25+ Dog Game Ideas For Exercise, Enrichment, and Engagement
Enrichment and mental (as well as physical) exercise is beneficial for all dogs, and especially high energy breeds that need tasks to keep busy and work their mind. There are countless amazing puzzle toys out there specifically for canine enrichment, but mental stimulation and brain games don't have to be expensive. You can make several fun DIY toys on your own, or simply get creative and recycle regular household items to create fun opportunities for your dog. Remember to always supervise your dog with these toys and objects to ensure that they don't hurt themselves or ingest something in their excitement. These ideas range from the cheap and simple ideas such as putting dog treats in an egg carton, to fun activities for both dog and human like joining a new dog sport or club.
Categories Below
Section 1: Fun Games and Activities
Section 2: Creative Uses for Kibble
Section 3: Improving Engagement
Section 2: Creative Uses for Kibble
Section 3: Improving Engagement
Section 1: Fun Games and Activities
1. Let your dog sniff on their walks or let them choose the direction.
Sometimes, letting your dog do their own thing on walks can be relaxing and it can be a nice change of pace from a regular run or brisk walk. Dogs love to use their nose, and it's nice to give them the chance to explore their environment and sniff out all the other dogs in the neighborhood at their own pace.
2. Flirt pole toy.
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A flirt pole is basically like a giant cat toy for dogs. They consist of a pole (for the person to hold on to) with a rope attached to the pole, and a dog toy tied to the other end of the rope. Once finished, you can drag it around like you would with a cat to entice them to chase it. Sudden jerking movements often work well to catch a dog's attention. Flirt poles are great for dogs that love to chase things, and you can also use it to work on impulse control (ie. waiting for cue to chase after it.) You can find this toy online at Chewy.com, or make one yourself. For tips on making this toy yourself, check out this tutorial.
3. Give your dog a sandbox or digging pit.
Digging and foraging is a natural dog behavior and something that brings a lot of satisfaction to your pup, while also tiring them out. A good way to direct digging behavior into something positive is by making them their own designated sand pit and encourage digging in that area only. You can also hide toys in the sand and help the dog find all their favorite toys under the dirt to make their sandbox more exciting to them.
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4. Pylon game.
For this game, you need a few little orange pylons and some treats (ideally some pretty smelly treats.) Start by hiding some treats under a pylon and encourage the dog to get it. Once they're pretty quick at getting the treat out from under the pylon, start to add more pylons, and make it more challenging by only putting a treat under one of them. This should quickly turn into a scent game of trying to sniff out the right pylon with the food inside.
5. Walk in a new neighborhood or park.
A change of scenery is a good way to explore your city and give your dog the opportunity to check out new places and smells. This could be as simple as picking a new route in your general area, a park you haven't yet visited with your dog, or another peaceful neighborhood you've never walked in before. If you have a friend with a dog that lives across town, maybe you could set up a walk together and join them on a walk in their neighborhood or a park in their area.
6. Walk with some doggie friends.
Walking with friends is always more fun than going alone, and the change will surely be fun for your dog too. If you tend to be the type that skips a walk here and there, meeting up with others on a regular basis could provide the little extra motivation that you need to go out on a more consistent schedule.
If you have a reactive dog in training, walking near others can still be good practice for your dog (as long as you don't push them over threshold.) You would just have to find some understanding training partners that are willing to let you fall back from the group a bit and do a training walk without interaction among the other dogs. Walking with others can help your dog learn to relax in the company of other dogs and focus on their handler without worrying about what all the other dogs are going to do.
If you have a reactive dog in training, walking near others can still be good practice for your dog (as long as you don't push them over threshold.) You would just have to find some understanding training partners that are willing to let you fall back from the group a bit and do a training walk without interaction among the other dogs. Walking with others can help your dog learn to relax in the company of other dogs and focus on their handler without worrying about what all the other dogs are going to do.
7. Visit a pet store.
A change of scenery can be fun for your dog, and visiting a pet store together can give you the opportunity to expose them to new smells and people. Stores are also a great place to practice some training with distractions in a new environment.
