Rainy Day Boredom Busters For Dogs
Walks provide beneficial exercise and stimulation for our canine friends. But some pups aren't keen on a long outdoor hike in the rain. While an all-day movie and cuddle marathon may seem fun, Fido may get antsy cooped up with nothing to do. Try these fun, easy indoor rainy day boredom busters for dogs to exercise and enrich your fur friend, no matter the weather!
FIND THE TREAT
According to experts, 20 minutes of sniffing is as beneficial as a 60-minute walk. Put your pup's nose to work with a fun and easy game.
Have your dog sit and stay, then hide a scented treat in their line of sight. Dehydrated beef liver, Australian Whitebait, or bonito fish flakes are great goodies for this activity. Mark the beginning of the game with a command like ‘Find it!’ and praise them when they locate their reward.
Up the difficulty by pretending to hide the treat in multiple places as your pup watches. Or, hide treats all over the house as your dog sits and stays in a separate room for a fun treasure hunt!
MAKE EVERY MEAL A BRAIN GAME
Wolves are pack hunters, but dogs are solitary scavengers, preferring to sniff out and dig for their food. Meal times are a great way to direct these instincts into a fun activity.
Puzzle feeders and snuffle mats are wonderful ways to stimulate the canine mind. They help reduce indigestion and regulate the rate of consumption. Make a simple puzzle feeder by sprinkling kibble in a muffin tray. Add tennis balls on top of the kibble to increase the challenge.
Licki Mats are wonderful for raw food. Licking releases feel-good endorphins, which can help to calm anxious pups. Contact us for a Licki Mat promo code!
FROZEN TREATS
A frozen Kong is a tried and true boredom buster; microwave peanut butter into a slurry (peanut butter with no additives is best, as artificial sweeteners such as xylitol are toxic to dogs) pour it into a Kong and pop it in the freezer.
Add a few blueberries, small pieces of apple or carrots, kibble, or raw food to create interesting textures for your pup to dig out. On hot summer days create a fun and refreshing ice block for your pets by freezing toys, slices of fruit and treats in a bowl or Bundt pan filled with water, and watch them lick their way through.
As always, use caution and do your research before feeding your pet any food or treats, consult your veterinarian if in doubt, and always supervise your pets when playing or eating to prevent risks of choking or injury.
Give us a ring or send us a message at Happy Hounds to see how we can help, or if you would like to have your pet walked by our loving, caring and dedicated team, rain or shine!