Looking for ways to exercise your dog inside?
Inclement weather sometimes makes it difficult to keep up with your dog’s daily physical activity needs. The good news is, even if you are unable to get outside, there are plenty of fun ways to exercise your dog inside. Even better, you will be more actively engaging your dog’s brain with these, so they will tire faster with the combined body and brain work. As we all know, a tired dog makes a happy owner!
Here is a list of some indoor activities to teach your dog:
- Jump through a hula hoop
- Play with a flirt pole – this can combine several obedience commands such as eye contact, sit, down, stay, get it, drop
- Nose work – hide treats or play hide and seek (your dog needs to know stay for this), snuffle mats or any treat puzzles
- Short range fetch in whatever space you have
- Agility type activities like getting on and off platforms, ramps, tunnels, etc.
- Teach a new trick – anything you find fun or cute! Targeting, high fives, army crawls, getting them to recognize a toy by name, etc.
- Work on ANY general obedience commands that your dog hasn’t yet mastered!
You can also choose to combine any of these fun ways to exercises your dog inside. Doing short bits of activity and then taking a break works well. Change it up, and remember to have fun with it!