10 easy ways to entertain a bored dog indoors

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The lockdown is getting to some of our dogs more than it’s getting to us! Our dogs’ excitement of having us home 24*7 is now turning into the frustration of having to deal with us 24*7! Working from home with our dogs is slowly transitioning from cute video conference appearances to conference disturbances. Our google searches are now full of “how to keep dogs entertained at home” and “fun indoor activities for a bored dog.”

Dog parents barely have the time to get bored during the lock-down as they’re busy keeping their dogs from being bored in their free time. Am I right or am I right? If you can totally relate to everything that’s written above, this post is written for you!

“Is my dog bored or just tired?” is the first question that pops up in everyone’s head. A few tell-tale signs that your dog is bored could be these –

• Your dog is chewing anything and everything around him
• He barks and whines for no apparent reason
• Begs for attention all the time
• Follows you around ALL-THE-TIME
• Has no concept of personal space whatsoever
• He seems miserable in his crate (this could also be due to ineffective crate training. Click here for crate training tips)
• His toys don’t interest him anymore

Read below for 10 indoor activities for a bored dog  –

1. Brain games

Mental stimulation is as important for a dog’s well-being as outdoor walks. It has the same effect on a dog’s brain as yoga has on a human’s brain. Tiring in a calm way. As a behaviorist, I love recommending the following toys that can come really handy while entertaining bored dogs –

• Muffin tray game – All you need is a muffin tray, tennis balls and some treats.Place 4-6 balls on the tray with treats hidden underneath them. Let your dog figure out the rest
• Brainteaser puzzle toys – Why feed your dog in a bowl when you can use meal times to feed and exercise your dog at the same time? Kong wobblers, Tornado treat-dispensing toys, Trixie flip boards, etc are amazing ways to keep your dog mentally and physically stimulated.

Check out my favorite Brain Teaser puzzle kit –

Click on item to check out on Amazon

2. Sniffing games

This easy peasy game can be played with your dog while you’re busy attending that conference call. Divide your dog’s kibbles (meals) into 6-7 parts. Add in some treats to make the game a lot more rewarding for your dog. Hide each part in different corners of the house – eg- under the couch, near the planters, by the staircase, under the bed, in his crate etc.

The game is self-rewarding as your dog automatically gets rewarded when he finds the food. This is a wonderful way to keep a bored dog entertained. Make sure you play it when your dog is hungry and energetic.

3. Feeding through feeders

Every dog has a natural instinct to earn his meals. After all, that’s exactly how our ancestors fed their dogs after a long day’s work. Show them the bowl with the silver spoon you got for your Chihuahua and they’d laugh in their graves. Consider feeding your dog through one of the following mentioned feeder toys to fulfill your dog’s instinct. Not to forget, it’s an awesome addition to your list of indoor activities for a bored dog

Every dog has a natural instinct to earn his meals. After all, that’s exactly how our ancestors fed their dogs after a long day’s work.

Food is one of the biggest high points of most of our dogs’ lives. Understandably so. A lot of us are dealing with Gobblers (dogs who literally gobble up their entire bowl in seconds) on a daily basis. Try using the below-mentioned toys to help slow down your dog while keeping that boredom at bay.

Editor’s picks –

Click on item to check out on Amazon

4. Take part in daily chores

Involve your dogs in daily chores like doing laundry, cleaning etc. Instead of crating him while performing daily chores, let him learn to be a part of it by actually helping you around. All it will take is a few training sessions. If training him to help out isn’t an option, work on teaching him to settle down while you do the chores. Eg – Work on his “Stay” while you’re vacuuming the room.

5. Music therapy 

Did you know Music can relax animals and soothe separation anxiety, hyperactivity and mild forms of aggression? Trust me, the last thing you want with that boredom is behavioral issues. Try playing calming music with some aromatherapy candles for your dog while you’re busy working and find that zen!

6. Brush up on obedience training

This is a time when you’re spending a great deal of time with your dog. This is not going to come back anytime soon (Hopefully!). Brush up on some basic obedience commands like Recall training, Leave it, Stay etc. Now, I don’t want you to take out time especially to practice this. Make it a part of your daily routine.

Practice recall when calling your dog for all the good stuff like food, games, playtime, etc. Work on ‘Stay’ when you’re cooking, before his mealtimes and when you’re eating. Try practicing Leave it when you serve food on the dining table or when you leave food at the counter and are around to supervise your dog. There cannot be enough commands to check off as a part of indoor activities for a bored dog. An average dog has the ability to understand over 150 words.

