How to keep a dog entertained without food?
Savanna McGlynn
2025-10-14 18:59:18
Count answers
: 26
Dogs like walks not only because they exercise their legs, but also because they exercise their noses, according to Ellis, who suggests playing hide-and-seek with treats or kibble. You can buy brain games for dogs online, including treat-dispensing toys and puzzles. Even cheap grocery-store toys can be a welcome distraction. Fetch is many a dog’s favorite game — and it can easily be played indoors with a tennis ball, according to Rhoads, who suggests playing in a long hallway or, even better, on a staircase. Using your staircase to go up and down will get the heart rate up and get a nice, good respiration rate, she says. Pet owners who are less mobile might consider purchasing an iFetch fetching machine, which runs from $130 (smaller balls) to $230 (larger balls) on petsmart.com. Of course the cheapest option is to throw it yourself (exercise for you too!), but after throwing the ball for the 1,475th time in one morning, you might be ready to spend the money. Forage-friendly snuffle mats — made of looped material in which to conceal treats — are another option for dogs who like sniffing. You can buy them online or make a simple one at home by using an old rag or towel and twisting it up with the treats hidden inside, says Shaina Denny, cofounder and CEO of Dogdrop, a provider of on-demand dog day care. It’s like a treasure hunt.