The weather is bad and we can’t go outside. But, that’s not the end of the world. There are many games we can play indoors with our dogs or let them entertain themselves for a couple of hours. It doesn’t matter the size or the breed of your dog, there is something for every dog. Whether it’s a tug of war or puzzle games for dogs, it’s important to keep a dog mentally and physically stimulated even when it’s pouring outside. We’re doing it for fun, but remember that dogs learn best by doing something entertaining. You can use this time to teach your dog a trick or two.

Games For You And Your Dog

We recommend these types of games. They will be fun for you and your dog and a perfect way to bond even more. You’re all stuck at home, so let’s use that time in the best way possible—playing games!

Find The Treat

Dogs use their sense of smell to navigate the world. They use it to sniff and meet new dogs, “read” the news from the latest marking spots and find food. There are dog breeds specifically bred to help hunters find big and small game, but every dog has a highly developed sense of smell. This means they’ll all love the game, especially if it ends with a treat.

The treat doesn’t have to be something you bought at the pet shop. It can be a piece of fruit safe for dogs to eat. Just remember some fruits can make a lot of mess and stain the furniture. Also, don’t give too many fruit snacks to your dog because it can upset their stomach.

How to do it: Let the dog sniff the treat. Tell your dog to sit and not move. Hide the treat so that a dog can’t see where you put it. Tell your dog to find it. You can hide the treat under the cloth to make it more fun and challenging. This best works with treats that have a strong smell but don’t worry if you can’t smell the treat. Dogs have from 10.000 to 100.000 times stronger sense of smell than people. They can smell it.

Tug Of War

This is a good game for all those high-energy dogs, such as Basenji or Weimaraner. They need their daily exercise but today we can’t take them outside. So, a good game of tug of war is perfect. We talked about rope toys as a recommended toy for dogs. Just be careful not to play with damaged toys. A dog can tear and swallow a part of a damaged toy which can cause pain and discomfort in any part of their digestive tract or they can choke on it. So, safety first!

Find A Toy

This game is similar to finding a treat, but this time you use a toy for your dog to find. It’s best to use one of your dog’s favorite toys because they already know the smell of the toy very well. And they will be more eager to find it than something they are not usually playing with.

Some even teach their dogs the names of their toys, and play the game by saying the toy’s name. For example, if the toy’s name is Peppa, you say “Find Peppa!” after you hide the toy. 

How to do it: If a dog doesn’t know the name of the toy, let him sniff the toy first and then hide it so that the dog doesn’t see you do it. Then issue a command “Find” or “Search”, or any other command you taught your dog to look for something. Reward the dog when he finds the toy. You can use a dog treat as a reward.

Games For Dogs To Play Alone

You can just let the dog play alone or you can combine some of these games with the ones we already mentioned. Doing both will definitely make your dog’s day. These games require so-called interactive dog toys. But, the name is a bit misleading. These games occupy the dog’s mind because they are yummy, squeaky, or smell nice.

Slow Feeders

If you have one of the slow-feeder dog bowls, you can use it to make your dog slow down while eating and make it fun for him. These bowls are specially designed to keep a dog from eating too fast, which can come in handy if you don’t have a lot of time to play with your dog that day. Even if the dog is not a fast eater, use this bowl to keep the dog entertained while eating. 

Puzzle 

A puzzle toy is a great way to keep your dog entertained. There are various puzzle toys you can use. Outward Hound store has many toys from beginner to advanced level puzzles for even the smartest dogs out there. You can see the examples in the pictures below. 

How to do it: Fill the toy with kibble or a treat (fruits are also a good idea) and let your dog work out the problem on its own. They’ll need to use their muzzle, paws, and tongue to solve the puzzle and move the pieces to get to the food. It’s a great way to keep your dog mentally stimulated, which is as equally important as keeping them physically fit.

Squeaky Toys

This is a common toy you can buy anywhere. Just make sure to throw away damaged squeaky toys because a dog might get to the squeaky part inside and eat it or choke on it. If you have an aggressive chewer, it’s best to supervise the dog while it plays with a squeaky toy. But, for all other dogs with normal chewing habits, a squeaky toy is a great mental and physical stimulation. It keeps the dog entertained and it helps them with their daily need for physical exercise. 

Kong

And in the end, a very good choice for a rainy day at home is a Kong toy. This is a “treat” toy because you fill it with your dog’s favorite treat. It can also be filled with a treat and put in a freezer for a couple of hours. A frozen Kong toy with a treat inside is a great and delicious way to keep your dog entertained and to keep it cool during hot days.

If your dog likes watermelon, put the pieces inside and freeze it. This is a great snack for summer days and your dog will love it. 

Summary 

These are just some examples of games we can play with the dog or a dog can play alone. But, you know your dog the best. If there is something that makes your dog excited, use the time to play that game while indoors. 

Depending on the space, you can even play fetch. But, use rubber balls or plush toys to avoid breaking anything around the home. You can play chase with your dog. Whatever suits you and your dog, as long as it’s safe, it’s a good way to pass the time while you’re all stuck inside because of the bad weather.

And remember, even if you aren’t stuck inside, these games are a great way to mentally stimulate your dog every day and to give him extra physical exercise if you have a high-energy dog.

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