treats and toys in there. Let your dog loose on the box to see if they can find their rewards.
● Roll a treat up in a towel burrito-style and see if your dog can unwrap it again.
Set up an agility or obstacle course
Inject a bit more physical activity into your dog’s day by setting up an obstacle course. You could use a broom stick, cushions, kitchen chairs, and boxes to create small jumps, tunnels, and weaves. Lead your pet around the obstacle course the first couple of times, rewarding them as they go. You can gradually increase the level of difficulty or add more obstacles.
Grooming time
Why not use the time to catch up on some grooming? Brushing your dog’s teeth, combing their fur, and clipping their nails not only helps them look good, but it’s also important for their health. If your dog doesn’t enjoy these activities, then use the time to do some desensitisation training. Keep all grooming sessions short and positive, with praise and treats.
Summary and a note on treats…
Most of our suggestions involve treats, which are a great way of incentivising your dog! But just remember that treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily diet. Too many snacks could lead to weight gain. Try to keep your treats small and only use them during games or when rewarding your pet, rather than giving them ad lib.
As an alternative, you could take some of their daily dry dog food rations to use in your games instead. These kibbles won’t affect their overall daily calorie intake.
Hopefully, our indoor activities for dogs will give you and your pet something to do the next time the weather takes a serious turn – we hope you have fun!
