How to Keep Your Puppy Entertained

Dogs, and especially younger pups, need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay healthy and fit. If you don't provide them with the care they need, you'll notice their behavior will start to change, and their health will deteriorate too.

Being dog owners, we must prevent this. All it takes is a bit of entertainment and time together with the little guy. As long as you can provide that, your puppy will be happy and stay fit. But figuring out how to spend this time together is complicated.

Figuring out how to keep your puppy entertained isn't as easy as it sounds. But, we're here to help you out. Check out the details we've shared in this article to learn more about some of the best ideas on keeping a dog happy, which you can easily try out right now.

What You’ll Need

When spending time with friends, we all need certain things to make sure we have fun. It's the same for spending time with dogs and keeping them entertained as well. Therefore, you'll need specific equipment for some of the ideas in this guide. Luckily, it's nothing too tricky to find.

Most pet owners will already have these things at hand. For example, you'll need dog toys and treats, which you should already have lying around the house if you've been a dog owner for long. A leash is also essential to keep the little guy in check during some activities.

You'll need some open space around the house and maybe a strong rope too. Once you have these things, you can start trying out any tips here.

Some Ideas For Keeping Your Puppy Entertained

1. Take the Pup Outside

The first and most obvious suggestion is taking the little guy to the great outdoors, where dogs are known to be at their happiest. Just taking your pup for a stroll around the neighborhood and letting him interact with the world is usually enough to make his whole day.

Walking or running in an open park is also great for his physical health. So, grab a leash and take the little guy outside to have some fun together. It'll help the both of you bond while ensuring that your dog doesn't get cranky being locked up inside his home all day long.

If you can't go outside often for some reason and need other ways to keep your pup entertained, we've got you covered. All the other suggestions in this article are easy activities that you can try at home.

1. Make Camp Near A Window

If you can't step out of the house often, there are plenty of ways to bring the outdoors inside your home. For example, you can open up a window and sit there with your dog. That way, the little guy gets to enjoy spending time with you while getting fresh air at the same time.

He'll have your company while also being able to see, smell, and hear things as they happen outside. Watching people, cars, and other animals pass by will keep the little guy entertained. Plus, he'll be interested in various sources' different sounds and smells.

1. Get New Toys

Dogs are very playful animals, and there aren't many things more playful than toys. So getting the little guy a few new toys now and then should be more than enough to make him happy and keep him entertained. It's a fun and easy way to earn a dog's love and give them a fun time.

There are plenty of options out there, too, meaning you shouldn't have any problems finding toys for him. A new toy every few weeks should be enough. Plus, you don't even have to keep buying them if you don't want to. There are easy ways to trick dogs into thinking something is new.

You can get him lots of toys at once. But don't give them all to the pup. Instead, keep a few of them stored away while he plays with the rest. Then, after a few weeks pass by, bring out the new ones and hide the old ones. Keep switching them like this, and the little guy will be filled with joy each time.

1. Play Hide and Seek

A fun way to keep puppies entertained at home is playing hide and seek with them. It's a simple activity you can try at any home. The game also helps sharpen their senses, such as their smelling and hearing. It'll also help them get used to identifying and responding to your voice.

Just make your dog stay and wait in one place while you hide in some other part of your home. Once you're safely hidden away, call out his name, so he comes to find you. He'll get better and better as you play more, which is always fun for a pet parent to see.

Speaking of being a pet parent, it's also your responsibility to reward the little guy for a job well done. So, make sure to keep some treats on you while playing this game. That way, you can reward him whenever he successfully finds you, making things even better for him.

1. Try the “Which Hand?” Game

If you're really into dogs and frequently watch videos about them online, you've indeed seen other pet owners play "which hand?" with their dog. It's a very simple but cute little game that you can quickly try out at home. All you need are some treats and a place to sit.

Once you have the treats, put one in your hand and show it to your dog. Now, shuffle it around in both of your hands and hide it in one of them. Next, present both hands to the little guy with a closed fist. Now, just let his nose decide which two hands have his treats in them.

If he guesses correctly, give the pup the treat he fairly won. If he doesn't guess right, you can feel free to try again and again until he does. It's an excellent way to keep him entertained while also training his sense of smell at home.

1. Teach Him New Tricks

One of the best and most productive ways to have fun with a dog is to teach him new tricks. How long this takes and just how fun it depends entirely on the specific trick you're teaching. Make sure not to go overboard during this and keep things as light and straightforward as possible.

If it's just a pup, you can teach the little guy how to sit, stand, stay, and follow. If it's an older dog who already knows most of the basics, you can move on to more complicated tricks. For example, cleaning up his messes, sorting through his toys, and more of the sort.

All dog owners planning to teach their furry friends some new tricks should have treats with them. That way, it gets much easier to train pups like Blue Heeler especially. Also, giving them treats whenever they do good is a great way to make it known that you appreciate their effort and want them to keep listening to you.

1. Play Tug of War

Earlier, we mentioned that you might need a strong rope for some activities. This is where that'll come in handy. Tug of war is a simple but enjoyable game that can be great for your dog, as it helps build strength. All you need for it is a little bit of open space and the rope.

Once you have that, sit on one side and have your dog sit at the other. Now grab the rope on one end and put the other in the little guy's mouth. Make him pull on it while gently pulling on it yourself. It'll tire you both out quickly, but you will also have lots of fun playing it together.

Feel free to reward the pup whenever he manages to snatch the rope from you. However, make sure to keep the surrounding environment safe as well. That way, neither you nor your dog will get hurt by furniture or other things if you end up pulling on the rope a bit too hard.

Conclusion

Every human needs to do activities they find fun now and then to keep themselves physically and mentally stimulated. The same goes for dogs, which is why it's essential to know how to keep your puppy entertained.

Given above are some of the best methods we know for this. You can easily try out any of them with the little guy when you have time to spare, and he'll enjoy it a lot. Just make sure not to tire him out too much and take frequent breaks during all the fun you'll be having together!