5 Ways to Exercise Your Dog Indoors

Exercise Your Dog Indoors

Deciding to get a dog is one of those decisions that can improve your life a lot, but having a pet is not as easy as it seems to be. Besides the basic needs like food and shelter, dogs need a lot of physical activity and trainings.

Lack of running around, walking and having fun outdoors can have a lot of negative effects on the dogs. It can lead to a depression and reduced levels of dog's health.

It is understandable that taking your pet outside is not a possibility every day. There are countless excuses to stay inside with your dog and it is going to happen all the time. In this situation, for fun activities, you can use the items that are lying around your house or use gadgets like automatic ball launchers. They will keep your canine entertained for hours.

If you still have a hard time coming up with ideas for fun ways to provide enough exercise for your dog, this list might help you.

1. DIY Agility Obstacle Course

This kind of activity is a lot of fun for your pet no matter if it's inside or outside of the house. There are a lot of regular things that hang around almost every house that can be used as a part of the obstacle setup.

If you have a regular hula hoop you can place it for your k9 to jump through. Start with the bottom of the hoop on the ground and raise it up as your pet get more comfortable.

Agility Obstacle Course

To make a tunnel for your dog to crawl through, pillows are a good option. This might be a little annoying as the pillow tunnels tend to collapse so make sure to support them on both sides. Small tables are a good option for the "stand still" section of the course. This is a part of the course where you can teach your dog to stand still for some time on command.

To keep your dog engaged with the agility training your best bet are treats after every obstacle.

2. Treadmill Exercises

Another great solution for inside exercise is walking or running on treadmills. If you have one in your house, think about sharing it with your dog. The important thing to keep in mind is pacing and the angle that you are going to set for your furry friend. Always start with the low speed and build it up from there. This will keep your pet from falling out and prevent serious injuries.

Dog Treadmill

The second variation for this kind of indoor exercise is a dog treadmill. These devices come with different functionalities and in different sizes depending on the type. If there is a limited space around, some of them can even be folded and be stored away.

In case you decide to go with the second option, take the safe route and check the highest-rated treadmills on the market before purchase. And since this kind of activity can be very taxing for your pet, the best approach is to consult a vet as a precaution.

3. In-house Fetch

There are a very few games that dogs like to play more than fetch. This good, old-fashioned game is a great way to make your dog running around the house while having fun. All you need is a ball or any kind of item that is safe for your canine and the game is on.

If the reason to keep your furry friend inside is that you are busy, there is still a way for your dog to chase the flying ball around the house.

dog fetch indoors

Automatic ball throwers offer a great substitute if you can't spend time with your pet at that moment. These gadgets recently became very common among the households that have dogs because they offer endless fun.

Finding a perfect device for your dog can be a bit tricky. Due to the variations of functionalities the ball thrower buyers guides and user reviews can offer a great deal of help.

4. Obedience Training and New Tricks

Dog behavior is not on the same level throughout the whole life-span and it is very important to reinforce the patterns of actions from time to time. If the conditions are not good for outdoor activities, it might be a good time to go back to some obedience training.

This can be done in multiple ways and through fun games, and it is always a good place to start with the basics and work from there.

Obedience training and new tricks
Keep in mind that this kind of training can be very exhausting even if most of the exercises are done in static fashion.

After you finish with the standard training try and teach your canine a new trick. As with the rest of the exercises, this can be a bit frustrating, but it can also be a great time spent together with your dog. And to speed up the whole process, don't forget to use the treats that your pet prefers.

5. Stair Climbing

The last suggestion on this list, but equality effective one, is stair climbing. If you live in the house with stairs, then you should use them as a training tool for your pet. An exercise like this one can be a bit monotonous but if you're able to join your pet as a partner, the whole activity can turn into a great workout with a lot of benefits for both of you.

If you decide to use this kind of exercise for your canine, we strongly recommend that you consult your pet's vet. And to prevent any injury from happening, make stairs as safe as possible before letting your k9 run on them.


To tie it all down, health and overall well-being of dogs should be on the list of priorities for every dog owner. The solutions that we provide in this article will keep your pet happy and healthy while having lots of fun if you decide to stay inside during those winter months and bad weather.

To keep them fresh and interesting for your dog don’t hesitate to be creative and to add your own twist to them.