05 Mar Our Favorite Boredom Busters for Dogs
Dogs are incredibly smart, social, and filled with lots of energy. Unfortunately, colder weather doesn’t always allow for the amount of mental and physical stimulation they need.
Do you find when temperatures drop and snow starts to fall, it’s tough to muster up enough energy to take your dog on regular walks? Or perhaps you open the door to go out, only to find it’s just too darn hot or stormy outside. Either way, your dog still needs exercise.
Time to get creative! So if you’re finding your dog spending too much time idle on the couch or waiting patiently at the window for something exciting to happen, it’s time to spice up their routine with enrichment activities. The good news is these will not only combat boredom, but they’ll also reduce problems associated with excess energy and increase your best friend’s quality of life.
To help keep you and your pup from going stir crazy indoors in frigid or wet weather, we reached out to our WHH fans and friends and asked for their favorite boredom busters for cooped-up pups. Here’s what they came up with:
Pull out the activity puzzles. Canine puzzle toys have been proven to improve brain development in dogs. Not sure where to start? Here’s a list of 18 entertaining dog puzzle toys you can try at home.
Try nosework! Hide some of their favorite treats, popcorn or toys around the house. This is a good way to teach your dog to “Find it!”
Play hide and seek. Basically another variation of nosework… tell your dog to stay, then hide yourself, and reward your dog with love and treats when they find you!
Play fetch inside. Locate your dog’s favorite toy or ball and toss it up stairs or down hallways. Or try trick shots, bouncing it off a wall into another room.
Get an ifetch or other automatic ball launcher. With a little helpful guidance at first, this amazing toy will keep your best friend entertained on their own. When your dog drops the ball into a hole in the top of the machine, the ball is automatically launched a few seconds later… allowing your happy pup to chase, collect, and return to drop it back in the hole for a repeat launch. It’s a great way to entertain and exercise your dog on a snowy or rainy day.
Go for a walk indoors while shopping. The obvious ones to shop with your pup are big box stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot. Of course don’t forget PetSmart and other pet stores. But you’d be surprised at the large number of stores that allow dogs! Get yourself and your dog some exercise walking up and down the aisles. You can even hide a treat for your pup to find. This is a constructive activity whatever the weather! And walking up and down all the isles will offer your dog a smorgasbord of smells.
Use a Bob-A-Lot puzzle toy. We’ve heard so many good things about this durable and interactive toy! It’s a great attention-getter and easily gets your dog excited as it wobbles and bobs back and forth, dispensing kibbles or small treats.
Make a homemade toy – or two – to help your dog beat boredom. Need some inspiration? Here’s a TDIF video we made that shows you how to quickly make toys from an old pair of socks and an empty water bottle!
Fill a snuffle mat with dry treats. Snuffle mats are similar to baby activity blankets…. but especially designed for pups. And in case you’re looking to make a snuffle mat of your very own, here’s a link to one of our TDIF videos that shows you how.
Try a Wobble Wag Giggle Ball. With just the nudge of a nose, off the ball goes…and your pup right behind it! This toy engages your dog’s natural curiosity and instinct to play with giggling sounds when it’s rolled or shaken, keeping your fur friend active and entertained throughout the day.
Give them a doggie massage! This is especially rewarding for all those senior pups out there. And a great way to build trust and bring you closer to your newest pup in the family.
Teach your pup some new tricks like roll over, crawl, and shake. Here’s a short video that shows you how to teach six easy tricks in one day. Some of the most rewarding and best bonding moments come from training inside with your best friend: scent games, general training, impulse control, or any new trick to add to what your dog already knows.
TIP: No matter the reason you and your dog are stuck indoors, do your best to catch him or her doing something right. Family life can be hectic and it’s easy to ignore our pups when they’re doing what they should. Yet it’s so important to reward your pups for making good choices, such as quietly playing with a toy or calmly sitting at your feet when you’re cooking in the kitchen. Rewards like playtime together, belly rubs, and treats go a long way to let our dogs know they’re doing something that makes us happy, which will make them want to continue to please you more and more.
So pick a few ideas and activities from this list and give them a try! Doing so will make your dog’s life more meaningful and bring you closer together as a family. After all, even on the worst weather days, we want our dogs to think, play and thrive!
Marlyn Carswell
Posted at 00:00h, 30 AugustThank you for the suggestions. My 4-month old chiweenie is bored to death and uses me for a chew toy. Ouch!! I think with your help we can bond and she will be engaged physically and mentally. The Snuffle Ball is first on my list!
Patti
Posted at 00:17h, 30 AugustAw congrats on your new furry family member and glad you found some inspiration in the list of ideas! The snuffle ball sounds perfect for your little nipper…. and it’s a super easy DIY to make. Hope you both have a ball with it – haha! 🙂