7 Things to Do With Dogs Indoors

Practice Training

Anytime is a good time to run through training sessions, but if you are stuck indoors it's the perfect opportunity to work on basic commands or even more advanced ones that don't take up a lot of space. Even if your dog knows the commands well, a training session is still exciting and fun for your dog.

If you want to step it up a bit, work on teaching fun tricks, like balancing a treat on the nose or rolling over. You may even be able to help your dog to learn the names of his toys, then send him to get them. The possibilities are endless.

Play Tug-of-War

You only need a little bit of open space to play a game of tug-of-war indoors. This activity can provide some exercise to both you and your dog, especially if you both really get into it.

Before playing tug-of-war indoors, make sure there are no dangerous or breakable items in the vicinity. Allow several feet of open space around the play area. Make sure that your dog has been trained to understand a release command. Now you're all set to enjoy a fun game of tug with your dog. 

Set up a Treat Hunt

Here's a game that allows your dog to do two of his favorite things: sniffing and eating. To set up the treat hunt, first, make sure your dog is out of sight (in a separate room or in his crate). Gather some great-smelling treats that you know your dog loves. Hide the treats strategically around the house in places your dog can find them. Make sure these are places that are safe for your dog to access and not likely to become damaged. Try putting treats behind doors, next to furniture, under pillows, or in corners of the rooms. You can also hide treats under boxes, paper cups, or even your dog's toys.

Once it's all set up, let your dog out. He may immediately smell the hidden treats and start searching. It's more likely that you will need to guide him to the res where the treats are and encourage him to search. This makes it a fun activity for both of you.

Try Indoor Fetch

Who says fetch is only an outdoor game? Many dogs love to play fetch. While your dog won't be able to run across a field, you can still give him a little exercise. Indoor fetch works best in a long hallway or on stairs. It's safer on carpeting or another grippy surface so your dog does not slip or slide. Make sure to clear away fragile or dangerous items first. Then, find a ball that is soft enough to toss indoors and go for it!

Enjoy Interactive Games and Toys

Interactive toys are excellent for sharpening your pet's mind while also rewarding him. These toys usually involve hidden treats in an object. It requires some skill to get to the food, so your dog needs to figure out how the toy works to get to the goodies.

Products like Kong toys and Everlasting Treat Balls can be stuffed with treats or soft food. With both of these, your dog will need to lick, chew and even throw the toy to get the food out. Also, Nina Ottosson Games like the Dog Tornado are unique puzzle games that contain compartments for food. Your dog must explore the toy to find the treats. Interactive toys can provide hours of entertainment for your dog.

Do Some Basic Grooming

Dog grooming is one of your dog's basic needs and an important part of dog ownership. In order to make grooming a positive experience, ease your dog into it and offer plenty of rewards. Some dogs really enjoy certain aspects of grooming, especially being brushed.

If your dog is a shedder, then some basic grooming with a tool like the FURminator can really help cut down on the excess hair in your home. When done in a gentle manner, grooming ​can be a soothing and enjoyable bonding experience for you and your dog.

Watch Movies For Dogs

Yes, that's right. There are movies and TV programs designed especially for dogs. Dogs do not quite see television the way we do, but there are some dogs that seem to recognize the movement on the screen and become very excited. Some dogs will not respond at all to images on the screen. However, the sounds coming from the TV can be heard by most dogs and might interest your dog. It might be worth a try to see if your dog enjoys watching.