Some summer days are simply too hot for long walks. Pavement burns, the air is heavy and even a short trip outside leaves your dog panting. On those days, shifting exercise indoors keeps your dog happy and helps prevent the restlessness and mischief that come from boredom.
Mental work can be surprisingly tiring for dogs. A few short sessions of the games below can leave your dog ready for a nap in the air conditioning.
Scent games
Dogs experience much of the world through their noses, and sniffing is naturally satisfying. Try:
- Find it. Have your dog sit or wait while you hide a treat in plain sight. Say find it and let them go. Gradually hide treats in harder spots around the room.
- Cup game. Place a treat under one of three cups, shuffle slowly and let your dog sniff out the right one.
- Snuffle mat or towel roll. Scatter kibble in a snuffle mat, or roll treats inside a towel for your dog to unroll.
- Scatter feeding. Toss part of a meal across a clean floor or rug so your dog has to search for it.
Food puzzles and slow feeding
Turning mealtime into a puzzle makes food last longer and gives your dog something to work on. Use a food puzzle toy, a slow-feeder bowl or a stuffed rubber toy. Freezing a stuffed toy makes it last even longer and adds a cool treat on a hot day.
Use part of your dog’s regular food allowance for these games, rather than adding extra treats, to keep calories in check during a less active season.
Short training sessions
Training is exercise for the brain. Keep sessions short, about five to ten minutes, and end on a success. Ideas include:
- Practicing basics like sit, down, stay and come in different rooms.
- Teaching a new trick, such as spin, touch, bow or go to your mat.
- Working on impulse control, such as waiting at doors or leaving a treat on the floor until released.
- Name games, where your dog learns the names of different toys.
Reward generously, and keep the mood fun. Several short sessions spread through the day are better than one long one.
Gentle active play
Some dogs need a little physical activity too. Indoors, try a gentle game of tug with clear rules, or a few tosses of a soft toy down a hallway with good footing. Hide-and-seek, where you hide and call your dog, combines movement and recall practice.
Keep indoor play moderate, even in air conditioning, and watch for heavy panting. Avoid slippery floors and stairs during high-energy games, especially with puppies and seniors.
Finally, remember that rest is part of a healthy day. After a round of games, offer a chew or a lick mat in a cool spot and let your dog settle. When evening brings cooler air and pavement, you can head out for a relaxed walk together.
