Are your dogs getting cabin fever during this cold snap that has gripped everyone? My favorite dog trainer in Colorado Laura Brody just sent out a list of fun games to play with your dogs indoors.
Indoor Games Dogs Love
- Hide and Seek
- Treasure Hunt for treats on the floor
- Chase You Around the House
- Set up an obstacle course – and then run through it and let your dog chase you.. then turn around and chase him the other way.
- Muffin Tin Puzzle: Hide dog treats in a muffin tin and cover the treats with tennis balls or Kong Squeaky Balls (Dobby’s personal favorite)
- “52 Pick Up”: Toss their entire kibble meal on the floor and tell them to “get it!”
- Freeze Tag: Run with your dog and suddenly stop and say “freeze”. Then run again! Great way to teach your dog impulse control.
- Teach your pooch new words. Take two very different toys and play with the dog with the first one naming it each time. Clear the room of all toys except the two you want to teach him then repeat repeat treat! Get your bear, find your bear, let me have the bear…… get your ball, find the ball, toss the ball treat, praise, praise treat. Once you think he might know the difference put both the toys across the room and ask him to get the “bear” if he’s right go nutty buckets! Yeah.. Good Dog, Smart Dog, here’s a pat a stroke a treat. If he’s wrong.. Good Try! good boy, and try some more. Learning is hard work so never get angry if you dog doesn’t get it the first or tenth time. Maybe it’s just not their day. Only spend 10 minutes with learning something and then move on. Come back to it later or the next day.
- Hide toys or cookies under a blanket and let them “dig” them out.
- Handball: Toss a clean ball against a wall or your garage door and let your dog catch the ball on the rebound.
- Trail of Treats: Make a trail of your dog’s kibble dinner around the house and let her eat her way down the trail.
- The Wait Game…. this keeps them busy for a while and also teaches great impulse control and Dobby learned this at Laura’s class.
I put something very exciting in front of him and then with a hand out flat say and gesture “WAIT”. Then I lay items down and have him wait….. wait….. wait…… Start with just a few seconds and then with your face, your voice, and your hand tell him. GO! or OK! Lots of excitement happens then. - Need to get some work done? Try one of these food or treat-dispensing puzzle toys. These toys not only keep your dog busy but it also engages their mind in figuring out the trick to getting the treat out. If it starts to get too easy for them, hide that toy and get out a different one for a while.
These Dog Treat Puzzle Toys are Dobby Tested & Approved
This is Dobby’s absolute favorite! He will go and find the mushroom and plop it on our lap. It keeps him busy for a good half hour and it’s free entertainment for us as well.
Busy Buddy Magic Mushroom Dog Toy
PetSafe Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble Meal Dispensing Dog Toy
PetSafe Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug Meal Dispensing Dog Toy
He is getting this fun food game for Christmas this year.. ssshhhhh.. don’t tell so watch our Instagram account to see if he approves. We think he will like it because .. well there’s a ball attached so.. Lab = Ball
Of course when you take a break or get home and you have a snow-loving dog like my lab, then you’d better go out and throw some balls for them in the snow. We also turn this into scent work by throwing his toy into the deepest pile of snow we see and then telling him “FIND IT!” He always does.
These are perfect for big dogs but if you have recommendations for small dog toys please let us know in the comments below.
Want more dog training tips and class schedule for Good Family Dog? Check the website here. www.goodfamilydog.com.
