The summer months are known for bringing us long, hot, and sunny days—days perfect for swimming, hiking, and spending the day at the park with your pooch.
Summer is also notorious for showering us with an occasional thunderstorm.
These storms definitely put a damper on bringing your pet outside for much-needed exercise.
It’s even worse when these storms last for 2-3 days at a time, cooping both you and your pet up in your home.
The bad news…without proper exercise, your pet, especially if he/she is a high-energy breed, can become restless and destructive.
The good news …there are many ways you can exercise your dog indoors to release your furry friend’s pent-up energy.
Keep reading to discover my favorite 5 rainy day Pet Activities.
#1 Schedule a Puppy Play Date
A rainy day inside is much more fun when surrounded by friends. If your dog has a four-legged pal he enjoys playing with, invite him over.
Make sure you clean up your floor space to make room for the dogs to romp around.
Place dog toys out to encourage a game of chase or tug-o-war.
And don’t forget to let your pet indulge in some old-fashioned puppy wrestling.
A day with a friend is the perfect way to get some indoor pet exercise.
#2 Play Tug-Of-War
Tug-of-war is a great indoor game. It requires only a little space and is a lot of fun for your pooch.
Dig through your dog’s toy bin, or pick a rope toy up at the store, and let the war begin!
A note of caution: Over time ropes begin to fray, and your dog might try to eat the rope strands.
Make sure you throw out broken rope toys as the frayed pieces, when consumed, can cause intestinal blockages and other health problems.
#3 Create a Treat Scavenger Hunt
Nothing brightens up a soggy day quite like your pup’s favorite treats.
Instead of just feeding your pet treats by hand, hide them in toys.
Place treats in toys, such as a Kong, and your pooch will have hours of entertainment trying to get the delicious morsels free.
Add more exercise and fun into treat-stuffed toys by creating a scavenger hunt with them.
Simply fill the toys with treats and hide them around your house.
Then let your pup do the work by sniffing them out.
Just a friendly reminder to not overfeed your pet treats. Also the best treats are often made from human food that is healthy for your pet. Learn what you can feed your pet here.
#4 Teach Your Pet a New Trick
Mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise. When you’re stuck indoors, try teaching your pet a new trick.
Some of my favorites are:
- High five
- Play dead
- Roll over
- Speak
- Fetch
Don’t forget to reward your dog with a tasty treat as she makes progress. I recommend you use these all-natural dog treats as rewards:
- Baked sweet potato sticks
- Watermelon chunks
- Carrots
- Blueberries
- Grilled chicken
#5 Take Your Pet Shopping
When you just can’t take being locked up inside anymore, take your pet on a trip to the store!
There’s no doubt your pet’s tail will begin to wag as you pull up to your local pet store.
Honestly, there’s nothing better than a car ride with your human, the opportunity to pick out a new toy or treat, and some time making new friends in the pet store aisles.
Believe it or not, there are many stores, other than pet stores, that are pet friendly.
The next time you need to run errands, keep in mind that the following places allow pets:
- Home Depot
- Lowes
- Michaels
- Bass Pro Shops
- Old Navy
- Tractor Supply Co.
- Apple Store
Exercise and diet are the two most important elements to keeping your pet happy and healthy.
That’s why on top of proper exercise, I recommend feeding your pet The Original CrockPET Diet®.
This diet is packed with all-natural ingredients that will supply your pet with the nutrients he/she needs, rain or shine.
