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How to keep your dog busy in winter: 15 indoor ideas
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Opens on Amazon.ca
Opens on Amazon.ca
Opens on Amazon.ca
Opens on Amazon.ca
Opens on Amazon.ca
Canadian winters are hard on dogs who love long walks. When it's minus twenty, the sidewalks are salted and it's dark by 4:30, walks get shorter and energy builds up indoors. That's when the zoomies, the chewed slippers and the staring start.
The good news is that you don't need a big house or expensive gear to tire out a dog. Mental work, like sniffing, problem-solving and learning, can be just as tiring as a walk. Here are 15 ideas, grouped by how much effort they take from you, plus a simple weekly plan at the end.
Sniffing games (the easiest wins)
A dog's nose is their superpower, and sniffing is one of the most satisfying things a dog can do. Ten minutes of nose work can settle a dog better than ten minutes of fetch.
1. "Find it"
Ask your dog to sit or wait, toss a treat a short distance while they watch, then say "find it!" Once they get it, hide treats out of sight in one room. Start easy, then make the hiding spots trickier.
2. Scatter feeding
Skip the bowl for one meal. Scatter kibble across a rug, the lawn (if it's not too cold) or a clean floor and let your dog hunt for every piece. It turns a 30-second meal into a 5-minute activity.
3. A snuffle mat
A snuffle mat is scatter feeding without the mess. Kibble hides between fabric strips and petals, and your dog has to root around to find it.
A large 34 × 19 inch snuffle mat with petals, grass strips, a squeaker and crinkle paper, plus a bowl section you can adjust to make it harder.
See why dogs love it →Opens on Amazon.ca
4. The towel roll
Lay an old towel flat, sprinkle treats along it, roll it up loosely and let your dog unroll it. Tie it in a loose knot for a harder version.
DIY puzzles from things you already have
5. The muffin tin game
Put a treat in a few cups of a muffin tin and cover every cup with a tennis ball. Your dog has to move the balls to find which cups have food.
6. The cup game
Hide a treat under one of three plastic cups, shuffle slowly and let your dog choose. Most dogs use their nose rather than their eyes, which is exactly the point.
7. Cardboard "unboxing"
Drop a few treats into a cardboard box or paper bag, fold the top closed and let your dog rip it open. Supervise, and pick up the pieces so nothing gets swallowed. Skip this one if your dog tends to eat paper.
Treat puzzles and lick mats
When you want something that keeps your dog busy without you running the game, puzzle toys and lick mats are the go-to.
8. A sliding treat puzzle
Your dog slides covers and nudges lids to uncover treats. Start with an easy one and help them win the first few rounds.
A beginner sliding puzzle with 16 treat holes and a squeaker in the middle. A good first puzzle for puppies and dogs new to brain games.
Get one for your pup →Opens on Amazon.ca
9. Level up the puzzle
If your dog solves the easy puzzle in seconds, move to one with multiple steps, like flipping a lid and then sliding a track.
Flip lids and sliding tracks across three difficulty levels, with silicone pads underneath to help keep it from sliding around.
Shop this pick →Opens on Amazon.ca
10. Frozen lick mats
Licking is calming for many dogs. Spread a thin layer of plain yogurt, canned pumpkin (plain, not pie filling) or a dog-safe peanut butter with no xylitol on a lick mat and freeze it overnight. Frozen mats last much longer, which makes them great for video calls or dinner time.
A 6-piece silicone set with two lick mats, a lick ball, a lick bowl, an ice tray and a spatula. Freezer-safe and dishwasher-safe.
Get the set for your pup →Opens on Amazon.ca
Training games
Learning is hard work for a dog's brain. Keep sessions short, about 5 to 10 minutes, and stop while your dog is still having fun.
11. Teach one new trick a week
Spin, shake a paw, touch your hand with their nose, or "go to your mat". A trick a week gives winter a little structure, and you'll have a dog with a whole party-trick routine by spring.
12. Hide and seek
Ask your dog to wait in one room, hide somewhere easy, then call them. Reward them big when they find you. It's great practice for a reliable recall, and kids love it.
13. Stair recalls and "doggy push-ups"
If you have stairs, call your dog up and down between two people for treats. On flat ground, try sit-down-sit-down in quick succession. Skip stairs for puppies, seniors and dogs with joint issues.
Gentle physical play
14. Tug and hallway fetch
Tug is a great energy burner when it has rules: your dog takes the toy on cue and lets go on cue. A soft toy rolled down a hallway works for fetch without risking your lamps. Use a rug or runner so your dog doesn't slip on hard floors.
Make the outdoor time count
15. The "sniffari" walk
On bitterly cold days, swap a long brisk walk for a shorter, slower one where your dog gets to sniff as much as they like. Sniffing is mental work, so a 15-minute sniff walk can be surprisingly satisfying.
A good coat makes short walks more comfortable for small, short-coated, senior and lean dogs. After walks on salted sidewalks, wipe your dog's paws with a damp cloth, and a paw balm can help keep pads conditioned through dry winter months.
A lick-safe vegan paw balm, handmade in Canada, in a push-up tube for no-mess application.
Shop the paw balm →Opens on Amazon.ca
For coat options from small dogs to large breeds, see our best winter coats for dogs guide.
A simple winter week
You don't need to do everything every day. Rotation keeps things interesting. Here's an example week to adapt:
| Day | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Breakfast in the snuffle mat | 5-minute trick session |
| Tue | Scatter feeding | Frozen lick mat |
| Wed | Treat puzzle | Hide and seek |
| Thu | Sniffari walk | Towel roll or box unboxing |
| Fri | Muffin tin game | Tug with rules |
| Weekend | Longer walk if the weather allows | New trick practice, then a calm chew |
A few safety notes
- Supervise toys and puzzles. Most enrichment toys aren't chew toys. Put them away when the game is done.
- Count the treats. Use part of your dog's daily food for games so winter doesn't add extra weight.
- Adjust for age and health. Puppies, seniors and dogs with joint issues need gentler, shorter games. Ask your vet if you're not sure.
- Rest counts too. A cozy bed in a quiet corner is part of a good winter routine. Not every minute needs to be busy.
Want to see more toys like these side by side? Our dog enrichment toys for bored dogs guide compares four of them in detail.
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep my dog entertained in winter?
Mix sniffing games (like scatter feeding or a snuffle mat), puzzles and frozen lick mats, short training sessions and gentle indoor play. Rotate activities through the week so they stay interesting.
Is mental stimulation as tiring as a walk?
It can be. Sniffing, problem-solving and learning new things are hard work for a dog's brain, which is why a short nose-work session often settles a restless dog.
How long should indoor training sessions be?
About 5 to 10 minutes is plenty for most dogs. Stop while your dog is still keen, and do a few short sessions a day rather than one long one.
Is it too cold to walk my dog?
It depends on your dog's size, coat, age and health, as well as wind chill. Small, short-coated, senior and lean dogs feel the cold fastest. On very cold days, keep walks short, consider a coat and watch for lifted paws or shivering.
What can I put on a lick mat?
Plain yogurt, plain canned pumpkin, wet dog food or a dog-safe peanut butter with no xylitol. Freeze it to make it last longer, and adjust portions so treats don't add up.
About this article
Written by the Snout & Tail Co. team using product listings and widely accepted pet-care guidance. We don't claim to have tested products ourselves, and this isn't veterinary advice. If your pet has a health concern, talk to your vet. How we pick · Disclosure
Want more ideas? Dog enrichment toys for bored dogs has our full shortlist.