Indoor Activities: Beat the Heat

As the temperatures rise, it’s essential to keep our furry friends cool and entertained indoors. Mental enrichment is a fantastic way to provide stimulation and keep your dog happy and engaged. This summer, try incorporating the concept of “free work” into your enrichment activities. “Free work” allows dogs to explore and interact with their environment at their own pace, promoting confidence and problem-solving skills. Here are some creative ideas to keep your dog mentally stimulated during those hot summer days.

• Indoor Scavenger Hunts:

  • Hide your dog’s favorite treats or toys around the house and encourage them to find them. This is a really fun way to introduce scent work into your dogs routine too! You can get a scent work starter kit equipped with all the instructions to get you started here.

    • Tip: Let your dog explore and search for the hidden items without any guidance, allowing them to use their natural sniffing and searching instincts.

• DIY Snuffle Mat:

  • Create a snuffle mat using a rubber sink mat and strips of fleece. Bury treats or kibble within the fleece strips for your dog to find.

    • Tip: Place the snuffle mat on the floor and let your dog work at their own pace to sniff out the treats.

• Puzzle Toys and Interactive Feeders:

  • Invest in puzzle toys and interactive feeders that challenge your dog to figure out how to access their food or treats.

    • Tip: Provide the toy or feeder to your dog and allow them to figure it out independently, observing how they approach the challenge.

• Sensory Bins:

  • Fill a large container with safe, sensory materials like shredded paper, fabric scraps, or plastic balls. Hide toys and treats within the materials.

• Frozen Treats and Food Puzzles:

  • Freeze treats, peanut butter, or wet food inside a Kong or other food-dispensing toy. Give your dog the frozen treat and let them work on getting the food out, which can keep them entertained and cool for an extended period.

• Obstacle Courses:

  • Create a simple indoor obstacle course using household items like chairs, blankets, and boxes. Encourage your dog to navigate the course freely, exploring different routes and figuring out how to overcome each obstacle.

• “Find It” Game:

  • Teach your dog a “find it” cue by tossing treats and asking them to find them. Gradually increase the difficulty by hiding treats in more challenging places and letting your dog use their problem-solving skills to locate them.

    Good luck & stay cool!