Fun at home

Indoor playtime with your dog — ideas for the colder months

Fun at home

As the days shorten and the weather turns, outdoor walks and park visits naturally become shorter and less frequent. It happens to most dog owners — but your dog's energy levels do not follow the seasons. Keeping your dog mentally and physically engaged at home during autumn and winter makes a real difference to their mood and behaviour.

Making space to move

Some dogs carry a lot of energy and need regular outlets for it. Even in a smaller home, it is possible to create opportunities for your dog to move around purposefully. Chairs, cushions, stools, and low furniture can be arranged into a simple obstacle course — something different and engaging for your dog to navigate. Hiding treats around the course adds an extra layer of interest, encouraging your dog to use both their body and their nose.

„Using chairs, tables, pillows or stools you can create a makeshift obstacle course for your dog”

Pomeranian sitting up on a kitchen worktop watching the room
Ginger cat stretching upright with its front paws against a bed

Toys that do more

Treat-dispensing toys are particularly useful when outdoor time is limited. They reward your dog for engaging with the toy, providing mental stimulation alongside physical activity. For dogs that are slow to warm to new toys, adding a small amount of dry food or a favourite treat inside can be a helpful way to spark their interest. Mental engagement can be just as tiring as physical exercise — and just as important.

German shepherd lying on a wooden floor beside a lit fireplace

A little friendly competition

Fetch is a reliable favourite, but repetition can take the edge off even the best games. Tug of war offers a different kind of engagement — interactive, physical, and a genuine challenge for your dog. A rope toy works well for this, giving both you and your dog something to hold on to comfortably. Letting your dog win occasionally keeps them motivated and makes the game more rewarding for everyone.

It’s vital to diversify your playtime routine, especially when your dog doesn’t get the additional stimulation from the outside world.

Hide and seek

This simple game works well indoors and requires no equipment at all. You can play two ways. In the first, your dog searches for a favourite toy — ask them to stay, show them the toy, then hide it somewhere in the room before giving a search command. In the second, your dog comes looking for you. Ask them to stay, find a hiding spot, and let them track you down on their own. Both versions encourage focus, reinforce basic commands, and give your dog something purposeful to do.

Dr Anna Plummer
Dr Anna Plummer Veterinarian & Blogger

Recommended Products

Example product title

Example product title

Example product title

Example product title

Example product title

Example product title

Example product title

Example product title

Example product title

Example product title