Planes con perro los días de lluvia

Rainy days can be deadly for a dog. If there is something a dog needs, it is physical activity and not getting bored, which is why going out is so important for them, not only to use up energy but, above all, to smell and explore. But what do we do when we encounter rainy days when we can barely take the dog outside to do his little things?

Plans with a dog at home on rainy days

Well, although it is not common in Ibiza, we haven’t been able to go out with Uma for like 3 days in a row due to the rain. There are dogs and dogs. There are dogs that don’t mind going out rain, shine or snow, but what Uma is… getting her paws wet is not her thing, not to mention getting her entire paws wet. Not even a dog raincoat is useful here , so we must manage to ensure that Uma uses up energy while inside the house.

The worst thing a dog has to do is change his routine. We, for example, have a routine of taking the longest walk in the afternoon and of course, when the time comes, Uma is hyperactive with the desire to go out but, we open the door for her and when she sees the panorama she already turns around again and enters. At home, however, the hyperactivity is still there. How to solve it?

Games for dogs at home on rainy days

We usually play with her a lot, regardless of whether it is raining or sunny, however, we take advantage of the time for the walk to do an activity that motivates her a lot, such as hiding things so she can find them . This is a good example of the game I’m referring to:

An alternative to this game is to change the toy for you, that is, you are the one who hides. Nothing gives more adrenaline than hiding, you whistle for him to find you and when you are close you reward him with praise. Uma is crazy happy!

Other tips to help our dog use up his energy is to play directly with him while you are just another dog . It is one of the games he likes the most, lying on the carpet and playing at his level, squeezing his paw, ear, etc. with our hands, just like another dog would do with his mouth. We will use our hands for this and I assure you that they will have a great time and use up a lot of energy (and so will you, I guarantee it).

If your dog is a petty thief like Uma, what game could be more fun than «forgetting» what he likes to steal in the middle of the hallway. These days we have done it with socks, although well, we don’t need to try very hard because Uma manages almost every day to steal a sock from us. Well, that sock, in Uma’s case, forgotten in the middle of the hallway becomes a race to get the stolen sock. Yes, you will also exercise, and your dog will have a wonderful time and with his adrenaline pumping so that you don’t take away his most precious asset.

Surely, you will have dog toys  at home. The theme of throwing a ball, a stuffed animal, etc., is the most recurring game and ultimately the easiest to exhaust your dog, but honestly, they end up getting bored very quickly of always playing the same thing.

Things to do at home with your dog on rainy days

And a good plan that is not boring and that greatly stimulates his mind is to teach him obedience tricks . Uma knows how to make a few, but we can always teach her something new, and what better than to take advantage of it on a rainy day. For example, Uma knows how to give her paw, sit, lie down, turn around, croquette, sing, climb… Well, these rainy days we have not only remembered all these tricks, but we are now teaching her to jump between my arms placed in a circle. Since the prize is a candy, the aunt learns quickly, but there are many more tricks such as teaching her to climb on your back, or to play dead when you shoot her with your finger, etc.

If your dog likes to go by car, it doesn’t hurt to let him accompany you on the journey of things that you have to do quickly. For example, buying something on time, or withdrawing money from the bank, going to the pharmacy, etc. That trip alone will make the day more enjoyable for your dog, even if he doesn’t get out of the car, but he will see and smell other things.

As you can see, there is no excuse not to enjoy your dog indoors when it rains. Anxiety due to lack of physical activity can cause your dog to bark more than necessary, destroy the house, do his own things inside the house when he normally never does it, attract more attention with inappropriate behaviors, etc. These tips will help you make rainy days with your dog at home much more bearable.

What do you normally do when you can’t take your dog for a walk because it’s raining?