Dog owners reveal best game to keep pets entertained

Winter weather can pose a challenge for dog owners. While some dogs are happy to run about in the wind, rain, snow and ice, others are less enthusiastic about venturing outdoors when temperatures plummet. But this doesn’t change the fact that daily exercise is an essential part of every dog’s routine.

One dog owner sought advice from Reddit users on how to keep their four dogs entertained and active when outdoor walks become less feasible. They said: “Due to the cold they are not able to be outside as much as they are used to being, does anyone have any advice on how to keep them entertained while inside?

“They already have baskets full of toys which they love, but toys don’t always fix the zoomies, and with the Christmas tree up, they can’t play super rough like they normally do.”

In a subsequent comment, they added: “They can be outside and they do go outside, but when they are outside by themselves, and since there are no leaves on the trees any more, they are constantly barking at squirrels, to the point that neighbours are complaining. They do have coats, but we haven’t tried boots.

“I normally spend about two hours with them outside playing ball and they’ll come in tired, but an hour later will be zooming again.”

The majority of users offered the same suggestion – engaging the dogs in a version of hide and seek, or ‘hide it’, is an effective way to expend both mental and physical energy, reports the Mirror.

One individual shared: “My dog loves it and sniffs his brains out trying to find all the treats I’ve hidden. Usually tires him out pretty nicely, and also I think makes him feel like he’s done ‘his job’.”

The game is straightforward – simply show your dog a treat, say “find it!” and toss it across the floor. Once they locate it, shower them with praise so they understand the aim of the game. The same can be done with toys.

As they become familiar with the game, you can increase its complexity by hiding treats around the room, or even in another room before letting the dog in and saying “find it!”.

The Reddit user continued: “My dog picked it up surprisingly quickly. Now, I put him behind a gate and hide like four or five treats in different rooms, open the gate and tell him to find it and shoots off like a rocket looking for the treats. It’s honestly really impressive to watch him work.”

Another user added: “My dogs loved hide and seek. We played with my daughter and she’d hide and yell ‘peaches’ and I’d let them out of my room so they could hunt her.

“When she moved out I would take a favourite treat, cut it small (like string cheese or hotdogs) and lock them in my room to hide them all over the house. ALL of the house. Even the basement.”

The Blue Cross, a dog charity, also endorses this as an excellent way to keep dogs entertained indoors, stating it’s “great fun for your dog and entertaining for the family too.”

Another individual offered a different suggestion, stating: “Training sessions where you go through their commands in different orders or add in new ones. You do this one dog at at time and with multiple there, having them each work on only doing the command they were given.”