10 Indoor Games To Play With Your Dog On A Rainy Day

When the weather turns sour and outdoor playtime is canceled, your dog’s energy doesn't just disappear. Cooped-up pups can quickly get bored, restless, or even destructive.

Fortunately, physical exertion isn't the only way to tire out your dog. Mental stimulation—often called "brain games"—can burn just as much energy as a brisk walk. By turning your living room into a temporary playground, you can keep your dog happy, healthy, and thoroughly entertained until the sun comes back out.

Here are 10 fantastic indoor games to play with your dog on a rainy day.

1. Hide and Seek

Hide and seek is a fantastic way to practice obedience commands like "stay" and "come" while engaging your dog's mind.

• How to play: Ask your dog to stay in one room. If they haven’t mastered the stay command yet, have a family member gently hold them. Find a hiding spot in another part of the house—behind a door, under a blanket, or behind the couch. Call your dog's name or give your recall cue. Celebrate with high-value treats and praise when they sniff you out!

2. The Muffin Tin Game

This is an easy, DIY canine puzzle that tests your dog's problem-solving skills using basic household items.

• How to play: Grab a standard 12-cup muffin tin. Drop a few smelly treats or pieces of kibble into a handful of the cups. Then, place tennis balls over all twelve cups so the treats are completely hidden. Your dog will have to figure out how to use their nose and paws to nudge the tennis balls out of the way to find the hidden rewards.

3. Scent Hunt ("Find It!")

A dog's sense of smell is their primary way of experiencing the world. Scent work allows them to tap into their natural foraging instincts, which is incredibly satisfying and exhausting for their brain.

• How to play: Put your dog in another room so they can't watch you. Hide small, fragrant treats around the living room. Start easy by putting them in plain sight on the floor or behind a sofa leg. Bring your dog back into the room and give them a cue like "Find it!" As they get better at the game, you can hide treats in trickier spots, like inside open cardboard boxes.

4. The "Which Hand?" Guessing Game

If your dog has never done nose work before, this simple guessing game is the perfect introduction.

• How to play: Take a treat and close it inside one of your fists. Show both closed fists to your dog and ask, "Which hand?" Let your dog sniff your hands. When their nose touches or paws at the correct hand, open it up and give them the treat.

5. Indoor Obstacle Course

You don't need a professional agility arena to give your dog a physical workout. You can easily build a miniature agility course using items you already own.

• How to play: Set up a low-impact course in a hallway or spacious room. Rest a broomstick across two low boxes or chairs to make a small jump. Drape a blanket over the gap between two chairs to create a tunnel for them to crawl through. Use cushions as hurdles or couch pillows to practice balance. Guide your dog through the course using treats, rewarding them at each station.

6. Bubble Chasing

For dogs with a high prey drive or a love for chasing things, bubbles offer a magical, mess-free indoor workout.

• How to play: Grab a bottle of bubbles—ideally a dog-safe, flavored variety like bacon or peanut butter. Blow a stream of bubbles into the air and encourage your dog to snap at them. Chasing and popping the floating bubbles forces your dog to move around, jump, and coordinate their movements.

7. Structured Tug-of-War

Tug-of-war is a high-energy game that builds confidence and burns off physical restlessness quickly. However, an indoor game should always feature structure to keep it safe.

• How to play: Grab a sturdy rope or fleece tug toy. Initiate the game, but use the session to practice impulse control commands like "drop it" or "give." If your dog's teeth accidentally brush your skin or clothing, immediately stop the game and pause for a brief time-out. This teaches your dog that gentle play keeps the fun going.

8. Teach "Put Your Toys Away"

Turning clean-up time into a game is a brilliant way to challenge your dog's mind while actually getting some help around the house.

• How to play: This advanced trick builds on the "drop it" command. Have your dog
• pick up one of their toys. Guide them over to their toy basket or storage bin. Hold a treat directly over the basket. When your dog opens their mouth to take the treat, the toy will drop cleanly into the basket. Mark the exact moment it falls with praise. Over time, pair this action with a verbal command like "clean up" or "put away."

9. DIY Cardboard Box Dig Box or Bottle Puzzle

If your dog loves to dig or forage, grab a few old shipping boxes, fill them with crumpled paper, packing peanuts, or old towels, and scatter treats or kibble throughout the layers.  Let your dog rip, rear, and root through the boxes to unearth their treasurers.    Just keep an eye on them to make sure they aren’t actually eating the cardboard or packing peanuts, etc.

You don't need to run out to the pet store for expensive puzzle feeders. You can build a highly effective boredom-buster using clean recycling.

• How to play: Take an empty, clean plastic water bottle and cut a few small holes into the sides (ensuring there are no sharp edges). Drop a handful of dry kibble or hard treats inside and leave the cap off. Place the bottle on the floor. Your dog will have to nudge, bite, and roll the bottle around to make the treats fall out of the holes. Always supervise your dog during this game to make sure they do not chew or swallow any plastic.

10. Master a New Trick

Mental fatigue wears a dog out faster than physical running. A rainy day is the perfect excuse to skip the usual routine and teach a brand-new trick from scratch.

• How to play: Pick a trick your dog doesn't know yet, such as "spin," "crawl," or "hand target." Break the trick down into tiny, bite-sized steps using a training method called free-shaping. For example, if you are teaching them to "spin," reward them first for just turning their head, then for a half-turn, and finally for the full circle. Keep the training session short—about 5 to 10 minutes—so your dog stays motivated and doesn't get frustrated.

Final Thoughts

Rainy days don’t have to mean a boring day of lounging for your furry friend. By swapping out outdoor running for indoor brain games, you can easily fulfill your dog’s mental and physical needs. Pick two or three games from this list next time the storm clouds roll in, and watch how quickly a little mental workout turns your energetic pup into a sleepy, satisfied companion.