Indoor Dog Enrichment Activities: 10 Easy Ways to Keep Your Dog Entertained this Winter

Are you and your dog starting to feel the strain of being cooped up together as it gets more unpleasant to be outside? My dogs and I can totally relate. Here are some easy indoor activities that have helped me and my dogs (and clients and their dogs) stay sane during the winter months.

1. New Toys

   Don't worry, you won't need to give your dog fifty new toys a week. Though your dog would certainly be thrilled to get one new toy every week, that's not necessary either. Even 2 to 3 new toys a month can be fun and exciting for your dog and break up the monotony of old toys. One of my favorite hacks is to wash and rotate toys to make them last longer. Simply washing old toys can reignite interest in them. To put your dog's toys on a rotation, simply store half of their clean toys while they enjoy the other half. Once they seem to lose interest in the current lot, pull out the stored toys, wash the current ones and store them for the next rotation.
   

2. New Foods

   Trying new foods can be fun for you and your dog! You might consider splurging once in a while to get your dog those weird freeze dried treats or meal toppers that you've been curious about (apparently freeze dried cheese is a thing? And my dogs absolutely loved it!), but as with toys, costly isn't necessary here.

   Simply offering your dog a piece of your banana or a lick of your homemade tahini dressing can be fun. You could even set up a food preference test to see what they love, what they like, and what they don't like. By offering your dog new foods regularly, over time your dog may come to like things you never expected a dog to like. You might even find yourself sharing a dog-safe meal with them!

   Click here to view and download a food preference test how-to.
   

   

3. Training

   Teaching your dog a new cue, skill, or trick can be a great way to mentally engage your dog and build your communication. Some fun party tricks include "high five," "roll over," or "play dead." If you and your dog are more practical types, you might teach them to open a cabinet door or pick up their toys.

   If you don't know what to teach your dog, you can build on what you and your dog already do well. You can practice known cues and skills with new distractions, in new places, link things together, require longer durations, or try giving the cue from a larger distance.
   

4. Play Together

   Some recent research suggests that our dogs love us more than just about anything. Play can be a great way for us to connect with our dogs on the deepest levels. Fun games include tug, fetch, chase, and play with a flirt pole. Some dogs even find it fun to roll around on the ground while you tickle, rub, or playfully pat them. Be sure to keep your dog's play style and physical limitations in mind. Some dogs find some forms of play to be scary or stressful, and some play may be physically painful for some dogs.
   

5. Chews

   Chewing is a natural doggie behavior that many dogs enjoy. It can be incredibly relaxing and stress-relieving for dogs. Giving our dogs appropriate outlets for this behavior can go a long way in keeping our dogs happy, our homes and furniture intact, and therefore us happy as well. I have found that many dogs prefer natural chews to manmade materials when it comes to chewing. Antlers, olive wood, bully sticks, dense cheese sticks, and leather toys all seem to be favorites over nylon, rubber, or plastic chews.

   
   

   

6. Opportunities to Lick

   Like chewing, licking is another natural dog behavior that encourages relaxation. Lick mats come in all shapes and sizes and are usually made from silicone, though hard plastic and stainless steel options exist for those super chewers out there. Kong rubber toys and Woof Pupsicles are also great options for providing dogs with interactive snacks. Slow feeders and lick bowls (like the ones made by WestPaw) are excellent for feeding meals or portions of meals.
   

7. Sniffing for Food

   Sniffing is another natural dog behavior, and perhaps one of the most universal of dog behaviors. While some dogs like to lick, and other like to chew, all dogs possess incredible noses through which they experience much of the world. One of the simplest ways to employ a dog's sense of smell is to encourage them to use it to find food. You can utilize snuffle mats, towels, or you can simply scatter feed. Getting your dog to work a little harder for their food or snacks will expend more of their energy, meaning you'll have to entertain them less.
   

8. Nose Work

   This one is similar to sniffing for food, but it differs in two main ways. First, this activity is done with you instead of independently on their own. Second, this activity more adequately activates their seeking instincts. With snuffle mats and scatter feeding, they already know generally where the food is, they just have to sniff out the individual pieces. With nose work, dogs have to work a bit harder to find the food.

   Here's how it works. You'll first gather 3 Tupperware containers or cardboard boxes. You'll also need some treats or food, and likely your dog's collar or harness and leash. You may find this game easier to play with two people. With your dog out of reach, but within sight of you, place the containers or boxes on the floor in an open area of your home. With your dog's attention, place one treat in one of the boxes so your dog can see where it was placed. Allow your dog to come get the treat (either walking on leash with your assistant or given their release cue). Repeat this 2-3 more times. Next, take your dog out of the room, or out of sight of the boxes. Again, place one treat in one box. Allow your dog to come find it. Don't point or otherwise clue your dog in to where the treat is. Over time you'll be able to build up the difficulty by increasing the number of boxes and the area in which you're playing this game. Remember to keep sessions short and fun. Most dogs should be able to do 5 to 8 rounds and 3 sets with breaks of 3 to 5 minutes in between sets. Watch for your dog's stress signals and signs of becoming burnt out or overwhelmed.

   
   

   

9. ACE Free Work

   This activity was developed by Sara Fisher. I like to think of it as a low-level obstacle course and scavenger hunt. All you do is place a number of items and activities in an open area of your home and allow your dog to freely investigate. Some fun things to include in your ACE sessions are snuffle mats, lick mats, toys, balls, chews, puzzle feeders, treats in boxes with packing paper, and elevated surfaces. Always have water available for your dog when doing this activity, and do 2-3 rounds to engage your dog without overworking their brains.

10. Agility Courses

    Low level agility courses can be super fun for your dog - and you! There's no need to buy a fancy agility set, and you don't need a ton of space to get started. There are a bunch of common household items you can use. Here are some examples:

    
    

    - Make a small jump by using two chairs and a broom

    - Have your dog "weave" through canned goods or rolls of paper towels

    - If you allow your dog on furniture, having them get on and off a couch or bed could be a fun part of the course

    - Cardboard boxes can be used as short tunnels

    - Stools or ottomans can be used as platforms

    
    

    What other creative ideas can you come up with?

    
    

Winter months in Albuquerque can be tough – it’s cold, it gets dark early, and sometimes it snows. I hope this list of indoor activities helps you and your dog avoid cabin fever this winter and enjoy more peaceful time together. If you found this article helpful, be sure to share it with friends and family who may also find it helpful! For more general enrichment ideas, check out this blog post.