8. Try some new dog safe chew toys or bones.
Chew toys are great for dogs of all ages, and they keep pups occupied and out of trouble. Naturally shed antler chews are a healthier and safer alternative to rawhides, or you may opt for bully sticks, or some durable rubber dog toys. Kongs and other toys that can be stuffed with food are another great option for dogs that don't naturally gravitate towards chewing.
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Section 2: Creative Uses for Kibble
Does your dog's meal time consist of filling up a bowl and plopping it down on the floor for your dog to gobble up in 30 seconds flat? Let's change that! There are so many opportunities to enrich your dog's feeding times, extend their eating time, and fit in a bit of exercise in the process. Whether you have a bit of extra time to try out new ideas or need something simple and fast, the ideas below will help make your dog's meal times into a more engaging and mentally enriching activity.
1. Snuffle mats
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Snuffle mats are easy to make with a few simple materials, and a they're a lot of fun for dogs! These mats are made by weaving strips of fleece through a plastic or rubber mat. Once finished, you can toss some treats or kibble throughout the mat and the dog can use their nose to sniff out and hunt for the food.
Some people feed all or most of their dog's regular kibble by hiding it in a snuffle mat and giving it to the dog at dinner time. This is a great way to use the food that they would be getting anyway and give the dog an opportunity to engage their nose and play while they eat. This snuffle mat tutorial shows how to make your own homemade snuffle mat for your dog. You can also purchase snuffle mats on Etsy or Amazon.
Some people feed all or most of their dog's regular kibble by hiding it in a snuffle mat and giving it to the dog at dinner time. This is a great way to use the food that they would be getting anyway and give the dog an opportunity to engage their nose and play while they eat. This snuffle mat tutorial shows how to make your own homemade snuffle mat for your dog. You can also purchase snuffle mats on Etsy or Amazon.
2. Hide food outside in your backyard.
Dogs that love to use their nose will have a lot of fun looking for treats outside, and as a bonus, it keeps all the mess and running around out of the house! Spread some treats or kibble around your yard and encourage your dog to find them. They should catch on quickly, but you can help them out at first by showing them where some of the treats are and getting excited when they get close to finding them.
Hiding treats or kibble in clusters (or hiding more visual foods like carrot slices or cheese balls) also makes the game easier at first until they catch on to the concept. Once your dog gets really good at this game, you can toss individual kibble pieces all over the yard in different places; behind trees, on top of or inside objects (that you don't mind your dog getting into) or in tall grass.
Hiding treats or kibble in clusters (or hiding more visual foods like carrot slices or cheese balls) also makes the game easier at first until they catch on to the concept. Once your dog gets really good at this game, you can toss individual kibble pieces all over the yard in different places; behind trees, on top of or inside objects (that you don't mind your dog getting into) or in tall grass.
3. Stuff kongs.
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Kongs are a durable rubber chew toy for dogs of all sizes, and they can also be stuffed with treats or kibble. Some people soak their dog's regular kibble with water and then mash it into kongs instead of feeding from a regular dog bowl. You can even freeze them for added chewing time. Giving your dog their meals in a kong toy instead of a regular food dish encourages the dog to play and work for their kibble and also prolongs feeding time, which prevents them from gulping food too fast and choking.
Stuffed kongs are also invaluable for keeping a dog occupied while you're busy, and it gives them something positive to do. For example, giving them a kong can keep them out from under your feet while you are working in the kitchen, doing housework, or any other activity in the house where dogs tend to like to "help." They are also handy if your dog needs to spend some time in their crate, or alone in the house when you leave. Having some pre-stuffed kongs ready in the freezer are handy to pop out and give to your dog throughout the day.
4. Slow feeding bowls.
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If you're feeding kibble and don't have time to stuff kongs, slow feeding bowls are the next best thing. These bowls prevent dogs from gulping down their food too quickly, and also turns feeding time into a game. Whereas some dogs can finish their dinner in under a minute easily, a slow bowl can keep them occupied for several times that length, and engage their mind as they try to find the best angle to get that stray piece of kibble in the corner.
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5. Wrap food in a towel.
