Quarantined? Here are Five Ways To Exercise Your Dog Indoors

By Melissa Kauffman

There's a reason we call dogs man's best friend. But that friendship is a two-way street. There are so many benefits of having a dog as a pet, yet there’s always the consideration of the responsibilities that come with that pet. There’s a time and effort that goes into training them, along with generally taking care of both their physical and mental health. 

Regular checkups are a necessity, but when it comes to the mental health of your dog, it's up to you! If you and your pup are both quarantined or spending more time inside than usual, here are five fun ways to exercise and entertain your dog.

Playing and engaging in games with your dog earns their trust

Most people who are dog lovers understand the importance of bonding with their pet. Did you know dogs are prone to overeating and being depressed if they don’t have a strong bond with their humans? While there are numerous strategies to help you earn their trust, there really isn’t a better way than through games. Following are some ideas for enjoyable and trust-building activities you can do indoors! Adapt these, and any other ideas and games to whatever feels natural for you and your pooch. 

Toys and boxes

Bear in mind that just as every person is unique, your dog has a personality and preferences as well. While they can get away with certain things, you need to earn their trust as much as they need to earn yours.

Rainy days can be an amazing excuse to train your dog to help you do some chores. And by chores, we’re about the ones related to their accessories and toys. This can be challenging, and at first, you’ll probably have to make an even greater mess in order to practice. 

But, once your dog knows the meaning of the “put it away” command or “clean up” cue, the reward will be well worth it. Start by scattering their toys around, with a goal of putting the toy into the right box. Of course, each time they get it right, they should get a reward. 

Hide and seek

Once they get the point of putting their toys away in their correct places, you can widen the area the toys are in, which is an introduction to the next game - hide and seek! This is a great way to train your dog’s sense of smell. Hide delicious doggy rewards (healthy ones) throughout the house, and as they get better at finding them, put some obstacles in their way! 

Hide and seek can also be played with hiding their favorite toys, and giving them a treat or a pat when they find the toy. Hide a treat in one of your hands and let them figure out where it is. 

Race tracks and playpens

Another great indoor activity to do with your dog is to set up a race track and measure the time needed for your dog to complete it. Also, by doing this, you’ll practice the stay and go commands. This is extremely helpful when your dog feels unusually energized, and you don’t quite feel the same…you can play from the sofa holding a timer!

If your dog is still young, getting a puppy playpen will also keep your puppy occupied while allowing you to chill.

Puzzles and obstacle courses

Another creative way to spend time inside is making an obstacle course using everyday objects, such as chairs, boxes, ropes etc. You can increase the difficulty along the way, and increase the rewards they get accordingly. This will engage your dog in physical activity while stimulating their mind as well.

Your pet will need to navigate, jump, pull and crawl, and you can even practice the basic commands (sit, jump, lie down, spin, stay etc.) that will actually help them reach the goal. The more you and your pooch learn and play together, the better your connection will be between you and your pup.

A game of soccer

When you’re past the obstacle course, and you both get bored of simply practicing your favorite tricks, you can try playing a soccer match, with your dog being a goalkeeper. This might seem impossible, but it’s basically the same reflex as in a plain throw and catch game, with an addition of a goal. (Just make sure you move anything fragile out of the way before your big game!) 

Final thoughts

Don’t let the weather, or the sheltering in place get you down… try some of these ideas! You can develop more ideas from these, and the more creative you get, the healthier and happier your pooch will be. 

Ultimately, keeping your dog physically and mentally alert and stimulated is important because it will reduce the risks of destructive behaviour patterns, and you’ll both sleep better at night. This is even more important when the weather conditions are bad and while there is added anxiety in the world. Whenever you feel you’re lacking quality running and fetching time in the nearest dog park, let these ideas inspire you.