Puppy's Life
Rainy Day Diversions
Fun ideas you and your puppy can share indoors
Orlando native Winston, an English Bulldog, and his owner, Tracy Murphy, know what it’s like to see rain nearly every day during the spring and summer season. Wet weather is commonplace, even in the Sunshine State, so owners and playful pups such as Winston figure out ways to have a grand ol’ time indoors.
“When it’s raining outside, we usually play with his rope bone, play fetch with his ball, or sometimes just snuggle up together if we are having a lazy day,” Murphy says. “He has all kinds of toys: a glow-in-the-dark ball, squeaky toys, stuffed animals, and a rope bone.”
In the north, where snow and ice substitute for rain, Dory, a Golden Retriever/Labrador Retriever mix, and her owner, David Smith, are pros at having fun inside the house. Smith of Cleveland, Ohio, says Dory fancies playing a game of hide-and-seek her way...which involves hiding her favorite toy—the tennis ball. “She always finds the ball—no matter where you hide it,” Smith says. “She’s got a great ability to sniff it out.”
Games People & Pooches Play
When it comes to spending time with your four-legged friend, let your imagination take over. Here are a few suggestions that you and your pooch can enjoy together.
- Hide, Seek, and Find: Depending upon the size of your home, a game of hide-and-seek where you hide and call for your pup to find you can be great fun. Lead your dog into one room and then dart out. Hide behind another door, couch, or in a closet (leave the door partially open). Then whistle, call his name, or make an interesting noise. He’ll run around to find you—with a smile on his face!
- Tiny Bubbles: Blowing bubbles is an indoor game that keeps your pup entertained and exercised. Non-toxic bubbles sold in toy stores provide lots of good, “clean” fun when you blow through the wand and let the bubbles soar. It’s a blast to see the joy of your best friend running and jumping in the quest to “catch” the bubbles, only to discover they “disappear.” Watch the look on your pup’s face; you’ll see him trying to figure out where the bubbles went!
- Laugh and Learn: Puppies are constantly learning, and rainy days present the opportunity to learn together. In the living room or other open space, sit down with your pooch, and, with a smiling voice, use these moments to practice how to sit, shake “paws,” or lie down.
- Call up the Classics: Dogs love “classic” games such as fetch, especially since they get to spend time with you. For energetic dogs such as Dory, playing a round of fetch with Smith using her beloved ball is her “favorite thing in the whole world,” he explains. “When she wants to play, she nudges me with the ball or her nose to get my attention.” Now that’s a great way to sniff out a good time!