Wrapping food in a towel is another great way to teach a dog to use their nose and encourage foraging. All you need for this are some old towels and treats. Start with several high value treats, and roll the towel up loosely to make it easier for the dog initially. Encourage them to paw and nose at the towel until they get to the treats. Eventually, as the dog starts to understand and enjoy the game, you can start to use less food and lower value kibble, and fold or wrap the towel up tighter. |
6. Make a food trail.
Food trails are often best suited to an outdoor yard, but they can be made in the house as well. Spread a line of kibble around various places or obstacles in your house or yard, leading to a food jackpot with a little pile of treats at the end of the trail. You can walk your little food path along with you dog, or simply set it up and let them loose to follow their nose.
7. Put some food in empty cardboard boxes for your dog to rip open.
This is an easy way to put all your empty cardboard boxes to good use without throwing them out. Using one, or even several boxes, put some food in the box and tape it up, then give it to your dog. You can put their whole meal inside the box, or even just a few treats if your dog just really enjoys ripping up the box. If your dog is more tentative, you may need to leave the box untaped instead, and use extra smelly treats to pique their interest.
8. Pick Pocket foragers toy.
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Pick pocket forage toys are fabric mats made with several pockets to put treats inside. They can be hung on the outside of a crate, or placed on the floor for dogs to sniff through and forage for food. Pick pocket toys are great for engaging your dog's sense of smell and natural instincts of searching for food. You can learn more about these toys here.
9. Snuffle ball.
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Snuffle balls are a combination of a treat ball and a snuffle mat. They are made out of JW Hol-ee Roller balls, with strips of fleece tied through the holes. These toys can be used with treats or just regular kibble. After you fill the ball with food and give it to your dog, they can roll it or pick it up and toss it around to get some kibble to periodically drop out onto the floor. These toys can be found on Etsy or you can make one yourself.
10. Put several towels and treats in a big plastic container.
Tossing several treats or pieces of kibble in a big container or box with a bunch of towels and newspaper is another great way to encourage a dog to use their nose to sniff out and find food. This can keep them busy for awhile digging through all the towels while searching and engaging their nose. This is also a great activity for a housebound rainy day.
11. Put treats in a cardboard egg carton.
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This is another easy recycling game for your dog. Instead of tossing your egg cartons in the trash, hide some treats in the empty carton and let your dog go crazy ripping and tearing it up to get at the treats. If that turns out to be too easy for them, tape the carton shut with the food inside to prolong the game.
12. Toilet paper rolls in a shoe box.
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This is a cheap and easy game for your dog, and you can recycle a few things while you're at it. Start with an empty shoe box, and several paper rolls. Place the paper rolls upright in the box, fitting in as many rolls as you can in the box. When the shoe box is full, place a treat in each roll and give the box to your dog. You can start out with smellier, high value treats at first if your dog needs more of an incentive, and eventually switch to something like dry treats or kibble once they understand the concept of the game.
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13. Muffin tin game.
The muffin tin game is another simple yet fun nose and brain game you can set up for your dog. All you need is an old muffin baking tray, some tennis balls, and some treats. Place a treat in each hole, and put a tennis ball on top of every treat. You may want to start with some extra smelly treats at first if your dog is hesitant about this game. Encourage your dog to knock the tennis balls out of the tray to get at the treats. They may need a bit of help at first, so be sure to step in and help move a tennis ball over here and there so the dog doesn't get bored or frustrated.
Once your dog has mastered this game, you can make it a bit more challenging and start teaching them to use their nose more by selectively putting treats under only some of the tennis balls.
Once your dog has mastered this game, you can make it a bit more challenging and start teaching them to use their nose more by selectively putting treats under only some of the tennis balls.
14. Kong Wobbler toy.
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A Kong Wobbler is another great treat dispensing toy. This toy will wobble back and forth and drop food from the hole on the side when the dog paws at or pushes the toy around. This toy is great for dry treats or even just as a way to make your dog's meal times more interactive and prevent them from gulping food too fast. |
15. Reward positive behavior throughout the day.
Rather than feeding your dog all at once, you can instead measure out your dog's daily food (or a portion of their daily food) and feed a few pieces here and there as rewards throughout the day.
