15 Indoor Activities for Dogs and Rainy Day Games

Serena Faber Nelson Founder & Pet Lifestyle Writer

Pet lifestyle expert Serena Faber-Nelson is the founder of Pretty Fluffy. A contributor to Everyday with Rachael Ray, Modern Dog Magazine, Cesars Way and more; her modern, stylized take on DIY dog treats has seen her recipes viewed millions of times over.

Serena is the author of the go-to dog mom bible, Dog Mama, and the popular dog treat recipe book, Healthy Homemade Dog Treats.

Found! 15 indoor activities for dogs that your pup will love!

Here at Pretty Fluffy we love spending time with our dogs, but when it’s cold and rainy out, it can be hard to come up with indoor activities.

So we’ve done all the hard work for you and are sharing our favourite indoor doggie games…

15 Indoor Activities for Dogs

1. Indoor Agility. Build your own lounge room agility course. Use couch cushions to jump over, or add in a collapsible kids tunnel. Use treats to guide your dog through and see how fast they can get. Grab tips on how to set up your own course here.

2. Indoor ball games with iFetch. The iFetch automatic ball launcher is your rainy day dreams come true. It throws ball for your dog so you don’t have to. Simply set it up and your dog can play fetch for hours while you watch a movie! See iFetch for more details or read our full iFetch review here.

3. Dog Treat Puzzles by Nina Ottosson. The Nina Ottosson dog toys range are the perfect boredom busters! They not only keep your dog entertained and engaged, but they also boost their intelligence. The indoors range consists of a number durable interactive games, each with a unique mechanism that requires mental as well as physical dexterity to work through the challenges and reveal hidden food rewards. Designed to stimulate a dog’s brain whilst reinforcing their relationship with you, they are a must for your rainy day arsenal. To find out more read our full Nina Ottosson dog toy review here.

4. Puppy Pamper Session. Turn your rainy day at home into a spa day! While dogs will stretch naturally, canine massage has the additional benefit of increasing circulation for dogs, releasing endorphins and reducing stiffness. To massage your pooch, simply apply slight pressure with your palms as you would normally pat your dog. Experiment with circular motions and movements, making note of what your dog enjoys and spots where they may be holding tension. For more tips on canine massage and pampering visit here.

5. Learn some new tricks! No matter how old your dog, they can always learn new tricks. You can start with the basics like sit and stay, or use your indoor time to try some fun ones! All you need are some yummy treats – such as dog biscuits, cooked chicken or cheese cubes. For more ideas get your hands on Dr Katrina Warren’s Wonderdogs Tricks and Training book which features 20 fun tricks from easy to advanced..

6. Fill up a treat ball. Nearly every dog loves a treat ball – just fill up your favourite with kibble or small dog treats and let your dog enjoy their rainy day afternoon searching for treats. Our favourite treat balls include The Odin, and The Bob-A-Lot.

7. Fun and games with iFetch Frenzy! Through a quirky and clever design, the iFetch Frenzy dog toy engages your dog on a physical and mental level. Like a carnival game, when you pop the ball into the top of the Frenzy it randomly comes out 1 of 3 chutes at the base – keeping your dog guessing right til the very end! Working on gravity alone, the iFetch Frenzy has no need for power or batteries and is perfect for indoor play – set it up, lay on the couch, while the Frenzy keeps your dog them engaged and occupied for hours. See iFetch for more details or read our full iFetch Frenzy review here.

8. Have an at-home pet photography session. There’s something about lazing the day away at home and capturing your dog one-on-one in a little home photography. With your dog completely relaxed and with their favourite person (you!) by their side, you’re in the prime position to capture those special details only you know about. Grab our 5 top ideas for at home pet photography here.

9. Make some No-Bake Dog Treats. Ready in just minutes, these treats require no baking and your dog can enjoy them straight away. No more sad pup who can’t go on a walk, just a happy dog with their favourite snack! Grab our favourite No-Bake Dog Treat Recipe here.

10. Blow Bubbles! They ‘aint just for kids. Dogs love romping around trying to catch bubbles in the air. There are special ‘doggie flavoured’ bubble mixes like this ‘Bacon Bubble Machine’ (that blows bacon bubbles!!), but you’re also ok to use non-toxic kids bubbles.

11. Practice Using Your Dog Carrier. OK, so this activity may not rate as high on the ‘fun scale’ as all the others but it involves treats, and is a handy one for you  – so essentially it’s win win for both you and your dog! Grab our tips here on how to introduce your dog to a carrier.

12. Make your own No-Sew Dog Toy. Everyone loves a new toy, and dogs are no different. So while you may be stuck indoors, this super easy No Sew Dog Toy Tutorial will have your dog enjoying their new toy in no time.

13. Make Your Own Healthy Kong filling. Kongs are the perfect indoor dog toy and filling them up with yummy goodies guarantees your dog will be occupied for hours. Make your Kong stuffing extra healthy and yummy with our very own DIY Peanut Butter Bone Filling.

14. Make Your Own Apple Kong! All you need is an apple, an apple corer and your favourite filling. Completely edible, delicious, and healthy, with one of these babies by their side, your dog will be content to stay indoors! Grab the DIY Edible Apple Kong Dog Toy tutorial here.

15. Make Your Own DIY Tug Toy. Grab some old T-Shirts and within minutes your pup will have a new tug toy to while away the rainy day. Grab the tutorial here.