Best indoor activities for dogs. A guide by the owner of 4 dogs.

When you have more than one dog you quickly learn that all of them need space, but all of them also need stimulation. Whether it’s on a weekend, during the long days of summer, or on busy days at work, it’s not always easy to get our dogs enough exercise.

And as much as we might think it’s okay to leave them to their own devices a bit, a dog with too much excess energy can quickly become a right decision, whether it be due to chewing, annoying us with constant barking, or just being utter manics.

I am the most lucky mom as I get to be the mom to 4 dogs! We have the most perfect balanced and calm household, and the only way to keep everyone content and exhausted is with the most fun activity inside the house!

Yes you read that right, everyone loves to live with each other peacefully and the only way to keep them all entertained, engaged and most of all exercised is with plenty of indoor dogs games and activities! Remember as with anything in life balance is key, and all of my dogs require lots of physical and mental stimulation to make sure that they are not crazy or overreacting.

Tug of war, Tricky Treat Ball, Interactive Puzzle Toys, Sensory Play, Hide and Seek, Long Walks, Playtime with Feely Mates, Learning a New Command with Treats, Calm Games, are some of the best indoor activities for a dog. Read more to learn more about how to play these games.

1. Tug-of-War Games

Tug of War is probably one of the simplest and most effective dog games you can play with your dog indoors. This game will help to burn off energy and serve to enhance your bond with your dog, whilst also satisfying the natural tendency for pulling and mouthing, which are instinctual actions.

Use a suitable rope toy and let him pull and you can provide the necessary resistance. This can be a very enjoyable game as long as you control the situation. To make it beneficial:

1. Teach a “drop” or “release” command
2. End the game while your dog still wants more
3. Reward calm behavior after the game

Continue this exercise until the dog is tired to a extent but still wants more. This activity is particularly good for the medium and large breeds with high energy levels.

2. Indoor Fetch (Hallway Fetch)

Even indoors, fetch can still work surprisingly well. If you have access to a hallway, living room or open space you can work on tossing a soft ball or toy for your dog to catch and retrieve. Although it’s not long distance, short distance fetch can work the muscles and burn up energy quickly if done in a row. The are some of the tips for safe indoor fetch:

1. Use soft toys or rubber balls
2. Avoid slippery floors
3. Keep throws short and controlled

Even a 10 to 15 minute period of playing a game of indoor fetch can make a huge difference.

3. Hide and Seek

Dogs love to use their sense of smell and their brains. Hide and seek turns your house into a game. There are two ways to play:

a. Hide the owner:

Teach your dog to remain seated and you can go and hide somewhere. The dog will try to find you! Ask your dog to hide somewhere in the house, calling them to come and find you! Great way to exercise their nose and give them a fun challenge. Start by you hiding to make them be stimulated by low stimulation activity as well.

b. Hide treats or toys:

Place treats around the house and let your dog search. This activity activates their natural scent-tracking instincts and provides excellent mental stimulation.

4. Puzzle Toys and Food Games

Mental stimulation can tire a dog even faster than physical exercise. Puzzle toys force dogs to think about how to access food or treats. These toys challenge their problem-solving abilities and keep them occupied for long periods. Some simple ideas could be as follows:

1. Treat-dispensing balls
2. Snuffle mats
3. DIY puzzles using cups or boxes

Mental activities are especially useful for highly intelligent breeds like Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, and Labradors.

5. Basic Training Sessions

Indoor time is the perfect opportunity to reinforce training. Short sessions help to concentrate, learn and mentally exhaust a dog. Training sessions should be short, ideally 5–10 minutes long, as a longer period of time is not as effective. You can practice commands like:

1. Sit
2. Stay
3. Down
4. Place
5. Recall
6. Leave it

Training is important to build communication between you and your dog, and also to keep your dog’s brain active.

6. Stair Exercise

Did you know that you can use your stairs in the house as an area to do a little indoor workout?

Throw a toy up the stairs and ask him to get it. Climbing up and down the stairs is great for building strength and burning calories. It engages the muscles in the dogs legs, hips, and lower back. However, this kind of activity should be avoided for:

1. Puppies with developing joints
2. Older dogs with mobility issues

For healthy adult dogs, it can be an effective indoor exercise, and you wont also get tired because you're not climbing up and down the stairs during this time.

7. Long-Lasting Chews

Chewing is one of the most natural calming behaviors for dogs.

Dog's teeth need grinding down and there is no better way to achieve this than through chewing. Chewing releases endorphins which are calming to the animal and long lasting chews help to keep them occupied and prevent boredom.

Natural chews of the highest quality will keep your dog occupied for hours on end. They are fantastic for the health and condition of your dog’s teeth.

This is one of the simplest ways to manage indoor energy levels. You can find different kind of chews in the market, from flavored chews to organic non flavoured chews like Yak Chews.

8. Indoor Obstacle Course

Did you know that you can make an obstacle course for kids (dogs) using items you already have at home?

Yes, you can! I found these great ideas to repurpose chairs, books and steps. Obstacle courses are a great way to get kids to exercise. Because dogs can be quite stubborn, it’s easier to make exercising fun for them than to ask them to do boring sit ups and the like.

Doing fun exercises outside can also help kids to have more fresh air and Vitamin D. But who wants to go to the park when you can do these kind of exercises like:

1. Chairs for weaving
2. Pillows for jumping over
3. Tables for crawling under
4. Blankets for tunnels

Guide your dog through the course using treats or toys. This is quite a brain and body workout and as such one of the best indoor games.

9. Relaxation Training

It is also very useful to utilize some of the dog’s house time in order to calm them down.
Place the bed or mat in the location of your choice and start by rewarding your dog for calmly lying down on it. Over time the area will become comfortable for your dog to lie down. 

This is especially helpful for dogs that struggle with hyperactivity.

Final Thoughts

Many people feel that an “indoor activity” is not even an exercise or activity preferred by dogs. But, A good activity needs to have all aspects of a dog’s being: physical and cognitive. An active mind and body dog is a happier and healthier dog.

A dog that is not stimulated is almost bound to be bored, ill tempered and mischievous. We have already covered calmness and contentment as features of a stimulated dog and we can now add: A stimulated dog is a happy dog.

Making your home stimulating and structurally appropriate for your dog is possible. Achieving the right balance of stimulation and structure can ensure your dog is content and happy indoors.