Indoor Games for Dogs: When Walks Aren’t an Option

If you're reading this, chances are you care deeply about your dog's wellbeing. Maybe the weather has turned brutal. Maybe your dog struggles with reactivity and outdoor walks feel like navigating a minefield. Maybe you're dealing with an injury - yours or theirs - that makes regular long walks impossible. Or maybe your dog is bouncing off the walls despite those daily walks, and you're wondering what else they need.

My dog, Minnie, looking outside at the snow and giving me a big ol' NOPE

Long walks aren’t the only way to meet a dog’s needs. And for many dogs, they’re not even the most effective tool.

Indoor games can provide meaningful physical movement, mental engagement, and emotional satisfaction. Below are my favorite indoor games and how to use them thoughtfully.

Why Indoor Games Work (Even for “High-Energy” Dogs)

A common belief I hear is that dogs need to be physically exhausted in order to be calm. In reality, many dogs - especially anxious or high-arousal dogs - have a wide variety of needs. Indoor games work because they combine:

• Physical movement

• Mental exercise

• Opportunities for success and problem-solving

  
  

For dogs who struggle outside, these games can reduce stress. For dogs with a lot of energy, they can provide challenge that a straight-line walk simply doesn’t.

The Games I Use Most Often

Here are my go-to games, the ones that consistently help dogs get what they need when the outside world isn't accessible:

Treasure hunts are my favorite. Dogs search increasingly large areas in the home for treats or enrichment items like Kongs and chews. Start small - a few treats scattered in one room - and gradually expand the search area and hiding difficulty over time.

Hide and seek involves two people taking turns hiding from the dog around the house, while one person holds onto the dog until the other person hides. This combines physical movement with problem-solving and strengthens your dog's connection with you.

Tug is beautifully simple. You tug on a toy with your dog. That's it. It's physical, it's engaging, and most dogs love it.

My dog, Minnie, playing tug. Note the yoga mats placed for extra traction! (Please excuse the grainy screenshot of a video.)

Flirt pole (if you have sufficient space and traction - see “Safety First” below) involves your dog chasing a toy attached by a string to a stick, sort of like a cat toy. Think of it as a controlled chase game.

Snuffle boxes are cardboard boxes filled with treats, towels, paper, toys, etc. where your dog has to rummage through all the "stuff" to get to the treats. Some dogs even love tearing the cardboard box apart and shredding it. If your dog is nervous about this activity, check out this blog post about how to help a dog who's scared of a snuffle box.

Lacy, the foster dog, enjoys a simple snuffle box made from an Amazon box, the packaging paper it came with, and a handful of kibble and treats.

Treat chase involves having dogs chase treats across the floor (being mindful of traction, please!)

If you want to purchase items, things like Kongs, chews, puzzle toys, flirt poles, and snuffle mats are good options. (You can find links to some of my favorite gear.) But the free or low-cost games - treasure hunts, hide and seek, tug, and snuffle boxes - are totally fine.

Safety First

I don't recommend any games that involve running on slippery surfaces or sudden changes in direction, especially on slippery surfaces. So I wouldn't play with the flirt pole by zigzagging it everywhere, and swinging the toy around in the air, encouraging jumping. Instead, I'd make the toy travel in smooth lines on the ground to protect your dog's joints and prevent injury. I’d also make sure I was playing on a carpeted area or using lots of yoga mats and rugs.

I'd also be careful not to give your dog anything inedible that they might ingest. For example, I would closely supervise or skip cardboard boxes for dogs who swallow shredded cardboard.

When Indoor Games Made the Difference

Towards the end of my dog's life, she was unable to go for long walks. But she still loved doing treasure hunts, rummaging through snuffle boxes, shredding the cardboard boxes, and playing tug. It was a great way to provide her with the physical and mental exercise she needed but couldn't get outdoors. These games gave her quality of life when her body couldn't do what it once could.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Choosing activities that create too much frustration or are beyond the dog's skills. For example, asking them to do a "treasure hunt" with just a few low-odor treats in a large room, hidden underneath furniture. If a dog is new to finding treats with their nose rather than their eyes, it's good practice to start them easy—with lots of treats scattered in a small radius without obstacles—and gradually increase the area of search and difficulty of finding treats under or behind objects over time.

Not giving dogs enough traction indoors. Yes, we already talked about this, but I’m saying it again for emphasis. Outside, they're on grass or concrete, but inside, hardwood floors and high speed are a recipe for injury. 

Thinking that the amount of time the dog spends doing the activity equates to quality. Sometimes a few minutes of tug or flirt pole is enough. Sometimes doing one or two "treasure hunts" around the house is enough. More isn't always better.

Games for Skill-Building

A lot of these games are great for building the skills of problem-solving, especially treasure hunts, puzzle toys, and snuffle boxes. They're also great for teaching dogs to do things independently from their guardians, if they're able to engage in these activities in another room.

These aren't just ways to "tire out" your dog. They're building emotional regulation, confidence, optimism, and the ability to work through challenges. That matters far more than tiring a dog out.

If Your Dog Is Still Struggling

If you're feeling guilty that your dog still struggles, I encourage you to know that you're doing the best you can. If your dog is still feeling anxious, don't feel like you need to keep adding more - more complex games, more time doing stuff. And for dogs who are bouncing off the walls, the goal isn't to give them so much activity that they collapse from exhaustion. Don't forget to prioritize rest - that's important too. We don't want dogs who are like an overtired toddler on our hands.

And if your dog is continuing to struggle, it doesn't mean you're failing. It might just mean your dog needs a more tailored approach. I work with dogs and their guardians to figure out what's really going on beneath the surface behaviors, and create a plan that actually fits your life. Learn more about private dog training lessons or done-for-you dog training services.

What I Want You to Take Away

I want you to feel like you have a list of options to select from, depending on your energy level and your dog's energy level. I want you to feel empowered to try different things - not all dogs will like every option! And I want you to not feel guilty, because the fact that you're reading this post means you care about your dog and are doing the best you can.

Your dog is lucky to have you. Use what works, skip what doesn't, and trust that you know your dog better than anyone else.