{"id":13092,"date":"2017-11-05T11:21:14","date_gmt":"2017-11-05T11:21:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coastandcountry.co.uk\/?p=13092"},"modified":"2023-08-15T12:08:13","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T11:08:13","slug":"things-to-do-with-dogs-inside","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.coastandcountry.co.uk\/blog\/things-to-do-with-dogs-inside","title":{"rendered":"Rainy days with Rover: 5 things to do with dogs inside"},"content":{"rendered":"

Down in South Devon we\u2019re blessed with a lovely microclimate with fewer days of frost, higher average temperatures and less rain than the UK average. Our sunny weather, along with our open countryside, spacious beaches<\/a> and dog-friendly attractions<\/a>, attract thousands of pet-owning holidaymakers every year.<\/p>\n

But on those wintery days when the clouds set in and the rain fails to ease off, why not treat your time with the pooch as the perfect opportunity to have some fun together?<\/p>\n

Here are five fun things to do with dogs inside.<\/p>\n

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How about visiting our Facebook page<\/a> to share your own ideas?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

1. Frozen treats<\/h2>\n

Rubber cone-shaped food containers for dogs, often known by the brand name Kong, come in many shapes and sizes. These can be an effective way to make meals more stimulating and fun for hungry mutts. You can stuff your Kong with regular dog food or fill it with treats like peanut butter or apple slices. Freezing the Kong after you\u2019ve stuffed it will mean your dog has to work for its supper, staving off boredom on days when it can\u2019t be outside roaming the countryside.<\/p>\n

The Kong Company has some great recipes here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. Food dispensing toys<\/h2>\n

A similar option is to purchase a food dispensing toy. These are often in the form of cubes or balls \u2013 when they\u2019re rolled along the floor by the dog, they dispense dry food little by little. Some make a bleeping sound when the hole is facing the floor and there\u2019s a strong chance of a treat rolling out. It\u2019s great fun watching your dog learn how to get its paws on the treats.<\/p>\n

3. It\u2019s never too late for new tricks<\/h2>\n

Teaching tricks can be an endless source of entertainment for you and your dog, but there can be practical benefits, too. Some tricks can help to keep your dog safe \u2013 e.g. you can use commands like \u2018Come!\u2019 and \u2018Leave!\u2019 to stop your dog getting into trouble around livestock, cliff edges and other hazards. So it\u2019s good to practise these before heading out onto Dartmoor or some stretches of the South West Coast Path, for example.<\/p>\n

Other tricks might have no obvious practical benefit, but remember that every trick you teach your dog can strengthen your bond and improve its obedience in the long-term. And despite the old saying, you can teach a dog new tricks!<\/p>\n

There are 52 great tricks to teach here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Which hand\/which cup?<\/h2>\n

On a rainy day when your dog won\u2019t get as much outdoor exercise as you\u2019d like, you can still stimulate their most important sense with some indoor play. One easy game to set up is \u201cWhich hand?\u201d or a similar variation. This involves simply hiding a treat (or pellet of dry food if you\u2019d like to give your dog its entire dinner this way!) in one hand and holding out both fists. They\u2019ll quickly learn to sniff their way to the correct hand.<\/p>\n

A fun alternative is to place three opaque containers face down on the floor, with a treat slipped underneath one of them. Move the containers around and see if your dog can follow its nose to the right one. It may take a while for your four-legged friend to understand the game, but after that it should quickly become a favourite.<\/p>\n

Doggie massage<\/h2>\n

Many people may laugh at the thought of giving their dog a massage. But a scientific study in 2015<\/a> found that dogs respond better to touch-based interactions with people than they do to receiving spoken praise and encouragement. ‘Additionally,’ wrote the researchers, ‘[the] dogs did not show any sign of satiation with petting.’\u00a0It seems it might be literally impossible to stroke or pat your dog too much!<\/p>\n

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If you are going to spend a lot of your time indoors stroking, petting and scratching your four-legged friend, why not learn to do it properly? Modern Dog magazine<\/a> has some simple tips to help you get started with the art of doggie massage.<\/p>\n

We hope these ideas for things to do with dogs inside have inspired you to have some fun with your pooch, whatever the weather is doing.<\/p>\n

\n

One of the joys of a South Devon holiday with your dog is that, with Coast & Country Cottages, there\u2019s no need to compromise on comfort just because you\u2019d like to bring your four-legged family member along.<\/p>\n

\"sandpiper2<\/a><\/p>\n

Take a look at the three luxury dog-friendly holiday cottages<\/a> we\u2019ve picked out for you, or explore our full range of around 110 pet-friendly holiday homes<\/a> here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Down in South Devon we\u2019re blessed with a lovely microclimate with fewer days of frost, higher average temperatures and less rain than the UK average. Our sunny weather, along with our open countryside, spacious beaches and dog-friendly attractions, attract thousands of pet-owning holidaymakers every year. But on those wintery days when the clouds set in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":21820,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[115],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dogs","location-south-devon"],"yoast_head":"\nRainy days with Rover: 5 things to do with dogs inside<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Rainy days on holiday aren\u2019t all bad news for you or your dog. 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