If your dog turns into a ball of energy the second you’re stuck inside… you’re not alone. We have definitely had our share of rainy Vancouver days where Ember still has far too much energy – even after a short walk.
Rainy days, busy schedules, injuries, or just life in general can make it hard to get outside for long walks—but that doesn’t mean your dog has to be bouncing off the walls.
The good news? You don’t need a big space (or even a backyard) to burn off your dog’s energy. With the right mix of physical activity and mental stimulation, you can keep your dog happy, engaged, and actually tired—right from your living room.
While nothing fully replaces outdoor exercise, these easy indoor activities can make a huge difference on the days when getting outside just isn’t an option.
💡 Tip: Many of these activities use food as motivation. To avoid overfeeding, use part of your dog’s regular meals instead of extra treats.
Quick Ways to Burn Energy FAST
Tug-of-War
Tug-of-war is a classic for a reason – dogs LOVE it! Tug is Ember’s favourite game, she lights up as soon as we get the tug toy out. It’s a great way to burn physical energy in a short amount of time.
👉 Pro tip: Set boundaries (like “drop it”) so it stays controlled and safe.
Hallway Fetch
This one is pretty simple! Throw a ball down a hallway (or even across the room if you don’t have a long hallway) for quick bursts of running. Even a few minutes of fetch can make a big difference to tire out your dog.
Stair runs (if safe)
If you have stairs – use them! Toss a toy up or down the stairs for a serious energy burn
Disclaimer: Make sure that your dog can safely handle stairs and isn’t prone to joint issues. This activity isn’t suitable for young puppies.
Mental Stimulation (Tires Them Out Even Faster!)
Find it
Gather some of your pet’s favourite smelly treats or mealtime kibble, let them sniff them, and then hide them around your space while telling your dog to wait. Once you’ve hidden the treats, let your dog sniff them out.
👉 Pro tip: Start easy, then increase difficulty as they learn.
Puzzle Games
Puzzle feeders and interactive toys challenge your dog to think and problem-solve. Dogs love this, and the mental stimulation tires them out quickly. You can find a large variety of these at your local pet supply or on Amazon – see the bottom of this article for some of our favourites!
Hide and Seek (With YOU!)
Hide and Seek is a simple and super fun way to play with your dog indoors. Ask your dog to sit and stay while you hide. Then call them and wait for them to find you!
This game has the added benefit of helping your dog work on their recall.
Low-Effort Activities (For Busy Days)
Short on time? Try some of these ideas to keep your dog busy while you get things done!
Frozen Kong or Lick Mat
Fill a Kong with wet dog food, yogurt or peanut butter and freeze it. Or you can spread any of these on a lick mat and freeze it. Sure to keep your dog busy and calm.
👉 Pro tip: Kongs come in a variety of sizes and strengths – be sure to pick the right one for your dog.
DIY Enrichment Games
Need to tire out your dog but don’t have any enrichment games on hand? Here are a few DIY ideas your dog will love!
- Roll/tie kibble in an old tea towel or t-shirt. Your dog will have to work to get unravel the knot and get the kibble! (This is an Ember favourite! All of our old shirts are saved for this game!)
- Muffin Tin Find it! Put some treats or kibble in a muffin tin and cover them with tennis balls. Your dog will need to sniff out the treats and move the ball to get them.
- The Cups game – also known as 3 card monty (3 dog monty?) Take 3 cups and put a treat under one of them while your dog watches. Then move the cups around and ask your dog to find the treat. Great for mental stimulation!
5-Minute Emergency Energy Burners
Need to tire your dog out in a hurry? Do this for 5 minutes.
- 2 minutes of tug
- 2 minutes of “find it”
- 1 minute of basic commands (sit, down, stay)
You’ll be surprised how 5 minutes of this will tire out your dog!
Common Mistakes That Don’t Tire Dogs Out
Even with the best intentions, we sometimes miss the mark. Here are a few common mistakes that may leave your dog still feeling full of energy:
❌ Only focusing on physical exercise
Mental stimulation is key.
❌ Repeating the same game every day
Dogs get bored—switch it up.
❌ Overusing treats
Too many treats = less motivation (and possible tummy issues)
How to Tell If Your Dog Is Actually Tired
- Relaxed body language
- Less pacing or whining
- Settling down for a nap
- Not immediately re-engaging in play
If your dog is still restless, they likely need more mental stimulation—not just physical.
Check Out Our Favourite Tools and Toys For Tiring out Your Dog
Lick Mats: These have suction cups to attach to a flat surface. Spread some yogurt, peanut butter, or wet food and let your dog enjoy! To prolong the fun try freezing it before you give it to your dog.
Classic Kong: Ember LOVES her Kong – in fact she has several. Kongs come in a variety of colours and sizes – red is the classic/neutral Kong. If your dog is a strong chewer you may want to try the black Kong. For senior dogs the purple Kong has a more gentle rubber.
Snuffle Mats: A fan favourite. Hide kibble through the mat and let your dog go nuts sniffing it out!
👉 Pro tip: If your dog tends to destroy their toys (Ember is the master of this) then you will need to supervise them while they use the snuffle mat.
Durable Tug Toy: Ember loves playing tug, so we play this often. And as she is a strong girl we have gone through our share of tug toys! We find that those with multiple things attach tend to be destroyed more quickly – but have a look at what is available and pick the one that works best for your dog.
Puzzle toys: There are literally hundreds of puzzle toys out there. Obviously we haven’t tried them all (but check back – we are making our way through them and will post reviews!) We do find that the Kong Wobbler is a favourite for Ember. It’s challenging enough to keep her busy, and she hasn’t been able to destroy it, which is a win!
The wobbler comes in multiple sizes – the link below is to the large toy that we have, but you can get the size that works for you.
Having a few of these toys on hand can go a long way to keeping your dog tired and calm when they are at home.
Final Thoughts
Indoor days don’t have to mean endless energy and frustration.
With the right mix of games and activities, you can keep your dog happy, engaged, and tired—even when the weather (or life) keeps you inside.
Try a few of these today and see what works best for your dog—you might be surprised how effective indoor play can be.