Indoor games for bad weather days, Part one

It’s hard to keep your dog active and entertained during those long rainy days. With winter just around the corner, over the next two weeks we’ll show you 10 ideas to keep your dog from being bored senseless…and you going stir crazy.

1.       TRAINING

Being cooped up indoors can be the perfect opportunity to practice some basic training commands. Once you have mastered the basics you can move on to more advanced tricks like playing dead or high five. You tube is a great source for new tricks you can teach your dog.

2.       DOGGIE PLAY DATE

Does your dog have a favourite friend? Invite them over for a rainy day play date, this will keep both pets entertained while you can catch up with a friend for a coffee.

3.       OBSTICAL COURSE

If you're going to do something, go all-in, right? Setting up an obstacle course for your dog and helping teach him how to navigate the obstacles is a lot of fun. A lot of work, sure, but you're stuck inside on a rainy day so why not! Here are some suggestions for what to use:

·       A sturdy milk crate, stool or other item to balance on

·       A kitchen chair to jump up on or run underneath

·       A box with two open ends that he can crawl through

·       A basket alongside a pile of toys he has to place in it

·       A pole on two stools or boxes that he can leap over

·       A hula hoop to jump through

·       A frisbee or ball to catch

Create a few obstacles and guide your dog through each one, building up to go faster each time. Make sure to reward your dog with lots of praise, tug games or other high-value rewards each time she gets through the obstacle course. Make it fun, rather than work. And you can make it as challenging as your dog needs.

4.       LASER POINT

Not just for cats, a cheap laser pointer can keep your dog entertained for hours. Move it around often to give him plenty of exercise.

5.       DOGGIE BASKET BALL

This great clip shows you how to teach your dog to play. Don’t have a basketball ring? Why not use a washing basket?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwzScx4tnZQ

Next week: Want to know how to play Hide and Seek with your dog? We’ll tell you in Indoor games for bad weather days, Part two

---