9 Crate Games and Activities for Dogs

If you’re a dog parent, you may be considering the use of the crate for a wide variety of reasons. However, many dogs struggle to spend time contained without becoming antsy and frustrated. To make the experience easier and more enjoyable for everyone involved, I have put together a list of crate games for your dog to enjoy!

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The crate is an effective training tool for dogs during the potty-training process, a safe place to contain a dog when you’re away from home, and a necessary part of recovery following many surgeries and injuries.

But spending time in the crate isn’t always easy. Especially for a higher-energy pup!

Recently, we found out that our youngest dog Lucifer is dealing with some ongoing injuries from his life before he was rescued.

As part of his healing process, we are now starting a full month of vet-recommended crate rest and this spunky and energetic pup is NOT interested in spending time contained.

This has triggered a new obsession in our house – crate-friendly activities and crate games for dogs.

Choosing the Right Crate for Your Dog

Before I share my list of go-to crate activities for dogs, let’s take a step back and discuss how to select the right crate and how to make it comfortable.

Crate size is an important factor to consider.

Your dog should be able to stand up, turn around, and lay down comfortably without having to hunch or curl up to fit. When laying down, your dog should be able to extend their legs fully to stretch out.

On the other hand, you don’t want to select a crate that is too large, or it may cancel out the benefits.

A puppy in a large crate will see it as space to go to the bathroom on one side of the crate while sleeping or eating on the other. There are crates designed for growing puppies that allow you to adjust the size with a divider panel.

For those that are on medical crate rest, like our boy Lucifer, a crate that is too large would allow him to move about and play completely unrestricted rather than limiting his movement to allow for healing.

To make the crate comfortable, add a crate pad or comfortable dog bed, creating a space where they can lay down and relax.

If your dog is easily set off by outside stimuli, you may wish to add a crate cover to provide a little more privacy and block their view of everything going on nearby.

How to Entertain a Dog on Crate Rest

Interactive Crate Games for Dogs

Low-Activity Obedience Training

Crate time is the perfect time to focus on obedience basics like ‘sit’, ‘touch’, and ‘shake’ where they don’t have to move around to perform the desired action.

Of course, you should take into consideration any limitations your dog may experience from an injury.

For example, if sitting is difficult for your dog after a hip injury, choose tasks that can be done laying down like ‘touch’.

Not only is this a great opportunity to focus on improving your dog’s manners and behaviour, but it’s also a good way to challenge your dog mentally and burn some of that excess energy.

After all, the experts say that 15 minutes of mental stimulation is equal to 30 minutes of physical activity.

Shell Game/Find It

By choosing crate games that allow you and your dog to work together, you can improve upon your bond in the process.

And who doesn’t want to have a closer bond with their best friend?

The Shell Game refers to the traditional sleight-of-hand game that people play, hiding an item under one of three cups or shells and asking someone to find it.

To make this game dog-friendly, all you need is 3 solo cups and a high-value dog treat.

Place the treat under one of the cups and ask your dog to locate it. This will challenge both their mind and their nose.

If this game seems to be too easy, consider adding additional cups to increase the difficulty.  

Another twist on this game is “Find it” using a muffin tray and tennis balls. Place a couple of treats or pieces of kibble in the muffin tray and cover all spots with tennis balls.

The tennis ball will naturally settle into the holes on the muffin tray forcing your dog to actively remove it while searching for their rewards.

“Painting” with Your Dog

This idea was recommended to me by a friend, and I absolutely loved the idea. My favourite part? This can all be done with your dog laying down comfortably, making it a great choice for dogs on strict crate rest.

There are two different ways you can approach teaching your dog to paint, whether you prefer to stick with traditional painting or prefer a more digital approach.

For those that love the traditional paintbrush and paper, start by teaching your dog to hold the brush and target the paper.

As they become comfortable with this process, you can add the experience of painting by dipping the brush in water to control the mess as they learn control.

Finally, add paint and watch your Paw-casso create.

