Games to play at home with your dog: 10 activities to have fun when you can't go out

Discover all the activities you can do with your dog at home and spend a good time full of fun

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

Having a dog means not only biscuits and walks in the neighborhood, but also excursions in nature, balls, games that your four-legged friend scatters throughout the house and clearly a lot, but a lot of love.

And if every dog generally can't wait to wear a leash and harness and go exploring the neighborhood or a forest, he knows that this is not always possible and that there are days of bad weather or periods in which, for a reason or another, one is forced to stay almost all the time at home. And that's where the dilemma arises among dog owners: how to spend time indoors with a dog?

Although most people consider outdoor activities to be the only way to keep their dog entertained, there are a thousand and one ways to make your pet happy and entertain him at home with equally tempting activities. Here are some of them:

Index

To play hide and seek

Games to play at home with your dog: 10 activities to have fun when you can't go out

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Playing hide and seek at home is an activity that many dogs love, it is dynamic and strengthens the bond between the animal and its owner. To play this game it is important that your dog already knows some commands, ie "wait" or "stop" and "come".

To start, choose a room where the dog is alone and tell him to stand still while you walk away, but let him see you so that he is intrigued by what is happening. Once you have chosen your hiding place, you can tell him to come to you or call him by name just once. Don't choose places that are too difficult at first if you don't want your little one to despair, not being able to find you. You can do the same with his toys too, magically making them disappear, but in this case the game is much more complex and it takes more practice.

Play interactive games

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In addition to the tennis balls that are an evergreen for the furry, there are many interactive games that allow your dog to test his skills and improve his mental abilities. Many are real problem solvers that keep even hyperactive or stressed dogs busy, proving to be an excellent pastime.

The best interactive dog toys on the market are:

the Kong of the Kong Company of the same name, a puzzle of varying strength perfect for chewing the dog, but also to stimulate the mind inside which you can insert crunchies, biscuits and other treats to increase the playing time.
the Trixie Flip Board, a strategic game that tests the intelligence of the dog through a series of keys that your furry friend must operate to receive the reward that is hidden behind them.

You can also create interactive DIY games yourself, taking for example three glasses, turning them over and putting a snack under one of them, without being seen. Once positioned in front of the dog, he will have to find out where the prize is, training the sense of smell. You can do the same using your hands, closing a cookie in the wrist. You can also prepare snacks at home with which to reward your dog, doing it is very simple.

Having fun with boxes

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Not only cats, dogs also love boxes and almost anything made of paper, but rather than hiding inside like cats do or falling asleep peacefully, dogs love to tear them to shreds. And it doesn't matter, if this makes them happy and if you have an old box to recycle then you can give it to your dog or put some toys in it so that the dog can choose what to dedicate to.

Create a mini agility course

Who said that to do agility you necessarily need the outside and a large equipped area? Well these two elements certainly do not hurt, indeed they are ideal for this discipline, but re-proposing an obstacle course in a home version is possible and fun is guaranteed. You don't have to have a huge house available to create a mini agility, just a corridor where to place a broom handle sideways to start with the first obstacle, a room with a chair to make the dog jump over or pass it under the table legs. This is one example

Learn new commands

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Spending more time at home can be the perfect opportunity to teach your dog a few new commands and practice as you work on them. When it comes to commands, the choice is huge and there are also many mobile apps around to learn tricks that will amaze everyone step by step.

Obedience is a discipline that greatly strengthens the relationship with the dog since it is no longer on him that all the spotlights are focused, but also on his owner and it is their way of interacting that is the key to being able to always carry out commands. more complex and have fun together.

Introduce the clicker

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One of the objects that are commonly used during the training of a dog is the clicker, a small instrument that, when pressed, emits the sound of a click when you want to attract the attention of the animal to yourself and keep it, rewarding the positive behavior of the dog with a treat.

The clicker sound must always be followed by a reward so that the dog can associate something positive with it and therefore have the incentive to behave well. It is an exercise that requires patience and a lot of practice to be able to have its fruits so if time is not lacking why not!

Learn the names of toys or objects

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Dogs are very intelligent animals and so far nothing new. Thanks to their intelligence and memory they can learn new things more or less easily and the same goes for the names of their beloved toys. You may have already heard of Chaser, a Border Collie who knew more than 1000 of his toys by name. Here, he is proof of a dog's impressive abilities.

Like all things, this activity must also be carried out gradually. Start by taking one of your dog's favorite toys and ask the dog to grab it by calling the game by name. Do this before the dog catches him and reward him with a treat. Keep repeating the name of the game until your dog fully associates it with the object and will be able to recognize it when you ask.

Do a photo shoot

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Who doesn't have millions of photos of their dog on their phone, let's go. However, sometimes the perfect Christmas photo with which to congratulate relatives is never found, as well as funny photos of the masked dog for carnival. Staying more at home can be the right time to take all the photos you have always wanted with your dog and for which you never had imagination as well as the necessary time.

You can organize real themed photo sessions for your next party or birthday and use them as invitations or involve other family members and take the photo of the year to frame and hang.

Brush it

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Brushing your dog is an activity often underestimated by owners, but that your dog really likes it, or rather it should. Taking care of the hair, untangling the knots and removing any holes, which are very annoying for the animals, are gestures that should be done and repeated frequently and not only when you are at home all day.

In order for this to be a truly relaxing activity and does not turn into fear at the sight of the brush or comb, you must familiarize the dog with the object and never force him to be brushed or groomed if he does not want to. The beginning is always difficult and usually accompanied by a little anxiety, but you can transform the situation by associating the brush with some treats and some reassuring caresses. You can also give your dog massages and use coconut oil in addition to the brush to keep the coat shiny and healthy.

Do "Doga"

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Doga is a practice born in the United States and then arrived in Europe which takes its name from the union of dog and yoga. It is a variant of yoga that dogs can also practice together with their owners to relax with stretching and relaxation positions, but in a canine version. This discipline brings many benefits to those who practice it, but be careful because it must always be done under the supervision of an expert. So if you think that the Doga might interest you, you can look for a basic online course to follow from home with your dog.

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