Have you ever had one of those days where your dog is just loaded with energy, but you’re not? We have compiled a list of activities to do with your dog for those days when you’re tired, it’s rainy, you’re sick, or you simply don’t have a lot of time to explore outside.
Springtime in Wisconsin also brings rain. It’s important on rainy days to still give your dog an outlet for her energy. These are the days that mental enrichment activities come in handy. Mental enrichment is providing your dog with things to do that require her to think and problem solve. It’ll burn her energy and fulfill her needs on those days where you just can’t get her outside.
We have all heard the phrase “a tired dog is a good dog.” While that’s not necessarily true, we do believe that a tired dog is less likely to get into mischief. And getting your dog to think and problem solve is a great way to tire her out, sometimes with very little effort from you!
There are a ton of different ways to do this for your dog at home. Here are just a few you can try when you need some fun new activities to do with your dog:
Training Sessions
Practice your dog’s skills indoors. Run through the skills she already knows to help keep her sharp. You can have fun with this and add in new distractions.
Another thing you can do is teach your dog fun tricks. This Dog Trick Book has a ton of different tricks you can teach her at home with step-by-step instructions. If you don’t want to spend money on a book, there are also free resources online that walk you through how to teach her different tricks. You can check out some of our trick videos on our YouTube channel here!
Toys
Toys can provide your dog with all kinds of mental stimulation. One option is to give your dog a new toy to explore and play with on those rainy days. A great tip to save you money and keep her interested in her toys is to only provide her with a few at a time and to switch them out often. This way she is constantly getting to play with a ‘new’ toy without you having to spend tons of money. Another great option is toys that involve food. What better way to keep your dog motivated and entertained with a toy than food. Create a frozen treat for her the night before with her breakfast to provide more of a challenge for her to eat. You can find a ton of easy recipes online to follow that use things you most likely already have in your home. Invest in a treat puzzle or some fun treat toys for her to play with. I have added a few of our favorites below, but there are so many different options on the market. Kong Wobbler, Snoop, Treat dispenser.
Agility course
Invest in an at home agility course or make one with items you already have at home. Not only will this provide your dog with mental and physical stimulation, but it is also a great confidence booster. Make sure to use treats to help lure her around and through the different obstacles.
Nose work game
Grab your dog’s favorite treat and hide it for her to find. You can use boxes to hide the treat under or just hide it around your house. When you do this make sure to show her the treat first and start off with an easy spot. Slowly increase the difficulty as she gets better at finding the treat.
There are lots of ways to tire out your dog and give her an appropriate way to burn off that extra energy. You can practice her obedience, teach her new tricks, play with toys, run through agility, or do nose work games. Not only do all of these options provide great mental enrichment for your dog but some also provide physical enrichment as well. Get the entire family involved and make it a fun experience for everyone.