Winter Blues or Puppy Blues? How to survive inside days with your puppy.

If you’re looking out the window at a sheet of New England ice and wondering how on earth you’re going to tire out your puppy today, you aren’t alone. When the thermometer drops, puppy energy seems to double.

When puppies can’t burn off steam outside, they often find "jobs" inside—like redecorating your baseboards or practicing their "Landshark" skills on your ankles. But here is a trainer secret: Mental exercise is often more exhausting than a walk around the block.

Here are my three favorite ways to beat the winter blues and tire out your pup without ever leaving the house.

1. The "Kibble Hunt" (Ditch the Bowl!)

Why serve dinner in a bowl when it could be a 20-minute brain game? Puppies are natural foragers.

• How to do it: Take your puppy’s meal and scatter it across the kitchen floor, or hide small piles behind chair legs and under open boxes.

• The Benefit: Using their nose to "hunt" for food lowers their heart rate and provides deep mental satisfaction.

  
  

2. Hallway Recalls

If you have a hallway or a long living room, you have a gym! This is a great way to sneak in some "stealth training."

• How to do it: Have two people sit at opposite ends of the hallway with high-value treats (I recommend the soft training treats from my Co-op Essentials Endcap!). Take turns calling the puppy.

• The Benefit: You’re burning physical energy while perfecting a rock-solid "Come" command. It’s a win-win.

  
  

3. The "Muffin Tin" Puzzle

You don’t need fancy expensive puzzles to challenge your dog. You probably have a great one in your kitchen cabinet.

• How to do it: Turn a muffin tin upside down. Place treats in the gaps between the mounds. For an extra challenge, keep the tin right-side up, put treats in the holes, and cover each hole with a tennis ball.

• The Benefit: Your puppy has to figure out how to move the balls or navigate the tin to get the prize. This builds problem-solving skills and confidence.

  
  

Need an Indoor Survival Kit?

If your pup has officially reached "Level 10 Zoomies," it’s time for some heavy-duty enrichment. I’ve stocked our January Essentials Endcap at the Essex County Co-op with my favorite long-lasting chews and "boredom busters" specifically for these snowy weeks.

*Trainer Tip: If your puppy is acting particularly wild, they might actually be over-tired. Just like human toddlers, puppies get "cranky" when they haven't had a nap. If they've had their mental games and are still spiraling, it might be time for a scheduled nap in their crate or pen!

What’s your puppy’s favorite indoor game? Snap a video of them tackling the Muffin Tin puzzle and tag me @YourBuddysBuddy—I’d love to see those puppy brains at work!