Indoor Activities
During the hot summer months, it may not be safe for your dogs to play outside. Eighty degrees Fahrenheit may already be hot enough to burn their paws on asphalt!
Below are some activities you can do with your dog to help them get the amount of exercise they need while staying cool and safe during the hot seasons!
TRICK OR TREAT
If there's any trick you've been wanting your dog to learn, now is the time to do it! Have your dog's favorite treat available and start training your dog. Throughout the day, continue to reinforce the new trick with treats so that your dog doesn't forget!
HIDE AND SEEK
Hide some treats throughout your home and let your dog(s) go on a hunt! You can also "lock" the treat under a box or bowl and see how your dog will go about getting their treat! Variations of hide-and-seek games can be a great way to mentally stimulate your dogs. Your dogs will get more practice having to use their sense of smell to search for hidden treasures.
PLAY DATES
Don't have the energy to play with your dog? Try visiting friends or families who also have a dog and let the dogs play with each other! Dogs playing with other dogs is not only a great way to get some exercise, but it's also an easy way for your dog to learn to socialize. Allowing your dog the space to learn how to interact with other dogs, and people, is good for their health and well-being.
INDOOR AGILITY COURSE
You may think you need a big house for this, but even stacking a few boxes in a small area is enough to become an agility course! Half the fun is creating your own course with things you have in the house. You might even find that your pets will probably have more fun trying to get in your way and knocking things over as you build!
INSIDE WALKS
Walk your dog inside your home. This might feel weird at first, but if you can't walk your dog in the early morning or late evening when the temperature is cooler, walking your dog inside your own home might be a good alternative. If you have stairs inside, or live in an apartment complex that has stairs, your dog can also climb up and down the steps for a workout!
There are always plenty of other options to keep your dog active during the hot days. The important thing is to get creative and work with what you have. Of course, also remember to continue monitoring your dog as you do these indoor activities! Change it up if they get bored, or lessen the amount of time if you notice them getting over-tired. We're sure you will be able to come up with even more fun ways to keep your dogs entertained and active indoors, staying cool and safe.
