Whether the weather is cold and frightful, work is keeping you late, or you're simply settling in for a chill weekend, it's important to keep your pup physically and mentally engaged. Sure, one or two days of inactivity aren't the end of the world, but a bored dog can easily become a cheeky, even destructive dog when they're looking for something to do.

With that in mind, here are four fun (and mostly free!) indoor activities designed to keep your doggo happy and healthy.

Window Watching

Let's start off with one of the more unusual activities: window watching. If your dogs are anything like ours, especially Yogi, they love to sit at the window and watch the world pass them by. Also like Yogi, they may feel like they need to bark at everything the world sends their way!

Sitting with your pup as they window watch is a simple yet fun activity that can happen organically. As you look out, talk with your dog about what they see in a calm, yet engaged way. Your reaction to these sights tells your fur baby they don't have to respond in alarm or concern every time they see a dog, a car, or even a postie. Don't have much going on out the window? Try something similar with a video on your TV or tablet. Reward calm reactions with treats, and over time, you may be able to stop the barking.

Tug of War

From the unusual to the classic! Few indoor games can help your dog unleash all their built up energy than a good old tug of war. All you need is a bit of space and a durable toy.

We've been asked more than a few times whether tug of war games are safe for pups. It's a good and important question. The answer, fortunately, is yes! Research shows that short games (about 10 - 15 seconds) ending with the dog winning boosts their happiness and confidence. It also improves the bond between fur babies and their humans. Dogs understand tug of war as a shared activity, so they're more likely to bring the toy back to their humans so you can both enjoy another round.

Of course, there are things to keep in mind:

• When teaching a dog to play tug of war, make sure to first train them to recognise a command like "drop" or "let go". You don't want your dog getting carried away and injuring themselves, or breaking something in the house.
• Follow up a game of tug of war with a reward, such as a treat. It's important that your pup can relax as quickly at the end of a game as they get excited at the start of one.
• Finally, don't pull too hard! Specifically, make sure your dog isn't twisting themselves in a knot as they fight for the toy, as this can hurt their backs (even if they don't show it).

Treasure Hunts

An awesome way to exercise your pup's brain is with a treasure hunt. Take a licki mat, put their favourite treat on it, then arrange it under one of several boxes or containers on the floor. Let your dog have a sniff around until they indicate where the treat is. If they're right (and they probably will be), then let them snack!

There are many other ways you can play this game too. You can spread just a little treat on the mat and play multiple rounds, or put a few different treats under a few different cups and see which ones your dog gravitates towards. Whatever the case, putting their incredible sense of smell to work will make for a fun activity for the two of you.

Obstacle Course

The perfect play for pups with a sense of adventure, turning your home into an obstacle course can be as simple or complicated an activity as you wish.

Half the fun can be yours as you find new ways and new items to turn your space into a maze! Stack a wall of books for them to jump over. Create tunnels out of chairs and blankets. Have them army crawl under the coffee table. Teach them to weave through plastic cups. The opportunities are endless, even in apartments or other small living spaces.

We hope these four indoor activities provide plenty of entertainment and exercise for both you and your dogs.