Winter Enrichment Ideas for Dogs: How To Keep Their Minds and Bodies Active Indoors

Winter can be a magical season with snowy landscapes and cozy nights by the fire. However, winter often presents challenges for keeping dogs active and engaged, especially when freezing temperatures or icy conditions limit outdoor adventures. Luckily, there are plenty of creative ways to keep their minds sharp and tails wagging using everyday household items and fun games.

Here are some winter enrichment ideas to help your pup stay happy and healthy during the cold winter months:

DIY Treat Puzzles with Household Items

Stimulate your dog’s brain by creating simple treat puzzles using items you already have at home.

• Muffin Tin Puzzle: Place treats in some compartments of a muffin tin and cover them with tennis balls or crumpled paper. Let your dog figure out how to uncover the treats. Fun fact: You can find this easy DIY (and many others) in my book!

• Towel Roll-Up Game: Lay a towel flat, sprinkle treats on it, and roll it up. Your dog will have to unroll the towel to find the goodies. For other towel variations, check out our blog post on towel puzzles.

• Snuffle Box: Hide treats inside a clean cardboard box filled with crumpled paper, toilet paper tubes, or small, safe toys. Encourage your dog to use their nose to sort through and find the treats.

Scent Games for Mental Stimulation

Dogs naturally love to sniff, and nose work games are a great way to tire them out mentally.

• Treat N Seek: Hide small treats around a room and encourage your dog to sniff them out. Start with easy hiding spots and gradually make it more challenging. Bonus: Cover them with red solo cups for an extra element to work through.

• "Feed The Chickens": Take a handful of kibble or treats and scatter them around your house, or even in the snow for snow-loving dogs. Allow your dog to use their nose to find each morsel. This encourages natural foraging behaviors and is extremely enjoyable for dogs.

• SCENT-Sory Box: Create a sensory box featuring unique smells for your dog using a cardboard box and unique items. Think: Dog friendly herbs, your gloves after you spend time in a barn or unique environment, hay, pinecones from a walk, etc.

• Snuffle Mat: Sprinkle some treats or kibble into a snuffle mat.

Interactive Feeding Activities

A great way to mix things up during the winter is to turn mealtime into an enriching experience.

• Purchasable Interactive Feeders: Fill a Kong Wobbler, Snoop, or Bob-A-Lot with kibble and let your dog move the toy to release the food.

• Stuffed Kong: Fill a Kong or other treat-dispensing toy with a mixture of wet food, peanut butter (xylitol-free), or plain yogurt. Freeze it for a long-lasting challenge.

• DIY Food Dispenser: Drill holes into a plastic coffee container and fill it with kibble (See video below). Let your dog roll it around to release the food.

Indoor Obstacle Course

Create a mini agility course in your living room to keep your dog physically active. While this may sound silly to some, allowing our dogs the opportunity to problem-solve and interact with things in new ways can help build their confidence.

• Broom Step: Set up a broomstick on low supports for your dog to step over.

• Weave Through Chairs: Arrange chairs in a zigzag pattern and guide your dog through them.

• Tunnel Fun: Drape a blanket over two chairs to create a makeshift tunnel.

• Cushion Stepping Stones: Place cushions on the floor and encourage your dog to step from one to the next.

  
  

Interactive Games & Time Together

Engage your dog with fun games that strengthen your bond.

• Hide and Seek: Find a good (and fair!) place to hide in your home. Once hidden, call their name and reward them when they find you. I also love doing this with a squeaky toy!

• Tug-of-War: Use a sturdy toy for a fun and energy-burning tug session. Tug is a classic way to have fun together.

• Teach New Tricks: Teach your dog some fun tricks like spin, paw targeting, back up, or high 5. Practicing fun tricks together can be great for confidence building and for bond.

• Canine Day Out: In the winter, indoor dog friendly businesses and pet stores can be a great place to take your dog to stretch their legs (respectfully, of course!).

Enrichment Jars for Quick Ideas

Create an enrichment jar filled with activity ideas written on slips of paper. When you're short on inspiration, simply draw a slip from the jar for an instant activity.

Final Thoughts

Keeping your dog mentally and physically stimulated during the winter doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With a little creativity and the use of everyday household items, you can create fun and engaging activities that your dog will love. Remember to always supervise your dog during new activities and adjust challenges based on their comfort level.

Try out some of these enrichment ideas and watch your dog thrive, even on the coldest days of the season!

Running out of easy DIY ideas or inspiration? Check out out Instagram Page for fun DIYs and activity recommendations.

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