How to Entertain Your Dog at Home

The recent lockdown with restrictions on leaving the home has meant many dogs are now only walked once a day when they are used to more exercise. If you are lucky enough to have a good size garden your dog will have room to burn off some energy and hopefully all dogs are enjoying more time with their family.

However, it is important to keep dogs mentally stimulated, especially those that may be struggling to adapt to this new routine. Here are some ideas for entertaining your dog at home…

• There are lots of enrichment toys available to purchase online, such as snuffle mats for hiding treats, lick mats and food dispensing puzzles. If you would prefer to save some money though, why not get creative and make your own? Try a plastic bottle with a couple of treats inside or hide treats in cardboard tubes that are sealed at one end.
• If you have space set up your own mini agility course and train your dog to weave in and out of objects and jumps over poles – it is surprising what you might have tucked away in a cupboard or shed which could now come in handy!
• Teach your dog a new trick to keep him stimulated and engaged. If you don’t know where to start and you need some inspiration there are some great online resources, including step-by-step video guides on YouTube.
• Make the most of his favourite toys! Keep his favourite toys in a box out of sight and get them out throughout the day for play time. This should help to break the day up and make playing more exciting.
• Search and sniff – try hiding your dog’s favourite treats around the house and let his nose do the work! Once he gets the idea you can make the game harder by placing the treats in more challenging locations.

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