Too Hot for Walkies? Try These Genius Summer Activities for Dogs at Home

Blimey, it’s sweltering out there, isn’t it? When the thermometer hits those uncomfortable highs and the pavement’s too hot for paws, many of us dog owners find ourselves in a bit of a pickle. Your four-legged friend is giving you those expectant looks, tail wagging hopefully by the lead, but you know a proper walk would be more punishment than pleasure in this heat.

Summer activities for dogs at home aren’t just a backup plan, they’re often a lifesaver during those scorching British heatwaves that seem to catch us all off guard. Whether you’re dealing with a bouncy young pup or a more sedate senior dog, keeping them entertained indoors when it’s too hot outside requires a bit of creativity and plenty of patience.

I’ll be honest, I used to feel absolutely dreadful when I couldn’t take my terrier, Poppy, on her usual energetic adventures during last summer’s heatwave. She’d sit by the door looking utterly dejected, and I’d convince myself I was failing her somehow. But then I discovered that indoor activities could be just as enriching, sometimes even more so, than our regular outdoor escapades.

Why Indoor Summer Activities Matter for Your Dog

Let’s get one thing straight: you’re not being lazy or neglectful by keeping your dog inside when it’s scorching. In fact, you’re being a responsible pet owner. Dogs can suffer from heatstroke just as easily as we can, and their thick coats make them particularly vulnerable to overheating.

During a proper British heatwave (yes, they seem to be far more regular than they used to be), the pavement can reach temperatures that would genuinely burn your dog’s paw pads. If you can’t hold your hand comfortably on the ground for seven seconds, it’s too hot for your dog’s feet.

Watch out for signs that your dog needs indoor alternatives: excessive panting even in the shade, seeking out cool tiles to lie on, reluctance to go outside, or seeming lethargic during their usual active periods. These are all perfectly normal responses to hot weather, but they’re also your cue to get creative with indoor entertainment.

The brilliant thing about indoor summer activities is that they often provide better mental stimulation than a simple walk. Your dog’s brain gets a proper workout, which can be far more tiring than physical exercise alone.

Quick Prep: Setting Up Your Home for Summer Fun

Before we dive into the fun stuff, let’s sort out your space. You don’t need a mansion or fancy equipment. Most of these activities work perfectly well in a typical UK home.

Create cool zones by closing curtains or blinds on the sunny side of your house. Your hallway, bathroom, or kitchen tiles often provide the coolest surfaces. We are quite lucky that our living room is North facing, so it remains fairly cool in summer. (And absolutely freezing in winter but that’s another story!)

Pop a few towels in the freezer for ten minutes to create instant cooling mats, or fill a shallow tray with an inch of cold water for paddling paws. Of course you can buy a paddling pool if you are fortunate enough to have one of the 1% of dogs that use them. All of my friends that have dogs have paddling pools and, without exception, they all use them as extremely large drinking bowls.

I know how hot Poppy is when she will actually go into hers. She would never go in her soft sided ones, which I think is my fault as I washed her in it once. Honestly, dogs are like elephants and never forget. Unless it’s where they put their ball 3 seconds ago.

So, I bought a hard sided one, and she does occasionally use that. They are actually described as sand pits but make a great paddling pool. Of course she’s never out of the one at doggy day care.

Mental Stimulation Games (No Sweat Required)

Mental challenges are absolutely perfect for hot weather because they tire out your dog’s brain without raising their body temperature. The key is starting simple and building up complexity as your dog gets the hang of it.

Safety-wise, make sure breakable items are out of reach, and always supervise new activities until you know how your dog responds. Some dogs get overly excited with puzzle games and might get a bit destructive, whilst others need gentle encouragement to engage.

DIY Puzzle Feeders from Kitchen Items

Right, let’s start with something that uses stuff you’ve probably got lying around the kitchen. Grab an empty toilet roll tube and fold both ends over after putting a few treats inside. Your dog will have a brilliant time figuring out how to get to the goodies, and you’ve just created entertainment from something that would’ve gone in the recycling. I also find this works well with amazon packaging if you, like me, get the occasional thing from amazon!

For a slightly more challenging version, try the bottle game. Take a clean plastic bottle (remove the cap and any labels), cut holes just bigger than your dog’s treats, and let them roll it around to dispense rewards. The crinkling sound drives some dogs absolutely mad with excitement in the best possible way.

Poppy goes nuts for things that crinkle, so these do work well.

Hide and Seek Variations

This isn’t just hiding behind the sofa and calling your dog’s name (though that works too!). Try hiding treats around your living room whilst your dog waits in another room. Start easy under a cushion or behind a chair leg, then gradually make it more challenging.

You can also hide yourself and call your dog’s name from different rooms. The mental exercise of using their nose and ears to track you down is surprisingly tiring and great for building confidence in anxious dogs.

If you do want to spend money, the puzzle dog toys work really well. We have a few and Poppy loves them. The Nina Ottosson ones are really good. We have 3 of them at the different levels, and they are challenging without being impossible. This is the one we started with, although it is a level 2 I though Poppy would be bored if it was too easy.

The Muffin Tin Game

This one’s an absolute winner and costs practically nothing. Place treats in the cups of a muffin tin, then cover each cup with a tennis ball. Your dog has to figure out how to remove the balls to get to the treats underneath. It’s like a puzzle box but using things you’ve already got at home.

This doesn’t work too well for us, as Poppy is more interested in the ball than the treat. But it’s worth a try if you don’t have a totally ball obsessed dog.

Cooling Treats and Food Activities

Food-based activities are brilliant for summer because they combine mental stimulation with cooling relief. Plus, most dogs are highly motivated by anything involving treats or meals.

