Keeping your dog entertained indoors doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right activities, any indoor space can become a playground for your pup. Below are 15 engaging games to stimulate your dog’s mind and body. These will help keep your dog healthy, happy, and active even when outdoor play isn’t an option.

Hide-and-Seek

Hide-and-seek is a great way to exercise your dog’s mind and body while enhancing your bond. Start by telling your dog to stay in one room while you hide somewhere in the house. Once hidden, call their name and let them track you down. This game improves recall and provides mental stimulation, as your dog will need to use its senses to find you. It’s also a fantastic way to build patience and problem-solving skills.

Treasure Hunt

This game taps into your dog’s natural foraging instincts and is a fun way to provide mental stimulation.

Hide small treats or toys around the house, starting with easy spots and gradually making them harder to find.

Treasure hunts encourage your dog to use their sense of smell and critical thinking to locate the hidden goodies.

You can increase the difficulty as your dog gets better, offering both mental engagement and light exercise.

Tug-of-War

Tug-of-war is an exciting game for high-energy dogs that enjoy a physical challenge.

Use a durable tug toy and invite your dog to engage in a playful match.

Be sure to teach them to “release” on command to maintain control during the game.

Tug-of-war offers physical exercise and reinforces obedience.

It also helps improve impulse control as dogs learn to stop when instructed.

This game strengthens muscles and deepens your connection with your dog.

Obstacle Course

Turn your indoor space into an adventure with a homemade obstacle course.

Use household items like chairs, pillows, and blankets to create tunnels, jumps, and barriers for your dog to navigate.

Guide your dog through the course with treats or their favorite toy.

Start simple, then gradually increase the complexity.

Obstacle courses provide great physical exercise and help improve your dog’s coordination and problem-solving skills.

Find the Toy

Find the Toy is a mentally stimulating game that helps enhance your dog’s memory and tracking abilities.

Ask your dog to sit and stay while you hide their favorite toy somewhere in the house.

Once it’s hidden, give the command to “find it.” Start with an easy spot and gradually make it more difficult as your dog improves.

This game offers both mental stimulation and physical activity, keeping your dog engaged and entertained.

Play-Wild Sits

This game combines high-energy play with obedience training. Get your dog excited by running around or cheering them on. Then, suddenly give the command “sit.” This game teaches your dog to transition from playfulness to calm obedience on command. Over time, your dog will learn to control its impulses while still having fun. It’s a great way to reinforce discipline enjoyably.

Indoor Fetch

For dogs that love to run but don’t have access to outdoor space, indoor fetch is a great option. Use a soft toy or ball and throw it down a hallway or across a room. This helps burn off energy and keeps your dog mentally stimulated. It’s also a great opportunity to practice commands like “fetch” and “drop it.” Just make sure the play area is safe and free of any breakables.

Muffin Tin Puzzle

The muffin tin puzzle is a simple yet challenging mental exercise for your dog. Place treats in a muffin tin and cover them with tennis balls, then let your dog figure out how to remove the balls to get the treats. This game improves problem-solving skills and provides long-lasting entertainment. As your dog gets better, you can increase the difficulty by covering more cups or using more balls.

Round Robin

Round Robin is a fun game for families. Have everyone sit in a circle and take turns calling your dog. When your dog comes to the right person, reward them with a treat. This game enhances recall and strengthens your dog’s relationship with each family member. You can combine this with other recall games, like hide-and-seek, to provide both mental and physical stimulation.

Cardio Twist

This game combines agility and cardio, making it a great workout for your dog. Set up household items like chairs or pillows as obstacles, and guide your dog through the course while changing your pace. Start slow, then increase speed to challenge your dog’s agility and focus. As they improve, modify the course to keep things interesting. This game provides both physical and mental stimulation.

Magic Cups

Magic Cups is a fun game that engages your dog’s problem-solving skills. Hide a treat under one of three cups and shuffle them. Then, ask your dog to find the treat. This game helps your dog practice using their sense of smell to solve a puzzle. You can make it more challenging by adding more cups or shuffling faster. It’s an easy yet effective way to keep your dog mentally engaged.

Scent Walk Indoors

A scent walk lets your dog explore your home with their nose, offering both mental stimulation and a calming activity. Allow your dog to roam around, sniffing different areas. You can even hide treats for them to find as they explore. This taps into your dog’s instincts and helps keep them relaxed and entertained indoors. Sniffing can also help lower your dog’s heart rate, making it a calming activity.

Clean Up Game

Teach your dog to clean up their toys as part of this fun and practical game. Show them how to pick up toys and put them in a basket using commands like “clean up” or “put it away.” Reward them with treats for successful attempts. Over time, your dog will learn to clean up on command. This game provides mental stimulation and helps reinforce positive behaviors.

Stair Sprints

Stair sprints are perfect for dogs that need to burn off excess energy. Toss a toy or ball up the stairs and encourage your dog to retrieve it. Call them back down, and repeat. This game offers a great cardio workout, but make sure your dog is healthy enough for this type of activity, as it can be tough on joints. Monitor your dog to ensure they’re not overexerting themselves.

Teach a New Trick

Teaching your dog a new trick is a rewarding way to keep them mentally stimulated. Whether it’s “shake,” “roll over,” or more advanced tricks, this game provides mental engagement and strengthens your bond. Start with simple commands and build up to more complex ones. This activity enhances cognitive skills and boosts your dog’s confidence while offering a fun, productive way to spend time together.