Quick ‘N Easy Indoor Games for Dogs
Sometimes a regular dog walk just won’t cut it, especially if the weather is wet and clouds grey. These indoor games are also great for those with a tight schedule or who just want to mix things up!
1. Indoor Course
Instead of an outdoor obstacle course, you can set up an indoor obstacle course using some chairs, boxes and other things that you can find inside your house. You can arrange them in a way that your dog will be challenged so he has to think how to pass over them. Aside from the benefits of being agile this is also a good a mental exercise.
2. Hide and Seek
This refers to the traditional hide and seek that you have to hide and let your dog find you. You can let her wait for a couple of seconds until you find a place to hide then call her to look for you. This is a fun exercise to involve kids, too. You can take turns in hiding and calling your dog. This is a great social exercise as it lets your dog become more comfortable with other people.
3. Fetch
This is an old favourite. An exercise wherein instead of doing it outside using a Frisbee, branch of a tree or a ball, you can actually do it inside your house using a Ping-Pong ball or any soft and safe ball. A simple fetching exercise will boost your dog’s natural ability.
4. Stairs
If you have stairs in your house, make use of them as a form of play. Together with your dog, you can slowly walk down the stairs and then run going up. Make sure you do this in moderation as it can be tiring!
5. Treadmill
Have a treadmill at home? This can be a good substitute for walking outside. However, make sure that you check with your vet if your dog is healthy enough to do this exercise. You must also slow down or change the pace of treadmill depending on the capability of your dog. You should always supervise your dog whilst he is on the treadmill.
If you do not have time to take your dog for a walk or to do these exercises, you can hire a dog walker to do it for you from as little as $10 per hour.