For example, you can put the kibble in your pocket or in a food pouch for walks and reward for quiet walking and paying attention to you, or split the kibble into several small cups or bowls and place them out of reach around your home. If your dog has a habit of getting under your feet more than you would like or gets excited easily, reward behaviors like going to their bed to lie down or showing other types of calmness and self control. This is a great way to capture the calm behaviors you want to see in your dog, and have food readily available to reward.
Placing cups of food around your house also proves handy for teaching your dog to work without food present and visible. Randomly ask your dog for an easy behavior, like sit or down, throughout the day, and reward from the nearest cup. Once your dog gets good at this, you can start to ask for a chain of 2, 3, 4, etc. behaviors before rewarding. Practice in different rooms, and different times when the dog isn't expecting it.
For example, you can put the kibble in your pocket or in a food pouch for walks and reward for quiet walking and paying attention to you, or split the kibble into several small cups or bowls and place them out of reach around your home. If your dog has a habit of getting under your feet more than you would like or gets excited easily, reward behaviors like going to their bed to lie down or showing other types of calmness and self control. This is a great way to capture the calm behaviors you want to see in your dog, and have food readily available to reward.
Placing cups of food around your house also proves handy for teaching your dog to work without food present and visible. Randomly ask your dog for an easy behavior, like sit or down, throughout the day, and reward from the nearest cup. Once your dog gets good at this, you can start to ask for a chain of 2, 3, 4, etc. behaviors before rewarding. Practice in different rooms, and different times when the dog isn't expecting it.
16. Hide kibble under big sheets of newspaper.
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This is a relatively quick and easy idea, and provides a good use for your flyers and newspaper after you're finished with them. Hiding your dog's kibble under paper encourages them to paw and forage for their food, which makes their meal time into a more fun and interactive activity. |
17. Practice impulse control and stay behaviors.
If you have a bit of time to train your dog when you feed them, this could be a good one to practice on a regular basis. Even if you're strapped for time, a couple repetitions of stays and leave its can help a lot over time. Sit and down stays, as well as leaving food until cued to take it, are great for teaching self control, and these types of behaviors apply directly to real life scenarios. Practicing these important behaviors every day keeps them fresh in your dog's mind and helps significantly when you move your training outdoors.
18. Crumple up balls of newspaper with kibble inside.
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This is another way to reuse your old newspapers and give your dog a fun way to work for their kibble. If your dog has a tendency to eat too much of the paper, you may have to try crunching them up very softly into a ball so the kibble falls out easier, or supervise your dog and intervene periodically to get them back on track with the game. |
19. Place a pile of kibble under an upturned laundry basket.
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One way to get your dog thinking and trying different things is by putting some kibble under a plastic laundry basket. Some dogs are able to quickly figure out how to push the laundry basket up enough to get at the food, whereas others may need help at first to keep them interested. Either way, it's a fun game for dogs, and a simple way to keep them entertained with just a handful of kibble and a regular household item. |
20. Spread some kibble on an old yoga mat and roll it up with the food inside.
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Some dogs will learn how to get to the food pretty quickly, but none the less, this is a simple and good game for your dog to figure out. You can do multiple repetitions with less food inside for the dogs who catch on quickly, or simply one repetition with a lot of food to keep your dog motivated. |
21. Put their kibble in a puzzle toy.
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You can get all kinds of different puzzle toys for dogs, requiring them to sniff, lift, paw, or shift different things around to get at the treats. You may have to help your dog and show them how their new puzzle works at first so they don't give up too easily, but most dogs learn to love these types of toys. |
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22. Toss some kibble in a play tunnel.
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Some people get a play tunnel for their dogs in the house or yard, and tunnels can make a great hiding place for food. If you plan to do agility with your dog, you might want to skip this one, but it can be great to build a positive association for dogs that are a little wary of tunnels, or even just those that like to run through them for fun.
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23. Mock nail trimming.
If your dog isn't overly thrilled about the essential task of nail trimming, it could be something you could slowly work on over time. Practice picking up and holding your dog's paw in one hand, rubbing between their toes and inspecting their nails, all while rewarding frequently for allowing you to do that. Let them grow comfortable with their feet being handled, and then bring out the clippers and work on touching them to the feet without clipping. As always, try your best to make this a fun daily ritual and try not to push your dog too quickly.
