Dog Games for Inside

Providing an enrichment program for your dog will help her feel better and stay mentally active. This is great for those dogs who lay around for awhile after you leave but eventually get bored and go looking for entertainment.

Many products are available that will help with this. One of my favorites is the Kong, a hard and very durable rubber toy. Kongs can be stuffed with kibble and sealed with peanut butter or cream cheese. You can even prepare several at a time and freeze them. A stuffed Kong can keep a dog busy for hours. Kongs come in many different sizes. You can also purchase sterilized bones, which can be stuffed with various treats.

There are a number of toys that have a small opening where you can hide treats, like the Buster Cube and Roll-a-Treat. Some dogs stay entertained for hours rolling the toy over and over trying to get the goodie out. The economy model of this toy is a cardboard box. Place treats or a handful of kibble inside, tape it closed with masking tape and give it to your dog. Chewed up cardboard really isn’t that hard to sweep up when you get home!

Rope toys seem to be canine favorites, too. I have seen dogs carrying them around, tossing them in the air and having quite a nice solitary playtime.

If you have just one dog, you can use rawhide bones. Rawhides often lead to conflicts between two or more dogs. Choose rawhides that are large enough so your dog can only tear off very small pieces at a time. When the toy gets wet and soft, put it up to dry.

There are several food dispensers on the market that distribute the dog’s meal over time, which keeps food motivated dogs alert. Some people believe this relates to how our best friend’s ancestors would hunt and eat throughout the day. An inexpensive, modified version of this is to toss your dog’s kibble into his crate or in an area where he can search for it and eat one piece at a time.

Give your dog new toys when you can supervise her play to insure her safety. I have seen dogs shred and ingest rope toys, and there have been dogs who have actually broken open some of the tougher plastic toys to get to the treats inside. You may find that your dog gets bored with her toys. Offer her a variety and put some away to bring out again at a later time when she will be glad to see them.

A bored dog can quickly become a nuisance, barking and destroying your home. These ideas, which are not meant to replace his daily walks or your special time together, will help keep your dogs exercised and mentally stimulated while you are out or while you are trying to work at home. A tired dog is a good dog.

 
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Published in the San Mateo County Times, November 9, 2002