Rain against the window, a dog staring at the door, and a long afternoon ahead. Wet days can be tough when your dog is used to a good walk. But a shorter walk doesn't have to mean a restless dog. With a few indoor games, you can give your dog a chance to sniff, think and play without leaving the house.
Here are easy indoor games for dogs on rainy days, most of which need nothing more than a handful of kibble and a bit of space.
Why indoor games help
A walk isn't only about the exercise. It's also a chance for your dog to explore smells, solve small problems and spend time with you. Indoor games can give your dog some of that too. Sniffing and problem-solving games are especially handy because they don't need much room, so they work in an apartment as well as a house.
1. Find it
This is the classic, and it's free.
- Ask your dog to sit or wait, or have someone hold them.
- Let them watch you place a treat or piece of kibble a few steps away.
- Say "find it" and let them go.
- Once they've got the idea, hide pieces behind furniture legs, under a cushion, or in another room.
Start easy so your dog wins often, then make the hiding spots trickier.
2. Snuffle mat search
A snuffle mat for dogs turns "find it" into a ready-made game. Tuck kibble into the fleece folds and let your dog hunt for it. On a rainy day, you can serve part of breakfast or lunch this way so the game fits into their normal meals. Our snuffle mat guide explains how to start and how to make it harder over time.
3. The cup game
Grab three plastic cups or bowls.
- Let your dog watch you put a treat under one cup.
- Slide the cups around slowly.
- Let your dog nose or paw the cup they think hides the treat.
- Lift it and reward them when they get it right.
Some dogs use their nose more than their eyes, which is half the fun.
4. Treat puzzle time
Puzzles give your dog a small problem to solve. A treat puzzle feeder with covered wells is a good fit for small dogs: hide treats or kibble inside and let them work out how to get each one. Leave a few covers open the first time, then close more as they figure it out.
Free version: drop a few treats into an empty cardboard box filled with scrunched-up paper and let your dog dig through it. Supervise, and tidy away the paper afterwards.
5. Hallway fetch
If you have a hallway or long room, a gentle game of fetch can burn off some energy. Use a soft toy, keep the throws short, and clear away anything breakable. Slippery floors and fast turns don't mix, so a rug or runner helps.
6. Quick training sessions
Rainy days are perfect for practicing skills. Keep sessions to five minutes or so and mix in a few ideas:
- Refresh basics like sit, down, stay and come.
- Teach "touch," where your dog bumps your hand with their nose.
- Try "spin" by luring them in a small circle with a treat.
- Practice "go to your bed" using a fleece blanket or bed as the target.
Use small pieces of kibble from their daily portion so training doesn't add up to lots of extra treats.
7. Hide and seek with you
Ask your dog to wait, go hide behind a door or in another room, then call their name. Celebrate when they find you. It's simple, it gets them moving around the house, and most dogs love it.
8. A slow, quiet finish
After active games, give your dog something low-key to finish the day. A lick mat spread with a thin layer of wet food or plain yogurt keeps them busy in one spot for a while. Our lick mat ideas post has suggestions for what to spread. Serving dinner in a slow feeder dog bowl adds one more small puzzle to the day too.
A sample rainy-day plan
- Morning: a short walk in the rain if you can, then breakfast in the slow feeder.
- Late morning: five minutes of training, then a snuffle mat search.
- Afternoon: find it or the cup game, followed by nap time.
- Evening: hide and seek, then a lick mat while you put your feet up.
Short sessions spread through the day usually work better than one long one.
After the rain: muddy paws
When you do head out, wet weather usually means muddy feet. Keep a dog paw cleaner cup by the door: add a little water, dip each paw, twist and pat dry. A reflective harness also helps on dark, drizzly evenings. You'll find both in Walk & Travel and Grooming & Bath.
Safety tips
- Clear space before active games and avoid slippery floors.
- Supervise your dog with any toy or puzzle, and put it away afterwards.
- Keep treats small and count them as part of the day's food.
- End games while your dog is still having fun.
Make the next rainy day easier
Pick two or three games your dog enjoys and keep the supplies handy. If you'd like a ready-made kit, the Dog Enrichment Toy Set includes a snuffle mat, lick mat and slow feeder bowl, or browse everything in Dog Enrichment. Every order ships free in the US, delivered in 7-14 business days.