You may even want to open an online shop selling your dog’s creations to support their growing treat and toy budget.

If you would prefer to stick to a less messy digital approach, you can use a large smartphone or tablet with a paint program that works using the touchscreen.

Train your dog to target the screen, allowing them to “paint” on the device.

Simple Trick Training

Does your dog have basic obedience mastered? If so, you may want to introduce simple trick training as a fun alternative to basic dog crate games.

There are many tricks that can be done without requiring your dog to get up and move around.

Some suggestions that I have seen and either tried or have on our “to teach” list include:

• Look Left/Look Right
• “Talking” with Buttons
• Kiss
• Speak/Hush
• Whisper
• Wave
• Identify One Toy from the Other
• Hold an Object
• Balance on Head
• Balance on Nose
• Yawn
• Ring a Bell
• Play Piano (Using a Small Child’s Piano Toy)
• Smile
• Pick a Card

You want to choose tricks that challenge your dog mentally without requiring too much movement or physical activity.

This could also be a time to teach the first steps of a trick before building up to the full performance when your dog is up and moving once again.

Solo Crate Games for Dogs

Stuffed Treat Toys

If you’re looking to keep your dog occupied long enough that you can get some work done or focus on housework, interactive treat toys are your best friend.

There are many options available, but the favourites in our house are the West Paw Toppl and the classic KONG toy (also available in Extreme for heavy chewers).

You can stuff these toys with your dog’s normal meals, turning mealtime into fun, or some special dog-friendly treats.

Popular choices for stuffing treat toys include peanut butter, canned food, canned pumpkin, plain yogurt, berries or chopped fruit and vegetables, or ground meat.

Food Puzzle Toys

Food puzzle toys, like the amazing line of Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound puzzles that we are obsessed with in our house, challenge your dog to complete puzzles or challenges to access their food.

This could include lifting trap doors, removing obstacles, turning dials, or pressing buttons.

These toys come in a wide variety of different skill levels from Easy to Expert, allowing you to introduce the idea to your dog and keep challenging them over time.

Even when our dogs are feeling well, we feed them one meal each day using food puzzles just for the mental stimulation that they provide.

Other options include snuffle mats, treat-dispensing balls, plush food puzzles, and food shaker toys.

After each meal, be sure to inspect the puzzle to make sure that there is no significant wear or pieces that can be pulled off with continued use.

LickiMat

These rubber or silicone mats feature a textured surface where you can spread a tasty treat for your dog.

To enjoy the treat, they will have to lick it off the toy which has been proven to soothe anxiety and stress by releasing endorphins.

They are a great choice not only for crate rest, but also for bath time, thunderstorms, travelling, or other high-stress situations where your dog may struggle to stay calm.

Some options of spreadable treats you may want to try include peanut butter, baby food, mashed sweet potato, mashed berries, Greek yogurt, or your dog’s favourite canned foods.

Create a Dog-Sicle

If you are searching for crate rest games during the warmer summer months, a dog-sicle may be the perfect solution.

Take a container and fill it with water or even diluted chicken stock, depending on your dog’s diet.

Mix in any combination of dog treats, kibbles, and dog-friendly fruits and vegetables before placing your dog-sicle into the freezer.

If you find that everything you add is sinking or floating, you can freeze it in layers.

To give this to your dog, you should be prepared for the fact that it’s going to be a little messier than the other options on the list, so remove any bedding from the crate that you want to keep clean.

You can also put down a sheet for easy clean-up.

As your dog licks their way through the dog-sicle, it will free up the tasty surprises that you have hidden inside.  

Chew Toys

Are you searching for a way to keep your dog occupied without including food in the equation? If so, there are many great chew toys to choose from.

These toys are designed to encourage your dog to chew with their scents, flavours, and textures.

At the same time, they are durable and able to withstand the ongoing abuse that will come from a dog that is focused on chewing for an extended time.

Some favourites in our house include the KONG Squeezz Dental Stick, the KONG CoreStrength Bone, and the West Paw Hurley.

