Last updated: August 28, 2025
Sometimes you just can’t walk your dog.
Like if she pulls on leash too hard, or freaks out at every animal, jogger, or wind-blown plastic bag that crosses her path. Outside of training-session walks designed to rid your pup of these issues, you might want to forget about walks for now.
And sometimes the weather just sucks. And sometimes you have one of those weeks where you hate everybody and vow never to leave your house ever again. (Or is that just me?)
Fortunately there are other ways to provide your dog with the exercise and mental stimulation they need.
We put together a video demo of a few of the games on this list:
Keep scrolling for more ideas!
How to wear your dog out without leaving the house
Walks are useful because they provide a lot of things: exercise, brain work (from all the new sights and smells), and bonding time with their human.
Here are some activities that provide those same benefits:
Flirt Pole
A weird name for a cool toy. It’s basically a giant cat teaser toy. You drag it around and get your dog to chase it, letting him catch the toy occasionally.
This is a great way to exercise a dog without a lot of space, and dogs go crazy for it. Even some dogs who turn their noses up at fetch can’t resist this game. There’s something about the way a toy on a string moves that satisfies a dog’s chase-kill-destroy instincts.
You can buy one online, or make your own:
Get a stick (a wooden dowel, narrow PVC pipe, whatever) and tie a string to it. The string should be two to five feet long, depending on how much space you have. On the other end of the string, attach a dog toy. Stuffed animals and rope tug toys work well.
Then clear the play area of things the dog could crash into, and let the games begin.
Being weird with your friends
You know that thing friends do with each other where you’re minding your own business and happen to catch their eye, and then they make a funny face or do a little dance?
You can do the same kind of thing with your dog. This is best introduced at home, where your dog will be more likely to pay attention to you
When you’re both hanging around the house, catch their eye and then do something “weird” that invites them to chase you or at least come over to investigate. Duck behind the furniture, run into another room, throw a blanket over your head. Praise and play when they get to you.
When I (Jake) was getting to know Erin’s dog Bear, I used to play a game where I’d make eye contact with Bear, walk backwards, and then start running when he took a step toward me. Good times, even if I did see my life flash before my eyes every time. This got Bear in the habit of keeping a close eye on me around the house, waiting to see if I was going to start another game.
Tips:
- If your dog is on the younger end and still likely to roughhouse by biting hard, bring a plush toy with you to redirect them onto.
- Make sure the “weird” thing you do is a non-threatening, non-scary play invitation. This isn’t one of those “do something weird and intimidating to your dog and see how they react!” social media challenges.
Chase
A more traditional version of being weird.
Get your dog excited using some happy noises or have a helper hold your pup back, and run! Change direction often to make it extra fun.
After 5-30 seconds of chasing, depending on your dog’s age and stamina, stop and give them a handful of treats.
Make it extra rewarding to catch you by giving lots of praise, affection, and play: get down on the ground, roll around and let your dog go crazy licking your face and flopping all over you.
This game starts teaching your dog that they should keep you in their sight, because at any moment something fun might happen.
Blow Bubbles
A quick and easy game for dogs who like to chase. Get a bottle of kids’ bubble solution and blow some bubbles for Fido to attack. You can also find bubble solution for dogs; it comes in delicious flavors like chicken or peanut butter. Yummy.
Pass the Puppy
Enlist a few volunteers. Give everybody a small handful of treats. Have them sit on the floor in a circle, with at least a few feet between each person (don’t crowd into a tiny circle, as this might intimidate the dog)
If Sparky is a big dog, then everyone can stand instead of sit.
One at a time, each person calls the dog. Use his name or just make interesting noises (kissy sounds, for some reason, are the universal canine attention-attractor).
When Fido arrives at each lap, the person should praise, treat and pet him. Then someone else calls him. When the next person calls Fido, that’s the cue for the first person to stop interacting with the dog.
If you’re not currently buried under three feet of snow, take this outdoors to a fenced area and have the players spread out further.
Hide and Seek
If you have a helper, have them hold your dog back while you show them that you have treats, and then run off and hide. In the beginning, hide somewhere easy and have your dog watch what direction you go. Call your dog, and when they find you, give them their treats and have a party!
If you don’t have a helper, put a small handful of treats on the ground, and then quickly go hide.
As your dog becomes more advanced, scatter the treats further away in the opposite direction to where you’re running, and hide in harder places.
This game starts teaching your dog to orient to your voice and recall even when they can’t see you.
Puzzle Toys
Treat-dispensing toys, like Kongs, are super handy to keep in your “rainy day” kit. While food toys can’t fully replace exercise or interactive play, they are great for keeping bored dogs busy when you don’t have the time or energy to play with them.
Towel burrito
Don’t have any puzzle toys yet? You can make your own with an old towel. Place treats or a chew on the towel, loosely roll it up, and let your pup figure out how to get at the snacks. Supervise closely to make sure they don’t rip up and eat the towel.
Find the Toy/Treat
Put that dog’s nose to work. Get a toy or treat that Sparky really likes. Show it to her and get her excited. Have someone restrain her. Tell her to “get reeaaady!” While she watches, hide the object a few feet away, behind a wall or a sofa. Tell her to “find it!” and let her go. Praise her big when she gets to it.
Once she’s figured out what “get ready” and “find it” mean, and had a few successes at this easy level, you can increase the difficulty.
Forage for Food
Let Sparky channel her inner wild beast by scavenging for dinner instead of eating another boring meal out of a bowl. Measure out a meal’s worth of kibble. Mix in some shredded cheese or bits of chicken to make things interesting, then scatter it around the yard or living room. Make it even more of a challenge by putting the food into puzzle toys, and then hiding the puzzle toys. This is a great way to keep your pup occupied when you have to leave her home alone, too.
Indoor Agility
Channel your inner child and construct an obstacle course in your living room. Make jumps out of broomsticks or pool noodles. Make a tunnel by draping blankets over a line of chairs. If Sparky’s a little guy, buy a cheap kid’s play tunnel from Target. Make a tire jump by duct-taping a hula hoop between a pair of chairs. Make a weave obstacle by setting up buckets in a line.
Before testing your dog on the whole course, teach him how to perform each obstacle individually using lure/reward training:
Stick a treat in front of his nose, lure him through/over the obstacle a few times. Then fade the lure out by getting the treat out of your hand, but making the same hand motion. Have him follow your treat-less hand through the obstacle, then reward him with a treat out of your other hand.
Got small children? Indoor agility courses are also great for wearing out stir-crazy human puppies.
Treasure chest
Fill a cardboard box, laundry basket, or shallow plastic bin with stuff to explore. Whatever you’ve got on hand that’s safe: crumpled up newspaper mixed with treats, new toys, chews, or frozen Kongs.
See also:
- Stuck Indoors: Things to do With Your Dog When You Can’t Go Outside
- Dog Training 101: How to Teach Your Dog to do Practically Anything
- Is there hope for your stubborn dog? Why some breeds are harder to train, and the secret to success
- This Is Why Your Puppy Sucks at Going For Walks (And What to Do About It)
- He Knows What to Do, He Just Doesn’t Want To? Three Reasons Dogs Ignore Commands
