Indoor Dog Exercise Ideas
When it’s too hot, too cold, or just plain yucky to go for a long walk, pups still need exercise. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to stimulate your dog’s mind and body indoors.
Stair recall is a great way to get your pup’s heart rate up and tire them out. Find a long hallway or room, stand at the top of the stairs, and throw a toy for your dog to run down and return to you.
Stairs
If your doggo has stairs at home, running up and down them can be a great source of exercise. This helps improve their stamina, burns calories, and strengthens their core. It’s also a fun activity that can be done with a ball or other toy to make it more entertaining for them.
On days when it’s too hot, cold, or rainy for outdoor activities, it’s important to find other ways to keep your pup entertained and active indoors. Otherwise, they may turn their attention to more destructive behaviors such as chewing on your shoes or destroying your furniture. Using stairs to play games such as fetch or tug of war is an excellent way to get them exercising and learning new behaviors while having fun!
Stairs and ramps are also great indoor dog exercise ideas for older or injured pets. For example, if your dog has difficulty jumping up onto sofas or chairs because of joint pain, surgery, or age, a pet stair or ramp can help them get around the house more easily without putting too much strain on their joints.
This set of soft, foam stairs is perfect for dogs who need a little boost getting up on their favorite spot on the couch or into bed. With a tote handle on the back, they’re easy to transport and feature a removable cover that’s machine-washable for added convenience. The steps are designed to be a little shorter than other products on the market, making them ideal for smaller dogs and puppies.
Nose Work
The nose is the primary way dogs see and understand their world. Turning this natural superpower into a fun activity can give your dog something to focus on and work on that’s not just mentally stimulating, but also physically challenging. Nose work is one of the hottest new dog sports, inspired by techniques used to train working detection dogs. It’s easy to learn, and even easier for dogs to enjoy.
The goal is to get your dog excited about using their sniffing skills to seek out a treat or toy hidden in one of several boxes. Then, as they become more confident and focused on the game, you can move on to more complex scent puzzles that involve entire rooms and outdoor environments. This is a great option for high-energy dogs that need to be busy, as well as nervous or environmentally sensitive pups.
While any dog can do nose work, it helps if your dog already has a basic sit and reliable recall command in place. They also need to be comfortable walking up and down stairs in order to participate. Problem-solving is exhausting, and dogs love it when they feel productive and useful. It’s a great alternative to amping up your dog with more exercise and toys (like fetch) on a rainy day, especially if they tend to be overly reactive and hyperactive.
Tug of War
While tug of war may seem like a simple game, it actually requires a lot of coordination and teamwork to play well. Dogs that can play tug of war with their owners or other dogs are very social and confident. It also helps them to release energy that they would otherwise use for behaviors that are undesirable, such as destructive chewing.
Tug of war is a great indoor exercise for most dogs, although some require a little training to get into the groove. It is best to teach this game using shaping, which involves reinforcing successive approximations of the behavior you want the dog to do. This way, the toy will be more likely to attract their attention, and they will learn to grab it with the proper force.
Some people worry that playing tug of war with their dog will encourage aggressive behavior or dominant behavior. However, if the games are played properly with the right rules in place, it can help to improve behavior and promote healthy self-esteem. For example, it is important to only play tug of war when your dog is calm and ready for a playful session. It is also important to only pull the toy with your hands and to never grab your dog by the throat or neck, which can be very aversive.
Fetch
Fetch is a classic indoor dog exercise. Playing multiple short games per day can keep your pup engaged, burn calories, and practice obedience commands like “drop it.” Tug toys can also be a good option for some dogs, but be careful to monitor the amount of energy exerted by each dog (tug can quickly become aggressive).
If you have access to a treadmill, teach your dog how to walk on it. Start at the lowest speed possible and gradually work your way up until your dog is walking or trotting on the machine. This is great for both the joints and the brain and will make your pup a more well-rounded athlete.
For a more traditional workout, stair recalls are a fun and effective way to get your dog moving. Stand at the top or bottom of your home’s stairs and toss a ball for your pup to chase down and return. This is a good way to tire out your pup, as it requires both a lot of muscle and a great deal of cardio.
Other fun, indoor exercises include agility courses and brain games like hide-and-seek. For agility, set up a course in your house with obstacles such as jumping over a stick or balancing a stick across two cans. You can also make a tunnel out of the bottom of a 55-gallon trash can or use a child’s toy tunnel. You can even incorporate furniture and dog beds into your course, as long as your dog has the physical and mental endurance to complete the entire exercise.