You can also use this time to practice other husbandry and handling behaviors, such as inspecting the ears, opening the mouth, and touching their sides, belly, and legs. As with the nail trimming, you want to be sure to reward frequently for little steps at first, and try not to push the dog too far out of their comfort level. Working on these behaviors for just a few minutes a day can make a world of difference for your vet and groomer, and make everything a less stressful experience for your dog as well.
You can also use this time to practice other husbandry and handling behaviors, such as inspecting the ears, opening the mouth, and touching their sides, belly, and legs. As with the nail trimming, you want to be sure to reward frequently for little steps at first, and try not to push the dog too far out of their comfort level. Working on these behaviors for just a few minutes a day can make a world of difference for your vet and groomer, and make everything a less stressful experience for your dog as well.
Section 3: Improving Engagement
Increasing your dog's engagement and enthusiasm to work alongside their handler is beneficial for everyday life and training in so many ways. Engagement results in a more attentive and responsive dog, which helps with everything from recalls to loose leash walking and essentially everything else in between. Engagement paves the way to a closer relationship between the dog and owner, and fosters a mutual partnership.
The best way to improve your dog's engagement is to be a fun and interesting partner that is willing to engage with your dog as much as you want them to engage with you. The activities listed below (provided they are trained in a fun and enthusiastic way!) are great for building up your engagement and relationship with your dog.
The best way to improve your dog's engagement is to be a fun and interesting partner that is willing to engage with your dog as much as you want them to engage with you. The activities listed below (provided they are trained in a fun and enthusiastic way!) are great for building up your engagement and relationship with your dog.
1. Scavenger hunt with your dog
This is similar to the game above, but more handler oriented. This game is great to strengthen your bond and improve your dog's focus on you. Start by hiding treats in various places around the yard while your dog is inside or not paying attention. You can hide the treats in a crevice on a tree, behind a rock, or just on the ground around the yard. Once your dog is out in the yard, go around to each spot where you hid the treats and excitedly call your dog to you and show them the treat. They will quickly learn that their human is really fun and magically finds yummy treats in mysterious places. This game is great to improve your dog's recall and engagement with you.
2. "Find me!" Game.
Find me is a fun game you can play alone with your dog, or with a second person. You can play in your yard, or it can also make a fun rainy day game in the house too. Hide somewhere while your dog waits (you can put them in a stay, have someone else hold them, or drop a handful of kibble on the floor before taking off to hide.) Pick an easy hiding spot the first few times, and call your dog if needed. Have some treats handy and make a big fuss when your dog finds you. Gradually, you can start choosing harder hiding spots, and stop calling your dog as long as they are engaged in the game and actively searching for you. You can also play this game along with your dog, and search for a second person together.
3. Trick training.
Tricks are lots of fun to teach your dog and show off to friends. Trick training also strengthens the relationship you have with your dog, and develops new and different skills that may also improve obedience and engagement outside your trick sessions. Teaching tricks to your dog only takes 5 minutes a day, and you can even earn trick titles by submitting videos online.
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4. Get involved in a dog sport!
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Dog sports provide a great outlet for both physical and mental exercise. There are countless different dog sports you can join with your dog to suit all kinds of personalities and abilities. Some sports (such as agility or obedience) may have local classes you can join to work with a trainer in person, whereas others can be learned and practiced at home or online. You can find a list of dog sports and activities to explore here.
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5. Urban agility or doggie parkour.
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Taking your dog to an unoccupied park or somewhere with several sturdy rocks, tree trunks, or other obstacles can give you the perfect opportunity to get creative and make your own obstacle course.
Dog parkour is an activity where the dog navigates different obstacles by climbing, balancing, and jumping. You can even earn titles online for your parkour skills.
Playing around on unoccupied playground equipment can also be a great way to develop your dog's balance and confidence with new obstacles. There may be low tunnels your dog can go through, platforms to jump on, and various other new things to expose your dog to.
Dog parkour is an activity where the dog navigates different obstacles by climbing, balancing, and jumping. You can even earn titles online for your parkour skills.
Playing around on unoccupied playground equipment can also be a great way to develop your dog's balance and confidence with new obstacles. There may be low tunnels your dog can go through, platforms to jump on, and various other new things to expose your dog to.