Make sure to inspect your dog’s toys periodically for signs of wear and tear, replacing them when necessary.

Alternatives to Crate Rest

There may be times that a crate simply isn’t going to work for you and your dog.

Some dogs absolutely hate the crate. Even if your dog loves it, you may be faced with a situation where bringing a crate along isn’t an option.

While the crate is usually the most reliable choice, there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution.

NOTE: If your dog is on strict crate rest due to injury or recent surgery, make sure to talk to your veterinarian before implementing any alternatives. They will be able to advise you on what is safe and what could put your dog’s recovery at risk.

Contain Puppies Using Gates or Pens

You can section off one area of the house by using pet safety gates or exercise pens, limiting their access to the house.

The best choice for a puppy during the potty-training phase is a room with easy-to-clean floors like laminate or tile, in case you have to clean up accidents.

You also want to make sure to puppy-proof the area before leaving your dog unsupervised.

Include your dog’s bed, food and water dishes, and toys to keep your puppy occupied safely while they are spending time in the “safe space”.

This can offer your dog a little more room to move around than the crate while still avoiding the dangers that come from giving a mischievous puppy unsupervised free access to your home.

Cuddle Time on the Couch

If your dog is on strict crate rest for the purpose of recovery, you may be able to give your dog some crate-free time throughout the day with strict supervision on the couch.

This is a great choice if you’re curling up to watch a movie or read your favourite book.

Keep your dog on a leash the whole time so that you can control the situation and prevent your dog from taking off running or jumping.

But, if your dog is a cuddler, they will likely be more than happy to snuggle up and spend some quality time together.

Carefully Supervised Leash Time

Building on this last point, if you have a dog that is calmer or more laid back, you may be able to allow them to relax outside of the create with supervision.

There are some dogs that will happily curl up at your feet while you’re working in your home office, for example.

As with the couch example, always keep your dog on a leash as an added precaution.

This should only be done when you are able to offer careful supervision the whole time to ensure that your dog is staying calm and relaxed.

It should also be noted that this is not an option for every dog.

If you know your high-energy dog is going to push the boundaries the second that the opportunity presents itself, it would be safer to stick to the crate during recovery.

Nighttime Considerations

One question that many dog parents have when using the crate during the day is what about nighttime?

The truth is that there is no single correct answer about what to do with your dog as you both sleep, it is going to depend on your comfort level, your dog’s personality, and the reason that you are using the crate.

A puppy that is early in the potty-training process, for example, is going to be more successful if you continue to use the crate training throughout the night.

However, if you have a dog that is on strict crate rest that usually sleeps in bed with you, you may wish to consider sticking to that routine.

Lucifer has been sleeping in our bed snuggled up with his head on my pillow for most of his life.

Knowing that, and that he doesn’t get up or move around at night (he sleeps like a log), we have determined that the crate isn’t necessary to keep him from moving about.

You know your dog best! But, if you would like some professional advice, don’t be afraid to ask your veterinarian or dog trainer for their recommendations.

Is Sedation an Option?

There will be some situations where you can do everything possible to help make your dog’s crate rest as comfortable as possible, but it’s just not enough.

If you have a dog on strict crate rest for surgery or injury recovery and they are acting incredibly anxious and agitated in the crate, you may want to contact your veterinarian to discuss your options.

There are sedatives that could be prescribed, if needed, to give your dog’s body the time it needs to heal and recover.

As with any medical discussion, this should be decided upon during consultation with your veterinarian. I am not a veterinarian and the suggestion that this exists does not mean that I am advocating for sedation in every case.

Whether you are crate training your young puppy or faced with the use of crate rest to assist your dog in recovery from a recent injury or surgery, crate games can make your dog’s experience far more enjoyable.

They are a great way to create a positive association with the crate while offering much-needed mental stimulation.

What crate games have you tried before with your dog? Do you have any fun suggestions that I missed on my list? If so, I invite you to share your ideas in the comments (Lucifer and I might just have to give them a try).