How to Exercise Your Dog When You’re Stuck Indoors

If you have space in your home to play fetch, Shelby Semel, senior trainer and founder ofShelby Semel Dog Training, says it’s a great way for dogs to burn off energy. For dogs that don’t normally play fetch or are still learning, she says it’s beneficial to take this time to teach the skill. “Teaching fetch does two things,” says Semel. “It can help them eventually be able to fetch and get that exercise, and they can have mental stimulation from learning.” Morgan and Matson Magleby, brothers and co-founders of pet supply companyRocco & Roxie, say this Chuckit ball is “great for tossing (carefully!) in your house and letting your dog run laps to go retrieve it.”

If you’re worried about a bouncy ball damaging items around the house — or disturbing your downstairs neighbors — Dr. Jennifer Coates, veterinary expert atChewy, likes this soft toy that “doesn’t bounce or roll too much.” It stands up to heavy chewing and is machine washable. You can also play with astuffed toylike thisplush dinosaurfrom Rocco & Roxie that lands without a thud and is less likely to break adecorative vaseor other home accent.

“Tug-of-war is another good game to play indoors, as long as your dog doesn’t get overstimulated and act aggressively,” Coates says. As for what to use, Samantha Schwab, resident pet expert at Chewy, says this rope is “the perfect chew toy for when your dog is alone and is great for tug-of-war when you’re together.” She’s had hers for over a year and says her dog “always comes back for more.” Coates advises ending tug-of-war games “by asking your dog to drop the toy in return for a treat,” to help them settle down.

For dogs that are “inquisitive, confident, and need exercise,” Semel recommends a doggytreadmill— or even a human treadmill if you already own one. Just start slow and follow your dog’s lead, as some might be hesitant. “If your dog is a little bit more nervous around new items or sounds that they’re not quite used to, you have to know that you’re going to go into a week or two period of getting them fully used to it and desensitizing them before they can actually use it for exercise,” she says. The DogPacer folds up when not in use to save space.

[Editor’s note: This treadmill is currently only available on backorder, but it’s expected back in stock this month, according to the company.]

“Basic training and obedience exercises can be turned into quality time for you and your dog,” says Klein, and other experts also recommend taking advantage of your time at home with your pet to practice skills and tricks. Through theirCanine Good Citizenprogram, the AKC offers resources for training behaviors like sitting and staying on command, coming when called, and listening to instructions while on a walk. If your dog already has these basic skills mastered, you can practice tricks or make an at-home obstacle course for your dog to navigate. As Annie Grossman, owner and co-founder ofSchool for the DogsandStore for the Dogs, says, “dogs don’t know the difference between the fun stuff and the important stuff,” and learning tricks for fun will be equally rewarding. “It’s fun for them and fun for you, and helps your dog burn some mental energy,” she says. Grossman uses the remote-controlled Treat & Train to train dogs to run laps around an apartment. Start with the machine close to your dog’s bed or mat, and gradually move it farther away until they’re trotting (and burning off energy) around the room.

If you’re looking for a treat to use, Semel recommends all-naturalchicken True Chewsbecause they don’t crumble so you can easily break off pieces for smaller treats. Similarly, Grossman likes thelamb lung treatsfrom her store’s in-house line because they’re made from a single ingredient, aren’t greasy, and break apart easily. You can also use bits of your dog’s regular food, or human food like carrots or apples.

We’ve written before aboutfood puzzles, which experts recommend for preventing dogs from overeating and promoting mental stimulation, and they can be especially helpful right now. Semel and Grossman agree that you can even feed all of your dog’s regular meals in puzzle feeders these days for extra stimulation. “Feed them their meals when you’re busy and want to make sure that they’re busy as well,” says Semel, who suggests distracting your dog with a food puzzle when you’re on a conference call and don’t want them interrupting. She likes the Nina Ottosson Tornado feeder, which requires dogs to use their nose and paws to uncover hidden kibble. Coates stresses the importance of using a puzzle feeder that’s appropriately difficult for your dog. “Novices may find difficult ones frustrating while pros get easily bored,” she says. That’s one of the reasons she also likes the Tornado, which comes with pieces you can use to cover the food compartments — so you can first try it with the compartments uncovered and then use the covers as your dog gets more experienced.

The Kong Wobbler is another one of Semel’s picks. Twist it open to insert treats or kibble and then let your dog figure out how to get their food from the side hole. Because dogs can’t get the food out by chewing on the toy, Semel likes it for heavy chewers. “They use their paws and their faces to knock it around, so they’re not sinking their teeth into it and ripping pieces off,” she says. TheKong Classic, which comes in multiple sizes and has a larger hole on the bottom, works well for dogs who are new to these puzzle toys according to the Magleby brothers, and it can double as a toy for fetch. Coates likes that the toy “dispenses kibble as it is rolled along the floor, which also promotes physical activity.”

Grossman and Semel also recommend snuffle mats for feeding and play time. “Essentially, it’s a big fluffy map that you can hide treats in,” says Semel. “Some have sections of little puzzle areas that have flaps for hiding the food or treats.” She says you can leave one out for parts of the day when you want your dog to stay occupied without needing your attention. This mat has lots of little nooks and crannies for dogs to fish treats from.

Just like going for a solo walk or run is safe during quarantine, you should still be walking your dog when you can. “One-on-one walks in off-hour times and in areas of low-density population, if possible, can and still should occur,” says Klein. The Maglebys point out that “regular walks and hikes outside are like a theme park of sensory information for [dogs], and decreasing or eliminating this can leave them yearning for more stimulation, which can lead to annoying or destructive behaviors as they seek it out.” A leash that’s at least six feet long will ensure you stay at a safe distance from others, even if you’re being pulled to another dog that yours spots. Thisexpert-recommended leashis just the right length. It also has reflective stitching so you’ll be visible while walking early in the morning or late at night when sidewalks may be less crowded.

Socialization is important for dogs, even during quarantine, so Semel suggests letting your pup play with another dog if it’s possible to do so without coming into contact with their owners. “It’s really nice for them to be able to really tire themselves out, “ she says, “because a 20-minute playdate is like a 45-minute walk.” A long leash can help if you don’t have access to an enclosed space like a backyard to let the dogs play in, and she says you can be extra safe by wiping down your dog afterward. We’ve written before about thesedisposable wipeswith vitamin E and aloe for conditioning skin. If there’s no way to play safely, Grossman says you can even put on Animal Planet or other dog videos for some interaction, which is even more important forpuppieslearning social skills.