Keeping Your Dog Occupied When the Weather Doesn’t Permit Going Outside

Kibble Nibble

Rain, shine, sleet or snow, your dog needs physical and mental exercise no matter what the weather. This summer, many parts of our country are experiencing above average temperatures which can make going outside unbearable for yourself and your pooch. If you don’t want to venture out because it’s too hot, here are a few suggestions to physically and mentally exercise your pup, so that your pal doesn’t get bored, or even worse, become destructive.

Treat-dispensing toys: Let’s face it, most dogs are food motivated, and great way to motivate these dogs is with one of our treat-dispensing toys. There’s the granddaddy of them all, the Kong. This funny shaped rubber toy is meant to be filled with the accompanying Kong Stuff’n, then placed in the freezer, and given to your pooch when frozen. Freezing the toy with the treat inside will prolong the pleasure and the cold temperature will allow them to cool off from the heat outside. We also carry the Busy Buddy line of treat dispensing toys, which includes the Tug-a-Jug. This treat-dispensing toy will definitely stimulate your dog and give their brain a workout.

Indoor Fetch: No matter what size your house or apartment is, we’re sure that you can make enough room to play a game of fetch with your furry pal. You might want to save the Chuck-It for a more open space, but for those kids who want nothing more than a game of fetch, try our Bumi toy. Not only is this brand of toys “guaranteed to last”, the Bumi can also be used as a tug toy between you and your pup. If your dog is gaga over balls, we’d suggest a ball with grooves or uneven surfaces for indoor play. Our Huck is the perfect ball for indoor play. Toss it down the hall and watch as it bounces erratically and keeps your dog on his toes…or should we say paws?

Brush up on sit and stay: A day indoors for your dog usually means catching up on sleep. If only we had it so good. Although, it’s been suggested that an inactive dog is a destructive dog, the perfect remedy to keeping those behaviors at bay is continuing education. Your buddy wants nothing more than to please you, and you can help them do this by teaching them new tricks and commands. Don’t forget to have a handful of a treats like our Liver Chips as a reward for their learning.

We’ve all experienced days where you don’t want to go outside. The rain just won’t let up, the snow is falling or it’s simply so hot outside that your shoes melt on the pavement. Take time out on those days and make sure you tell your pups that you love them and carve out enough time for play. Just think about the rewards afterward…unconditional love.