Keeping the dogs busy indoors without losing your mind
Malibu(pictured left) and Maze
Waiting out the cold indoors and chewing while I write
I didn’t plan on writing another post about keeping the pets indoors during the winter. With the arctic cold on its way, I have to think ahead. How will I keep the dogs busy?
While my dogs aren’t on the list of giant breeds, two of the four are enough to knock down a building. Maze, our bully, gnaws on the baseboards if allowed to roam freely without supervision. Malibu terrorizes our cat, Mimi. When the dogs roughhouse, get out of the way, or get run over.
This is why I keep a surplus of chew toys. Snuffle mats won’t withstand the powerful jaws of my wrecking crew. The mats will make a great puppy pad twenty dollars later if it’s not shredded.
Max is old and grumpy, so he’ll hang out in the doggy room with his toys and steal a few from his siblings, hoarding them on the cot he likes to sleep on.
Bourbon has zero interest in his toys. He’d rather sit, watch television, roll over for a good belly rub, go outside and herd the others, or play a game of hide and seek so that I can find him. In his puppy days, he’d hide our shoes in the backyard.
Malibu and Maze are the busybodies, the wrecking crew, and the attention hogs. If you’re looking for toys for aggressive chewers, check out what has passed the test in my house.
Hooray for Chew Toys!
The following toys have withstood my wrecking crew.
Starmark Treat Ringer Hot Dog is a winner for Malibu and Maze. They’ll play with the hot dog without the treat refill. They play with this toy more than any of their other toys.
Unlike Starmark’s Bentoball, which my dogs love, the treat rings in the hot dog are inexpensive and easy to replace. Maze, Malibu, and Max take the treats out of the Bentoball faster than I can put them in.
Kong's core strength ball is also a winner. Although it is not as popular with the dogs, I prefer it over any other ball for my big girl, Maze. She has a large mouth, and many of the balls I’ve seen on pet store shelves are choking hazards. The ball’s core is solid, so she can’t bite it in half. It’s an excellent second for Malibu and Maze when they lose the hot dog in the yard or I set it aside to wash.
Petstages Dogwood Tough Dog Chew Toy perfectly fits the dogs’ Christmas stockings. Malibu and Maze like to run with the dogwood toy and pass it back and forth in a game of tug-of-war. The toy is inexpensive and durable. I replace the toy when the ends get frayed from chewing.
Nylabone Power Chew Textured Dog Ring Toy works well when I crate Malibu and Maze. It’s not their favorite, but it has stood up pretty well, minus the teeth marks.
Leaps & Bounds Knotted Rope Tug Dog Toy X-Large holds up great in a game of tug-of-war. Max and Maze used to play when Maze was a puppy. Maze almost doubles the old guy in weight now.
Max (pictured left) and Maze
When Max and Maze played together
Indoor Games
I wondered what else the dogs could do besides tug-of-war and fetch to get their exercise. I did a couple of keyword searches and found more than enough activities to keep them busy while we wait out the cold indoors.
Hide and Seek was suggested by the American Kennel Club website. This reinforces the sit-and-stay commands that the wrecking crew desperately needs.
The dogs sit and wait while you hide, then call on them to find you. Found at https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-keep-your-dog-entertained-indoors/
The only limitation to this at my house is my bedrooms are off-limits to the dogs. This is partly because Malibu is fascinated with the cats. The feeling is not mutual.
Find the Treat game or scent work was found at the Puppyleaks website. This is an opportunity to work on the “sit” and “stay” commands. While the dog sits and stays, you hide the goods. It can be anything from store-bought treats to chunks of fruits and store-bought treats or dog-safe. The dog picks up the scent and stays active in the meantime. It’s a win-win if you can manage it.
If you decide to hide food, don’t forget where it’s hidden, or make sure your dogs pick up the scent. As a child, I hid boiled eggs in the house over Easter break. My poor mom turned the house upside down to find where the smell came from. You could also stick with a treat dispenser.
Pick up your toys game as suggested by Puppyleaks. It sounds funny, but why not try it? I keep the toys in a basket. If your pet knows “drop it,” you could have him pick up the toy and tell him to “drop it” back into the basket. There are dog toys everywhere in my living room right now.
I heard a story of a Blue Merle bringing laundry to a clothes hamper. I tried having Maze pick up a few clean hand towels but had to work them out of her mouth. The material catches on her teeth.
Check out the Puppylinks website for more: https://www.puppyleaks.com/easy-ways-to-keep-your-dog-busy-indoors/
One-to-One time
Individual time is a must when you have elderly or sick pets that need your care and attention. This is especially true of Max, my elderly dog, and Bourbon, who takes medicine for epilepsy. They’re quiet guys who will wait all day without complaint, unlike the girls, Malibu and Maze, who are a flurry of activity from sunrise to sunset.
Playtime for Malibu and Maze ends, usually when they lose interest in playing and look worn out. It’s back to the doggy room for them. Then it’s one-to-one time with Max and Bourbon, followed by a break for me and more playtime later.
Maze (pictured left) and Malibu at the gate. Max standing behind the girls.
In the doggy room when Maze could be trusted not to gnaw on the baseboards
While the games and toys are fun and engaging, the outpouring of love matters most.
Show kindness and patience to your furry family members. Remember how loyal they are to you and that their love is unconditional. They deserve the same.