Frozen Kong Recipes That Actually Work

Kong toys are brilliant for hot weather because you can freeze them solid, providing cooling relief and long-lasting entertainment. My go-to recipe is mashed banana mixed with a spoonful of plain Greek yoghurt and a few pieces of their regular kibble. Stuff it in the Kong, freeze overnight, and you’ve got at least thirty minutes of peace.

For dogs who wolf down their food too quickly, try freezing their entire meal in a Kong. It slows down their eating and keeps them occupied whilst providing mental stimulation.

I also just freeze greek yogurt in those little plastic tubs you get small desserts in. Make sure there is nothing added to the yogurt, just plain milk.

Ice Cube Treasure Hunts

Fill ice cube trays with diluted low-salt chicken stock or just plain water with a single piece of kibble frozen inside each cube. Scatter them in your garden if you have one, or place them in a shallow tray indoors. Your dog will love licking and crunching the ice whilst hunting for the treats inside.

Some dogs go absolutely bonkers for plain ice cubes, treating them like the world’s most exciting toy. It’s free entertainment and helps keep them cool. What’s not to love?

Lick Mat Creations for Hot Days

If you’ve invested in a lick mat (and they’re honestly worth every penny), try spreading sugar-free peanut butter mixed with mashed banana across the surface, then pop it in the freezer. The repetitive licking action is incredibly soothing for anxious dogs and the frozen texture provides cooling relief.

Low-Energy Physical Activities

Sometimes your dog needs to move their body a bit, but you want to avoid anything too strenuous. These activities provide gentle exercise without the risk of overheating.

Indoor Obstacle Courses for Small Spaces

You don’t need a huge house to create an engaging obstacle course. Use sofa cushions to create tunnels, broomsticks balanced on books for jumps (keep them low!), and encourage your dog to weave between your legs or around chair legs.

The key is keeping it simple and safe. Even walking over a towel spread on the floor counts as an obstacle for some dogs and helps with confidence building. Even just hiding toys under cushions or blankets seems to be entertaining.

Stair Climbing Games (When Safe)

If you’ve got stairs and your dog’s joints are healthy, controlled stair climbing can provide excellent low-impact exercise. Try placing treats on every third step and encouraging your dog to collect them slowly. Always supervise this activity and avoid it completely for puppies under twelve months or elderly dogs with mobility issues.

Gentle Tug Games in the Coolest Room

Find the coolest room in your house and engage in some gentle tug-of-war. Keep sessions short maybe five minutes at a time and let your dog win occasionally to keep their confidence up. It’s physical activity without the risk of overheating that comes with outdoor play.

Independent Activities for Busy Days

Let’s be realistic here – sometimes you need activities your dog can enjoy whilst you’re getting on with life. These options keep your dog occupied without requiring constant supervision.

Long-Lasting Chew Options

Frozen carrots make excellent summer chews because they’re cooling, healthy, and take ages to get through.

Snuffle Mats and DIY Alternatives

Snuffle mats encourage natural foraging behaviour and are perfect for hot days since they require minimal physical effort. If you don’t have one, create a DIY version by hiding treats throughout a folded towel or scattering kibble in a cardboard box filled with shredded paper. Again, Poppy loves her snuffle mat and it does keep her entertained for ages.

Window Watching Stations

Set up a comfortable spot by a window where your dog can observe the world going by. Add a raised bed or cushion to make it extra appealing. Some dogs find this incredibly entertaining and mentally stimulating – it’s like television for dogs!

Of course, this can lead to some pretty annoying barking. But she does love to keep her eye on the neighbourhood.

We also can’t move the furniture round, as she can’t lie on the back of the other sofa as it’s too soft. So yes, Poppy is in total charge of our life!

Bonding Activities for Hot Afternoons

These activities focus on strengthening your relationship with your dog whilst keeping everyone cool and comfortable.

Indoor Training Sessions

Hot afternoons are perfect for working on training commands in short, focused sessions. Keep them to five or ten minutes to avoid overwhelming your dog, and always end on a positive note. Teaching new tricks like ‘play dead’ or ‘spin’ can be incredibly rewarding for both of you.

Grooming as Quality Time

Many dogs absolutely love being brushed, and it’s a lovely way to bond whilst helping them stay cool by removing excess fur. Take your time, be gentle, and turn it into a relaxing spa session rather than a chore.

Relaxation and Massage Techniques

Learn some basic canine massage techniques to help your dog relax during stressful hot weather. Gentle circular motions around their ears and slow strokes along their back can be incredibly soothing. It’s beneficial for both of you because I always find it quite meditative myself. And Poppy is a big fan of a massage so I think she enjoys it too.

Age-Specific Considerations

Puppies have boundless energy but overheat quickly, so focus on short bursts of mental stimulation rather than extended play sessions. Senior dogs might prefer gentler activities like puzzle feeders and relaxing grooming sessions, whilst middle-aged dogs often enjoy the full range of activities.

Always watch your individual dog’s response and adjust accordingly. What works brilliantly for one dog might be completely ignored by another, and that’s perfectly normal.

Remember, the goal isn’t to replicate a two-hour country walk but to keep your dog content, mentally stimulated, and cool whilst the weather sorts itself out. These indoor activities often become favourite games long after the heatwave passes, creating new traditions and strengthening your bond.

The next time someone suggests you’re being overprotective by keeping your dog inside during hot weather, you’ll know you’re actually being thoughtful and creative. Your dog will thank you for it, even if they can’t say so in words.

What’s your dog’s favourite way to beat the summer heat indoors? I’d love to hear about the activities that work best for your four-legged friend – drop a comment below and let’s share our summer survival strategies!