Too hot for walkies

How to keep your dog entertained and happy during a heatwave

The bank holiday weekend is approaching and we were looking forward to a day at the beach with friends but the weather has other ideas and within 48 hours we've gone from winter coats to ''too hot to leave the house''.

When temperatures soar, skipping your dog’s usual walk can feel frustrating for both of you. Dogs still need mental stimulation, physical activity, and interaction — even when the pavement is too hot for their paws or the heat index makes outdoor exercise unsafe.

The good news is that indoor activities can keep your dog happy, engaged, and tired out without stepping outside. In many cases, mental enrichment indoors can be just as satisfying as a long walk.

Here are practical, fun, and easy ways to keep your dog entertained indoors during hot weather.

Turn Mealtime Into a Game

Instead of serving food in a regular bowl, use feeding time as an opportunity for enrichment.

Try:

• Puzzle feeders

• Snuffle mats

• Treat-dispensing toys

• Frozen stuffed toys

• Scatter feeding around the house

Working for food encourages problem-solving and helps burn mental energy. Even 15–20 minutes of enrichment feeding can leave your dog pleasantly tired.

Pro Tip

Freeze wet food, yogurt, pumpkin puree, or dog-safe peanut butter inside a rubber toy for a cooling summer treat.

Create an Indoor Obstacle Course

You don’t need fancy agility equipment to create a fun challenge.

Use household items like:

• Cushions to jump over

• Chairs to weave through

• Blankets to crawl under

• Cardboard boxes to explore

• Towels for balance exercises

Guide your dog through the course using treats or toys. This activity provides physical exercise while improving coordination and confidence.

Keep sessions short and positive, especially for older dogs or puppies.

Play Hide-and-Seek

Dogs love using their noses and instincts.

Hide treats, favourite toys, or even yourself around the house and encourage your dog to search.

Start easy and gradually increase the difficulty.

This game:

• Builds confidence

• Encourages scent work

• Provides mental stimulation

• Strengthens your bond

Scent-based activities can tire dogs out surprisingly quickly.

Teach New Tricks

Hot days are perfect for short training sessions indoors.

Training exercises your dog’s brain and helps reinforce good behaviour.

Fun tricks to teach:

• Spin

• Shake paws

• Roll over

• Fetch specific toys by name

• Put toys away

• Ring a bell

• Play dead

Keep sessions upbeat and reward-based. Aim for 5–10 minute bursts throughout the day.

Try Interactive Toys and Chews

Rotating toys can help prevent boredom.

Instead of leaving every toy out all the time, store some away and swap them every few days to keep things interesting.

Great indoor options include:

• Durable chew toys

• Tug ropes

• Soft squeaky toys

• Lick mats

• Interactive electronic toys

Chewing and licking are naturally calming activities for many dogs.

Have an Indoor Fetch Session

If you have enough space, a hallway or living room can become a mini play zone.

Use lightweight soft toys or foam balls to avoid damaging furniture.

You can also:

• Roll toys instead of throwing them

• Practice “fetch and drop” training

• Add commands between throws for extra mental work

Even short bursts of movement help release pent-up energy.

 Introduce Nose Work Games

Nose work taps into your dog’s strongest natural ability: scent detection.

Simple beginner games include:

• Hiding treats under cups

• Creating scent trails with treats

• Letting your dog sniff out hidden toys

• Using scent boxes with different objects

Nose work is especially useful for high-energy dogs that need more mental challenges.

Schedule Calm Enrichment Activities

Entertainment doesn’t always have to mean high-energy play.

Some dogs benefit from calming activities during hot weather, especially brachycephalic breeds, senior dogs, or anxious pets.

Relaxing enrichment ideas include:

• Gentle grooming sessions

• Doggy massage

• Relaxation training

• Listening to calming music

• Window watching stations

Creating a cool, comfortable resting space with fans, cooling mats, and fresh water also helps your dog stay comfortable indoors.

 Arrange a Doggy Playdate Indoors

If your dog enjoys socializing, consider inviting a familiar dog friend over for supervised indoor play.

Make sure:

• Both dogs get along well

• The space is safe and uncluttered

• Water is always available

• Play is monitored and balanced

Short indoor play sessions can burn a lot of energy quickly.

Use Training to Reinforce Calm Behaviour

Sometimes dogs become restless simply because their routine changes.

Teaching calm behaviours can help your dog settle more easily on hot days.

Practice:

• Place training

• Relax on a mat

• Impulse control games

• Long-duration stays

• Calm greetings

Mental work can be just as tiring as physical exercise.

Nacho loves to look out of a window

Missing a walk because of extreme heat doesn’t mean your dog has to spend the day bored.

Indoor enrichment activities can provide mental stimulation, encourage healthy behaviours, and strengthen your relationship with your dog. Mixing up games, training, scent work, and calming activities helps keep your dog balanced and entertained until cooler temperatures return.

Sometimes the best exercise for a dog isn’t about distance walked — it’s about engagement, curiosity, and quality time together.

DOG SAFETY

DOG TRAINING

DOG HEALTH

DOG ENRICHMENT