In the blistering cold that has now begun, it can be challenging to keep up with our dogs exercise needs. Now, one great way to do this is with puzzle toys, but if you’re looking for something new and exciting here are 4 at home games you can play to tire your dog out without stepping outside, using everyday objects around the house. I have tested all of these games with Dustin and they are all fun and easy for most dogs! But, for this blog, I am using borrowed photos.
Supplies
Muffin Tin
Tennis Balls
Treats
How to Play
Put treats into muffin slots of muffin tin
Cover treats with tennis ball
Allow your dog to play with the tin, moving the tennis balls with his nose to uncover the treats.
Troubleshooting
If your dog is struggling to move the ball and show them the treat underneath.
Or, help them move the ball to uncover the treat.
Make it More Challenging
Put more tennis balls than there are treats. Now your dog has to find out which ball is hiding a treat.
Supplies
Toilet Paper Tubes
Bucket
Treats
How to Play
Put the toilet paper tubes into the bucket vertically. Fill the bucket with tubes until full.
Drop treats into the tubes.
Give to your dog and allow him to find and extract the treats.
Troubleshooting
If your dog is struggling to get the treats out, cut the tubes so that they are shorter.
Make it More Challenging
Put more tubes in so that your dog has to pull the tube out to get the treat from inside.
Supplies
Empty Plastic Bottle (Any Size) Plastic Bottle Top Xacto Knife Treats
How to Play
Cut square(s) on the side of the water bottle that is big enough to fit the treats you are using.
Remove bottle top and ring, fill with treats, replace the top (but not the ring).
Give to your dog to move around until treats fall from the hole you cut.
Troubleshooting
If your dog is struggling to get the treats out cut the hole bigger and/or make more holes.
Or, place the bottle on the ground hole down on the ground, show your dog how it moves and treats instantly fall out.
Make it More Challenging
Only put one hole in the bottle and make is just a little bigger than the treats.
Supplies
Empty Egg Carton paper (Optional) Treats
How to Play
Put treats into each section of the egg carton.
Close top.
Give to your dog.
OR
Only do this one if your dog can be trusted not to eat paper.
Wrap a few treats up in a loosely balled paper.
Pup each piece of balled up paper into each section of the egg carton.
Close top.
Give to your dog.
Troubleshooting
If your dog is struggling to get the treats out, don’t fully close the top.
Make it More Challenging
Make it more challenging by playing the second part of this with the paper. And, if that is still too easy, make the ball of paper around the treats tighter.
© Leash and Learn 2019
