Inside Games to Play with Dogs

Inclement weather may stop you from taking your dog outdoors, but indoor games and activities can provide the dog with mental and physical stimulation while you wait for the sunshine to reappear. Games reduce the chance of behavioral problems that stem from pent-up energy and boredom, and indoor dog activities also give you an opportunity to work on obedience training.

  1. Food Puzzles

    • Wave a dog treat in front of your dog's nose, then hide the treat beneath one of three upside-down containers on the floor. Slide them around to mix up the order of containers. When the dog sniffs or paws a container, turn it over to reveal the treat or an empty space. Allow the dog to eat the treat after successful identification of the correct container. To address obedience skills while playing this game, command the dog to sit while you mix up the order of containers, and practice a brief command, such as "find it," to give the dog permission to choose a container.

    Fetch

    • If your dog loves to play fetch, play it indoors as well as outdoors---but clear the area of any breakable items beforehand. Toss a ball up or down a set of stairs if your dog is highly active and energetic, and repeat this each time the dog returns the ball to you. A short session of stairwell fetch expends more energy than a trot over level ground, though it's not an ideal activity for clumsy or accident-prone dogs.

    Hide and Seek

    • This activity requires two people unless the dog already follows a command to "stay." Instruct the dog to sit and stay or ask someone to keep the dog in place while you find a hiding spot. Call the dog's name one time to begin its search for you, at which point the other person would release the dog. Praise and rewards upon finding you teaches the dog to repeat the activity. The ASPCA recommends that you leave part of your body visible when hiding, as this helps the dog locate you when first learning the game, and then gradually make it more difficult for the dog to find you.

    Keep Away

    • This game suits dogs that possess a playful attitude and a grasp of basic obedience commands. Give a toy to your dog, say "keep away," and pretend you're about to steal the toy back. Stomp your feet quickly to exaggerate chasing after the dog, and reach out for the toy but just "miss" it. Repeatedly saying "keep away" lets the dog know the game is still in motion; say "okay" and "come" when the game is over. WagNTrain.com notes the importance of only playing this game on your terms, not the dog's, because you don't want the dog to play "keep away" with an item that it shouldn't have, such as your wallet. Ignore the dog if it doesn't follow your command, and walk away from the game. Try stealing the toy from the dog and letting the dog chase you for it, too.