Rainy Day Dog: How To Keep Your Dog Engaged?
Regardless of whether your dog enjoys the rain or not, sometimes it is best to keep them inside and dry. Here are some activities to keep your dog entertained on a rainy day.
Take It To A Dog-Friendly Store
A rainy day doesn’t mean your dog should be bored at home. You can explore dog-friendly stores in your town or city and take them to those. Places from restaurants to breweries and bookshops welcome pets, especially dogs. You can find a place for your dog to practice the tricks you taught in public.
Play Hide-And-Seek Games
Hide and seek is a game that dogs hardly get tired of. It’s one of the best activities to do with your dog on a rainy day to activate its hunting instincts. Hide snacks in places like blanket forts, ball pits, nooks, and crannies. You can try even better and make it more challenging if your dog is a natural at the game.
Work Its Brain With Dog Puzzle Toys
Puzzle toys are a type of classic toy that you can play with your dog at any given time. It also serves as an excellent rainy-day activity. Playing with puzzle toys will keep your dog from getting bored. They will give your dog enough mental stimulation and entertainment to keep it out of trouble. The best DIY option to create a puzzle game is to put a few treats in a muffin tin and cover them with tennis balls. Your dog will spend time trying to find the hidden treats.
Play ‘Chasing The Bubbles’ Game
Most dogs are fascinated by bubbles. They get even more excited when they discover these bubbles can be popped. Letting your dog chase bubbles is an excellent way to keep it engaged on a rainy day. Dog Bubbles come in a variety of flavors, including bacon and peanuts. Let your dog chase these bubbles and have a ball of a time, even when the weather is gloomy.
Schedule A Playdate With Its Best Buddy
Setting up a playdate is ideal if your dog is a social butterfly. Invite your dog’s best buddy to your house for a fun time on a rainy day. You can set up indoor games like puzzles or tug-of-war or make an obstacle course using boxes. For more of the rowdy bunch, arrange the basement or use gates to fence off any breakables.
Play Fetch, Tug-Of-War, Or Soccer
Playing indoor games is one of the best ways to engage your dog on a rainy day. Some excellent games to play are fetch, tug-of-war, and soccer. Make a tug rope or braid with some old cloth you have at home. Knot both ends of the rope and tug away. This game provides excellent mental and physical stimulation to dogs. Watch how your dog twists this way and that trying to get the rope from you when simply pulling doesn’t do the job.
Do Agility Training At Home
Channel your dog’s energy by putting it to good use through an at-home agility course. You can opt to get some of the equipment online. However, there are enough ways to use the things you have at home to make your own. You can get creative when making an obstacle course at home by using chairs, brooms, pillows, and hula hoops. As far as your dog can jump, weave, burrow, or climb through, it should be fair game.
Teach It New Tricks
A rainy day is perfect for teaching your dog new tricks or brushing up on basic commands. There are many dog training books and videos that you can refer to when teaching your dog. Teaching your dog to fetch the remote or slippers is also an excellent idea, as it kills two birds with one stone.
Have A Spa Day
At one point, your dog will want to go to the potty, after which it will stink like a wet dog mixed with worms. It’s the perfect time to pamper yourself and your dog with bathtime products and other spa essentials. You can give your dog a facial or a pedicure.
Strike A Pose
Now’s the time to capture some fantastic images of your paw friend. Get creative in building a backdrop with things you have at home. You can even hang a bed sheet that has some lovely designs. Have your dog try out its best outfits and click away. You can also get some pictures of your dog running through the obstacle course, sniffing out treats, or playing with a puzzle toy.
Watch Some Animal-Focused Shows Or Movies
Watching dog-approved television shows or movies is a fruitful way to spend a rainy day with your dog. Grab your television remote and cuddle up with your furry friend for movie time. Some dogs even like to watch sports games like hockey and soccer. Even if your dog doesn’t truly enjoy the show on television, it will still enjoy snuggling on the sofa while you do.
Read To Your Dog
Reading is also an excellent way to bond with your dog in the gloomy weather. Your dog will love to hear your voice more than trying to understand what’s happening in the story. Sit on the sofa and get comfortable with your paw friend while reading aloud a book. Your voice will be like music to its ears.
Make A Calming Lick Mat
Spread something like pumpkin, peanut butter, or any other tasty treat over a silicone mat with ridges, and watch while your dog works to lick it clean. It is an activity that takes a lot of time, so it’s ideal for those online meetings when you want your dog to be quiet and busy so that it doesn’t interfere with your work.
Finally, Rain Or Shine, Go Outside!
Sometimes, it’s alright to go outside and have some fun in the rain, to a certain extent. Ensure your dog is equipped with a rain jacket and waterproof booties to stay dry and safe. Leave a paw cleaner and towel by the door to clean it a little before it comes into the house.
What If None Of The Above Tips Don’t Work?
Sometimes none of the above tips may be helpful to keep your dog occupied and entertained. That’s when you might need to switch to an online course. These online dog courses make use of training methods that work in teaching your dog different commands. They use positive reinforcement methods to do this, which is why they are successful.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your dog busy and entertained on a rainy day could take effort. The above methods prove to be successful most of the time. You can try one or more of the above methods, depending on how long you want to keep busy.
Rainy days need not be gloomy for you and your dog, as there are plenty of fun activities that you can do with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Play With Your Dog In The Rain? You can play with your dog in the rain if you keep it safe and dry with a rain jacket and waterproof booties.
Do Dogs Like Being In The Rain? Some dogs enjoy the rain due to the exciting new smells and sensations. However, others may dislike it because it reminds them of the cold.
Do Rainy Days Make Dogs Tired? Dogs may be extra sleepy on rainy days because of the soothing sound and the feeling of the natural coziness of their homes when it rains.
