Indoor obstacle course for dogs

Keep your dog active indoors with a fun DIY obstacle course. Try these easy ideas to challenge his mind and body when winter weather keeps you inside. 

For many active and high energy dogs, spending the day inside can be boring. Typical indoor activities might not be engaging enough to keep your pup happy. Get creative this winter and use objects in your home to build a fun new game – an indoor obstacle course for dogs!

5 crafty indoor obstacles for dogs

Building an indoor obstacle course for your dog doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Check out these simple tips to turn your home into a fun play space. 

1. Tunnel

All it takes is a few dining chairs and a large blanket. Line up two rows of chairs back-to-back. Leave enough space in the middle of the rows for your dog to safely run between. 

If you want to make it more realistic, drape a large blanket over the chairs. It will create a darker tunnel for your dog to run through. Remember to have a tasty reward waiting for him at the other end.

2. Hurdles

Grab a small foot stool for your dog to leap. Bigger dogs should be capable of clearing it with no problem, but smaller breeds should be more cautious. Teach them to jump on the stool and then down the other side. 

3. Army crawl

Teaching your dog to crawl is a great exercise. You’ll need a low table, like a coffee table, that your dog can comfortably fit under. 

Encourage your dog to crawl on his belly under the table from end to end. This obstacle works best for small and medium-sized breeds. If your table is tall enough, larger dogs may enjoy it too. 

4. Zig zag

The zig zag obstacle is an excellent training exercise for dogs. Set up a row of small obstacles on the floor, like boxes, chairs, or even shoes. The goal is to get your dog to zig zag through the obstacles all the way down the line.

Teach this one with a “follow the leader” technique. Encourage your dog to follow you through the zig zag. Give him extra incentive with some tasty snacks if he doesn’t seem interested. 

5. Stairs

Stairs are a built-in obstacle for your dog. Having him run the stairs a few times will get his blood pumping and intensify the obstacle course. 

Use carpeted stairs for the safest results. Smooth flooring can be slippery, and you want to ensure your dog doesn’t injure himself while playing. 

Put it all together

Now that you have a few ideas, put them together to create a full indoor obstacle course for your dogs. The possibilities are endless, so use your imagination! Remember to change up the obstacle course occasionally to keep your dog from getting bored.

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