Despite the slow start to winter this year, it’s getting colder outside! While the snowy months may make some of us less inclined to spend time outdoors, our dogs still need enrichment. On days when there’s snow up to your knees, there are plenty of easy activities you can do inside that keep you warm and your pet enriched.

A bored dog is often a misbehaved dog. Boredom can lead to destruction, excessive barking, difficulty settling, and more. Keeping dogs mentally and physically engaged is an important part of responsible pet ownership. You may have heard the claim that a 20-minute food puzzle provides the same benefit as an hour-long walk. While this hasn’t actually been proven, mental enrichment is still incredibly valuable for dogs. So, the next time it’s a blizzard outside and your dog is staring at you expectantly, try one of these fun indoor ideas:

Hide-and-Seek:
With your dog in another room, scatter treats in easy-to-reach places. Once they’re hidden, release your dog and let them sniff out all the snacks! This simple game can be played with anything your dog finds valuable—treats, a favorite toy, or even you. To make yourself the reward, hide somewhere easy (behind a counter, in the shower, or around a corner) and call your dog to you. Be sure to praise them and act excited when they find you! This game lets dogs use their noses while burning off energy as they search for prizes.

Training:
Learning new skills is a great way to get dogs using their brains. Teach a fun trick like “play dead” or “sit pretty,” or work on practical skills such as recall in a controlled environment or crate training. Keep sessions short—usually about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the dog—and always end on a positive note.

Food Puzzles:
Any puzzle that requires a dog to work for their food can be enriching. Kongs, slow feeders, and snuffle mats are popular options, and they’re easy to find in pet stores or online. You can also make simple puzzles at home with minimal effort. Try rolling treats into an old towel and tying the ends, or placing treats in a muffin tin and covering them with tennis balls. Another option is to spread peanut butter or wet food inside a bowl or toy and freeze it—once solid, your dog can settle in and lick away.

Interactive Play:
Indoor play doesn’t have to mean chaos. Gentle fetch down a hallway, tug-of-war (remember to let your dog win!), and rotating toys to keep them feeling new are all controlled, fun activities. These games help dogs stay active and allow for valuable interaction with you, even when going outside isn’t an option.

While indoor enrichment is incredibly valuable, it cannot completely replace walks and physical activity. Walks provide full-body exercise, fresh air, environmental variety, and real-world sensory experiences that indoor activities simply can’t replicate. Indoor enrichment should be viewed as a supplement—not a substitute—for regular walks and outdoor exercise whenever possible.

*Sutter is a young, high-energy dog! He loves the outdoors and enjoys playing in the snow. He will make a great companion for an active, outdoorsy home.*

Since 1994, the Animal Resource Center and the Shops of Second Chance Humane Society have been dedicated to serving animals in Southwestern Colorado. Our adoption hours are every day from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. We are located at 177 County Rd 10, Ridgway, CO. You can view our shelter pets and services online at secondchancehumane.org.