During the pandemic or when the weather is bad, you and your dog don’t have a lot of things to do. Actually, you have. Here are 7 fun indoor dog games you two can play every single day. They are simple, fun and they work with all dogs. Of course, you should try and find the game your pet likes the most.
Luckily this will be a simple task as well.
7 Fun Indoor Dog Games
Finding Hidden Treats
Dogs have one of the strongest senses of smell in the world. They have 45 times more receptors than humans, which allows them to find almost anything using this sense alone. A good thing is that you can use this for playing.
Of all the fun indoor dog games, this one has to be the most beneficial to your pet. Yes, it is easy, and all you need are a few containers.
The goal is to hide food, or better yet, treats, beneath the containers. Your dog will smell something delicious, and he will start looking for the treats.
All you need to do is sit back and relax. Keep in mind that you should reward your pet once he finds the treat, or he may refuse to play the next time.
Running On Stairs
This game is possible only for people who have stairs at home. The longer, the better. Both of you should start at the bottom of the staircase. Make sure your dog is sitting down. At the same time, give a command, and you two can race to the top.
If you are lazy and don’t like to run, only your pet can run. A good thing about this game is the fact he will use all of his energy after a couple of times. After that, he will take a nap. As such, the game is ideal for dogs who have a lot or even too much energy, and you need a way to use it.
Navigating Through Obstacles
This is a more demanding game, and it will definitely require a lot of time from you. But, it teaches your dog as much as he is having fun. When the weather is bad and you have a lot of free time, this is an ideal game.
The mission is to create an obstacle course. You can use empty boxes, chairs, and anything similar. Your dog will have to complete the course. You can use boxes to create a small tunnel so he will have to crawl, or you can use large objects and create obstacles so he will need to navigate through them.
Hide and Seek
We all know about this game. It is usually played with other children or people, but you can play it with your dog. The rules are the same. You should lure your dog into a room. Give the sit command and go and hide. When you are happy with your hiding place, call out his name.
He will try to find you. A good thing here is that all dogs like this game. The not-so good thing is that they will almost always find you thanks to their impeccable sense of smell. Try to beat him if you can.
Guess The Right Hand
This is the simplest game of them all, perfect if you like to sit and play. All you should do is place a treat in one of your hands. Sit on the couch and tell your dog to guess where the treat is. He will need some time to get used to the game and guess the right hand. If your pet doesn’t know how to play this game, try to teach him.
Once again, we can see the advantage of the powerful sense of smell. In most cases, your pet will guess right simply because he can smell the treat. Yes, you can try to mask the smell, but some dogs simply won’t play the game then.
Anyway, there are a lot of possibilities with this game, and there are no complicated rules. All dogs love to play games where they can get a treat or two.
Tag and Treat
For this game, you will need a partner. As a matter of fact, a couple of you can play the game, which makes it ideal for families. You need to remain in different parts of the room with treats in your pockets. Call the dog and give him a treat when he comes. Increase the distance between you two and repeat the process.
It is another great way you can help your pet use a lot of energy, after which he will take a nap. Just make sure not to give him too many treats. They can help him gain weight, and this is a huge issue these days.
Packing The Toys
This game isn’t complicated, but it will require a lot of time to learn. However, the game is very beneficial. You should start by allowing your pet to pick one toy he likes. Then, when he is above the container where his toys are, give the release command. The goal is that he will move a toy from one place to another and therefore clean up after himself.
As you all know by now, this is an extremely time-consuming game. You will need days or even months to teach him to play the game. But, once you are done, you will have a great dog who will place his toys in the right place and help you save time.
The Final Word
These were 7 fun indoor dog games that are also simple, appealing to play, and offer a lot of fun to you and your pet. You can play all of these right now and enjoy. Keep in mind that games are important to your dog. He will use energy, he will learn a few useful things, and he will enjoy the time he spends with you.
Alternative, you can use these 30 fun tricks to teach your dog.