Enjoyable Indoor Activities for Your Dog To Keep Him Fit, Active, and Happy

Your dog is your best friend. We all love to spend quality time with our furry friends, but the question is, does your pet enjoy staying indoors? Unlike cats, dogs prefer the outdoors. They like their daily walks, games in the park, and running around the house. It keeps them happy, healthy, and active. If you keep your dog indoors most of the day, they tend to become lethargic, gain weight, and throw tantrums. Whether you stay home for bad weather or because you have a remote working style, you should take your dog out as often as you can. However, if you cannot and don’t want your dog to become lethargic, you can opt for numerous Fun Indoor Activities for Dogs.

Today, we will discuss some fantastic indoor activities you would love to try. You can be rest assured that your dog will simply love them.

• Solve puzzles with your furry friend:

If you don’t have puzzle games for your pet, it is time you make one. You can use  plastic cups, some tennis balls, and a few of your pet’s favorite treats. Now, hide his treats in some cups while the remaining ones are empty. Cover the cup with the tennis balls. Let your dog sniff the cups and find the ones with his treats in them. This is a simple game, but it can keep your pet entertained for hours. And every time they solve the puzzle, they will experience a sense of accomplishment. This game is a great way to bond with your dog. You get to show your love and care, and your pet will love all the attention he is showered with. Get ready to let your dog solve the puzzles.

• How about “finding” games?

Dogs love to sniff around and find lost items. Why don’t you put this skill of theirs to the test? Hide his favorite toy in and around the house and make your dog search for it. Initially, please choose a location inside the home that is within his reach. Once he starts enjoying the game, you hide his toys under challenging places so he takes time to locate them. Trust us, your dog is simply going to love this game. Since he is using his sniffing skills, his skills will also improve. At the same time, you are encouraging him to use his problem-solving skills. 

• Improve his basic command skills:

Obedience training is a great way to teach your dog to follow commands. Start with the basic commands like sit, come, stay, down, and leave. You will find numerous videos on YouTube using these commands. If your dog has mastered these basic commands, you can move ahead with the advanced ones. From asking your dog to fetch the tennis ball to high-fiving, numerous options exist. You need to remain patient during this period. You must use plenty of positive reinforcement and numerous treats to develop your pet’s skills. Every time your dog accomplishes the task assigned to him, remember to pet him and give him his favorite treat. With some time, your dog will pick up new skills and be ready to amaze your friends and relatives the next time they arrive at your place. 

• Build a temporary obstacle course to keep your dog entertained:

Dogs love this activity because it helps them achieve mental stimulation and eliminate their boredom. Since they stay indoors for days, their physical activity has decreased, and they are lethargic. But when you make an obstacle course at home, you keep your dog entertained for a long time. Your dog is going to jump over hurdles to reach the final destination. Every time you play this game with your dog, he will feel like he is outdoors in the park, running around, jumping, and hopping on benches. 

You can make obstacles out of your bedsheets, towels, or simply plastic bottles that your dog needs to jump and cross over to reach his destination. To keep your pet’s interest alive, you can keep his favorite food at the end of the obstacle game. This way, he knows that he has to cross every hurdle to get to his favorite food. 

• How about an indoor photoshoot with your furry friend?

Photoshoots are all the rage amongst humans. Whatever the occasion, they love to get tons of photos clicked. Why not arrange for a photo shoot with your furry friend? To make it innovative and exciting, get your dog dressed in attractive dog clothes and make him pose funnily and humorously. Why don’t you join your pet, pose funny, and get your photos clicked together? This will keep you and your pet occupied for several hours. Both of you will have a great time, and the images clicked will become memories for the future. Get some photos printed and display them across the house. 

• Instagram is all the rage, so why not create an account for your pet?

How about creating an Instagram page for your pet? Choose a catchy name for the Instagram handle and upload your pet’s photo. Start posting videos of your dog playing or his cute photos where he is wearing funny dog clothes. Every day, you need to post something. You have to engage your dog in different activities inside the house. This way, you can keep your pet busy for several hours at home daily. 

• Play tug of war to see who wins:

We understand that playing fetch inside the house is difficult. You cannot throw the item without the risk of breaking some objects in the house. But how about a game of tug of war? It is a great way to burn some energy and, at the same time, have fun and enjoy yourselves. To begin with, you need a durable tug toy specially made for dogs. You can choose rubber toys or rope toys as well. You will find all these items in stores that sell toys for dogs. Invest in a good quality one. Now, encourage your dog to pull at one end while you pull at the other. Ensure you don’t use too much strength while pulling because you don’t want to harm his teeth or jaws. The aim is to have fun. What are you waiting for? Play the game to find out how strong your dog is. 

• Arrange a dance party at home:

All you need is some good music and the willingness to dance with your pet and have fun. Select a music that you know that your dog will enjoy. How about a peppy and upbeat song so your dog can jump up and down joyfully? Dancing with your dog is a fun way to bond with him. Show him how much you love and care for him. Call over your friends who have dogs. Let all the dogs mingle and have fun of their own. 

• Read your dog his favorite bedtime stories:

Every night before you tuck your pet into bed, read some of your favorite stories to him. Your dog may not understand what you are reading, but he will appreciate that you are spending quality time with him. It is a great way to bond with your pet and show him you care. 

• Let your dog run up and down the stairs:

Please keep your pet active by giving him commands to run up and down the stairs several times daily. This will keep him active and fit since he is getting some exercise. At the end of this, give your dog his favorite treat to show him you appreciate his efforts. The next time you ask your dog to run up and down some stairs, he will know that he will be rewarded at the end. 

Summing it up:

Staying indoors for hours on end can be boring for your dog. They will look forward to the time when you will take them out. But since you are busy, they have no choice but to cuddle up in their bed and sleep. It would help if you tried enjoyable indoor activities to ensure your dog does not get bored and lazy. There may be days when you don’t like playing with your dog. No worries, but include your dog in your activities to make them feel unique and loved.

For example: When exercising or doing yoga, encourage your dog to do the same with you. Or you can bake your dog’s favorite cookies. You can encourage your dog to accompany you to the kitchen and watch you create his favorite cookies. You have to go out of your way to nurture your relationship with your dog if you want it to become stronger. 

Look for ways and means to engage your dog in different indoor activities. Trust us, it is not that difficult. You can always watch videos on YouTube regarding indoor activities for your dog. Check out these videos, and you can incorporate what is shown in those videos into your daily life. What are you waiting for? Try out these indoor activities today to see how your pet reacts.