Fun Games to Play Indoors With Your Pet

Advice from Pet Care Professionals in Pflugerville, TX 

Whose dog is ready to go outside and play regardless of the weather? Or quite the opposite, does your dog refuse to put their paws out the door if it’s chilly or wet out? Whether temperatures are lower, or the climate is rainier by you this time of year, pets still need mental and physical exercise and enrichment in their daily routine.

 

Fun Games to Play Indoors With Your Pet

 

We’ve got you and your pet covered, no matter if it’s cold or raining outside! Texas Ruff House dog walkers and pet-sitters take extra care to add value to walks and in-your-home visits to make sure your pet’s needs are met. When the weather is unfavorable or unsafe for your dog to go for their full walk, our dog walker will bring them back in after taking them for a potty break and play fun indoor games!

Let's have some fun with our pets!

 

Playing games with your pet helps them bond with you as well as develop and retain valuable social skills through training, enrichment, and reinforcement of desired behaviors. Additionally, pets require some level of exercise depending on their breed and size – be sure to check with your veterinarian first about how much physical exercise is appropriate to meet their needs. This applies to both dogs and cats, as cats need stimulation in their day-to-day too! Now, here are some of our favorite games to play indoors with your pet that you can try yourself:

 

1. Mind games can be played by almost any pet, especially ones with limited physical abilities. Fun fact: mental exercise can be just as tiring as physical exercise! This can look like a game of hiding treats under one of two cups and switching their places and having your pet pick one. There are also endless options on the market for interactive toys that work your pet’s brain while they try to get to the treat!

 

2. “Find It” games can take many shapes and forms, whether it’s hiding treats within a DIY snuffle mat or a frozen towel, getting creative with a cardboard box full of toys or household items like crunched up paper and toilet paper tubes and throwing some treats inside, or even as simple as telling your dog wait in one place while you hide a treat in another room, making the treat harder to find every round.

 

3. Agility is not just for Border Collies! Anyone can set up a fun obstacle course using things around the house or by picking up a few items from the Dollar Store. Open a big box from both ends to make a tunnel for your dog to run through, place small cones in a row widely spaced apart for your dog to weave around, and hold up a hula hoop for the jumps! Start easy and if your dog enjoys going through the obstacles, gradually make it more challenging!

 

4. Tricks training can be a game in itself, and can be applied to dogs, cats, birds, and even fish! Pick an easy trick to start with and find a video tutorial that demonstrates how to teach it. You may be surprised to learn how eager your pet is to perform and try new things! Treats can be a huge motivator to get them started, so make sure to have some on hand.

 

5. Finally, sometimes there’s nothing better than grabbing your pet’s favorite toy, be it a frisbee, ball, tug rope, or flirt pole. You may think that your pet is perfectly content playing with a chew bone or catnip on their own, but nothing lights them up more than you initiating play with them with one of their go-to toys! 

 

Safety tips from pet care professionals!

Just like you would with a kid, it’s important to set some ground rules with a pet. 

 

Rule #1: Have fun! This is the most important rule, because if you’re having fun, your pet will have fun too!

 

 

 

 

Rule #2: Carefully watch your pet’s body language during play, as this is how they communicate. Stop play at once if you notice them showing any discomfort, retreating, or showing undesirable behavior. Sometimes pets need a break, and other times they might not fully enjoy a game or find it too challenging – and that’s OK! Every pet is different. 

 

Rule #3: Be cautious not to model or reinforce inappropriate behavior and make sure that you are consistent in your communication with your pet. Sending a mixed signal, like your dog jumping up to your face is OK one minute, but not the next when your dog breaks your glasses, will only confuse them!

 

Our dog walkers and pet sitters take fun seriously. 

Our dog walkers and pet-sitters are trained to pay attention and be mindful of your pet’s body language, so if you need some pointers, please don’t hesitate to ask the Texas Ruff House team! The team is experienced in caring for a wide variety of pets of all kinds of personalities and behaviors, and we aim to pair your pet with a team member that’s best suited to your furry/feathery/scaly loved one! We look forward to playing with your pet on our next visit!