Five Indoor Activities For Your Dog!

Five Fun Things to Get you Off the Couch (or not) This Winter
By Sally Silverman
It’s cold, damp and getting dark early. Here are five indoor activities that will entertain your dog, tire him out and help his training.

1. Hide and seek. Put your dog in a sit stay and leave the room. (Proof the stay a couple of times by coming back to reward him for staying.) At first, hide just on the other side of the wall, then call, “Come!” When you feel he is up to the challenge, make it harder. Make a fuss and give a treat when he finds you. This game reinforces stays and recalls, and is great to play with multiple dogs.
2. Backing up stairs. Put your dog at the bottom of the stairs and ask him to back. If he doesn’t know the “back” command, lean forward a bit to put some pressure on him. Click and treat his first attempt to reach the step behind him with a hind foot. When he has the idea, transition to clicking and treating for every full step he goes up, then every two steps and so on. Try to keep him going straight. This is great for building hind end strength (so don’t do too much at once) and awareness.
3. Directionals. With your dog in front of you, toss a tiny, tasty treat to HIS right, say “right” and click as he turns for the treat. After several repetitions, say “right,” click as he turns, then toss the treat. It’s better to work on one direction in a session. Knowing left and right is helpful in a number of dog sports.
4. Weaving between your legs. With a treat, lure your dog through your legs, from front to back, then pull your hand to your side so he is in heel position (on the left or the right). Some dogs are not comfortable going through your legs, so this first step may take some time. When he is at your side, use your other hand to lure him through the other way. Look to the side where you want him to go. Lure a few times, then use just your hand, pulling the treat from pocket or bait bag to reward. Make that hand signal smaller and smaller as you add a verbal cue. Weaving will keep your dog focused and busy while waiting your turn in competition.
5. Name game. Show your dog an inviting object such as a toy or a ball, and click and treat as he approaches it. After a couple of times, hold back on the click until he gets closer, then finally touches it. When he is touching it regularly for the click and treat, name the object. The next play session, teach him another object. When you are confident he knows them, bring them both out together and ask him to touch one, then the other. When he is discriminating between them reliably, add another object to the mix. The number of objects you can use is limited only by your dog’s ability and attention.

Sally Silverman is a freelance writer who writes for horse and dog publications including Dressage Today, USDF Connection and Clean Run. She shares her home and heart with three Australian Shepherds. A member and instructor at Y2K9s Dog Sports Club outside of Philadelphia, she enjoys Agility, Canine Freestyle, Tracking and Rally O.  She is happiest when with her dogs: learning, competing, hiking, or sharing a cuddle on the couch.

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