7. Master a new trick 

You’re going to socialize A LOT after the COVID lockdown is over. Why not prepare your dog for those events? Teach your dog a few tricks like dancing with you or counting numbers and show off that cool canine of yours to your friends!

8. Physically stimulating games

All said and done, a good amount of physical exercise still is the foundation of a calm and a happy dog. Although, walks are not the only source of getting some exercise into your dog. All of the below mentioned options are something you can try at home or in your backyard.

Flirt pole

Ever seen a cat go crazy over the small little trinket at the end of the rope? If that’s crazy, you’re in for a treat my friend. Give the flirt pole a try in your backyard and watch your dog teach you the meaning of “having fun.” However, you might want to avoid this game if your dog already has a strong chasing instinct. Be careful when playing this game with Terrier breeds.

Fetch

The most old school of all dog games and one of the dogs’ favourites, Fetch works wonderfully well in tiring a dog out in a matter of minutes. Not only does it physically stimulate a dog, but it also teaches a dog that sharing stuff with their humans can be a fun thing.

Obstacle course at home

Rearrange the living room furniture, tie a rope between two chair legs to create a hurdle and topple over a few boxes and Voila, you have your very own obstacle course at home. Involve treats the first few times to guide your dog step by step through the course. After a few attempts, make your dog stand at the Start line while you wait at the finish line for him.

You can also give agility a try in your backyard with this starter dog agility set.

Check out the starter agility set on Amazon 

Hoola hoop

Not only does a hoop help you shed a few calories, it also helps your dog do the same. Jumping through hoops is an excellent trick for any dog to learn and is easy to teach as well. It relieves the dog of that excess energy in a matter of few minutes. Furthermore, for dogs who love jumping on people and counter tops, this can be a great redirection. Skipping rope

One of my favourite tricks to teach dogs, skipping rope is not only an awesome boredom buster, but it also looks Cool. Imagine saying “My dog and I skip ropes as a part of our workout everyday.”

9. Dental chews

Every dog needs a dental toy, regardless of the breed, size or age of the dog. Dental chews help in effective mental and physical stimulation at any given point in time. It’s a quick fix for that sudden bursts of energy your dog tends to get randomly during the day. At times, you can take your dog outdoors and provide an outlet for him. But, most of the times that’s not possible. That’s when dental chews come handy.

While selecting a chew toy, go for a toy that has multiple textures packed in one,  Find below my top favorite picks for dental chews for dogs that I tend to recommend the most to my clients –

Dog Brushing stick

What better than a toy that helps in tiring a dog out and also cleans his teeth?!

• Available in different sizes to suit your dog
• Supports dental health
• Bite resistant
• Easy to clean and use
• Comes with toothpaste

Bacon flavored Benebone chew toy

For gourmet fans who look for flavor in everything that they chew

• Durable, long lasting
• Suitable for aggressive chewers
• Bacon flavored keeps dogs interested for a longer time
• Easy to pick up and chew
• Amazing crate toy

Pineapple dog chew toy 

This toy has a really fun texture. Looks exactly like pineapple and has an excellent surface for your dog to sink his teeth into.

• The hollow texture helps better in reducing tartar
• Highly bite resistant, durable
• Mentally stimulates the dog while working his jaw
• Can be made interesting by rubbing toothpaste, mint, peanut butter etc.

Kong tire toy–

The tire toy can endure bites and aggressive play from the most boisterous of breeds.

• Suitable for power chewers
• Great for stuffing food
• An amazing fetch toy
• Available in different sizes

10. Teach your dog to Chill 

I cannot stress how important it is for every dog to learn to do nothing. Yes, it is important for us to provide ample indoor activities for a bored dog, but, it’s equally important for our dogs to learn to cooperate with us during those times when we need personal space. Set aside a few hours every day where you will be giving absolutely no attention to your dog. Start with 20 minutes and gradually increase the time.

To begin, select a time when your dog is tired. Get him to sit near you and keep him busy with a chew toy. There will be instances where your dog will leave the toy and come to you for attention. Do not budge. Do not give your dog any attention when he asks for it. Only once the stipulated time is up, will you shower him with loads and loads of love and attention for being a Good boy.

It is important for us to provide our bored dogs with ample activities to do indoors, but, it’s equally important for our dogs to learn to cooperate with us during those times when we need personal space.

This can be a trying time for humans and pets both. Keeping our pets entertained indoors is not an option, but an obligation we owe to them. After all, they do such an awesome job at keeping us on our toes at all times!