It has been incredibly dry and mild in Colorado this winter. Although this makes me worry for the environment, it has made life easier! Many dogs (like mine) love playing in the snow, but I don’t think any of us like going out in a blizzard. And how do you deal with your dog when you can’t take them for a walk because of a skiing injury (or from slipping on ice)?

For some reactive dogs you may also want to take a break from walks, to give them time to build new skills.

In this blog I suggest several of my favorite games to play with my dog when it’s too unpleasant to go outside.

My spaniel Buffy doesn’t care that it’s snowy!

Cardboard Chaos

With the holidays most of us have a load of boxes filling up our recycling. Use them to make a fun game for your dog!

Dog by cardboard box — Dog with a tough box puzzle.

Start with one box and scatter treats or kibble in and around the box.

Is your dog a bit nervous and doesn’t want to stick their head in? Make things easier!
- Put the box on its side and make sure that all the flaps are cut off or tucked away.
- Scatter lots of treats around the front of the box.
- Play this game often so your dog gets comfortable with it.
Does your dog dive straight in with enthusiasm? Make things harder!
- Add more boxes and scatter treats in some but not all boxes.
- Put treats in a box and then put that in another box so they have to figure out how to get them out.
- Close the boxes a bit.
- Add packing paper and plastic bottles to the box.

The limit of this game is your imagination! And while your dog is having fun they are using their nose, using their brain, and gaining confidence and optimism.

Orientation Game

I love orientation game for so many reasons! It is such a simple game that has so many benefits.

Orientation game is easy to teach:

Grab a handful of treats.
Toss a treat in one direction (e.g., to your left).
When the dog has eaten it and looks at you, mark with a “Yes!” and toss a treat in the other direction (e.g., to your right).
When the dog has eaten it and looks at you, mark with a “Yes!” and toss a treat in the other direction again (e.g., to your left).
And repeat!

I love playing this game in long hallways, as you can get your dog running up and down it chasing treats. You can make the game more active by taking a few running steps with your dog, or slow it down by placing the treat. Find what makes you and your dog happy!

This game is a great way to teach your dog that it is always fun to check in with you! This helps with recall, as well as if your dog is worried by things out in the world.

Watch a video of me playing orientation game with Buffy here.

Teach your dog something new

I always recommend using low-distraction environments to teach your dog something for the first time. Being snowed in is a great way to reduce distractions!

You can teach something new using a technique called ‘shaping’, where you reward small steps towards your final goal behavior. Check out this video for how to teach your dog to put their front feet on a stool.

Learning a new trick is a great way to use your dog’s brain, and is relationship building as you are both carefully watching each other.

‘Two Paws Up’ is also a great trick to teach your dog as an alternative to jumping up on people.

Hide treats for your dog to find

I am a big fan of getting dogs to use their nose. It makes them feel good and makes them think.

If it’s the first time you’ve played this, let your dog see you place its dinner around the living room, then release them to go find it.
As they get more experienced you can put the dog in their crate or in another room while you hide their food. You can also start putting the food in all sorts of random places: behind chair legs, on a shelf, behind a sofa cushion…
Sit back and watch your dog sniff!

If all else fails - give them something to lick or chew!

Sometimes you just need your dog to settle. This is when you practice various calming practices, and bring out your arsenal of enrichment.

This can include:

Snuffle mats
Lickimats
Long-lasting chews like bully sticks or tendons
Stuffed Kongs or Toppls
Pupsicles or other toys from Woof (and get 10% off with the code BreninBehavior10)

Nose work can be a really fun sport to do with your dog as you can practice inside or outside. Working as a team with your dog builds your relationship and makes you an expert on reading your dog’s body language.

Dog with rosettes — Buffy won ribbons at a recent nose work trial!

Do you want to teach your dog to find things?

Join me at new classes starting in January!

Every Tuesday night I teach odor detection classes at the Canine Learning Center. Starting in January I will also be teaching a suite of nose work classes for Human-Animal Bond in Colorado (HABIC)!

At both locations I run classes to accommodate all levels: from dogs who have never done a search before to seasoned pros. All classes are a wonderful way to use your dog’s brain and boost your relationship.

Too busy to train your dog? Let me help!

I understand the frustration of needing to help your dog through behavior issues but never managing to find the time to train. This is why my Dog Tutoring service can be so helpful!

With Dog or Puppy Tutoring I come to your home and train your dog during the week while you are busy doing other things. So you come home to a happy, calmer, and better trained dog. At the weekend I show you what we have done and how you can maintain it.

This is perfect whether you are struggling with issues like pulling on the leash or excitement over visitors, and is terrific for puppies.

Dog Tutoring spots are limited, so book soon!

What to do when you don’t want to walk your dog