Indoor games for puppies
If you have a puppy, you know how much energy can fit into one tiny body — and how quickly that energy finds trouble when the weather keeps you indoors. These simple indoor games help busy little minds stay engaged, build confidence, and turn a rainy day into an adventure of its own.
All five games are gentle enough for puppies from 8 weeks up.
If you have a puppy, you already know that a tired puppy is a happy puppy — and that getting them tired without winding them up is half the challenge. Physical play has its place, but enrichment games work differently. A sniff game or puzzle helps puppies slow down, focus, and use their brains at the same time. Five minutes of nose work can sometimes do what twenty minutes of fetch can't.
Lana taught me this when she was a puppy. A simple towel roll or snuffle session before her nap often meant she would sleep for hours instead of waking up five minutes later ready for another adventure.
Below are five indoor games we still reach for today, plus a few simple tools that make them even easier. Try a couple with your own puppy and see which one gets that tail wagging.
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The five puppy games
Each one takes minutes to set up and is gentle enough for puppies from 8 weeks. Start easy, keep it short, and end while they're still loving it.
Towel Roll
- One hand towel
- A handful of kibble or treats
Lay the towel flat, scatter treats across it, then roll it up loosely. Your dog has to nudge, paw and unroll the towel to find every last piece. Roll it tighter as they get the hang of it.
Muffin Tin Puzzle
- A muffin tin
- Tennis balls to cover the cups
- Treats hidden underneath
Drop a treat into a few cups, then cover every cup with a tennis ball. Your dog has to nose, nudge or move the tennis balls to discover which cups are hiding treats. — simple, but genuinely clever work.
Find the Toy
- A favourite toy
- A few treats to reward the find
Show your dog the toy, ask them to wait, then hide it somewhere easy at first. Say "find it!" and celebrate every discovery. Make the hiding spots trickier as their confidence grows.
Snuffle Mat
- A snuffle mat
- A scatter of kibble or small treats
Sprinkle kibble into the deep pile, give it a gentle shuffle, and let your dog snuffle every piece out with their nose. It's the most naturally calming game here — Lana usually flops straight into a nap afterwards.
Box Search
- A few cardboard boxes
- Crumpled packing paper
- Treats tucked inside
Open out a couple of boxes, fill them with scrunched paper, and bury treats throughout. Your dog gets to dig, sniff and rustle their way to the prize — a great way to let a busy puppy dig, sniff and rustle their way to calm.
The puppy enrichment kit
A few well-loved pieces that make every game above easier — gentle, puppy-safe and tried by Lana herself.
Foraging Snuffle Puzzle
A fold-out snuffle set with spinning discs — scatter kibble across the whole mat for a bigger, longer hunt than a flat mat alone.
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Sliding Treat Puzzle
The store-bought big sister of the muffin tin game — sliding lids and compartments that keep busy minds focused far longer.
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Nosework Hide Toy
Plush cookies that tuck inside a milk-carton toy — perfect for "find the toy" when you want a little more challenge than a tennis ball.
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Wobbly Lick Bowl
The quiet finish to a busy session — a deep, wobbling bowl that turns yogurt or pumpkin into a long, calming lick before nap time.
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Multi-Texture Lick Mat
Four textures hold a different spread each — the easiest five-minute reset for a puppy who needs to wind down before nap time.
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Snuffle Mat
A thick foraging mat — scatter kibble into the pile and let your dog's nose do all the work. The calmest game on the list.
Shop on AmazonA tired puppy is a happy puppy. Five minutes of sniffing does what twenty minutes of fetch can't — it empties their brain right out.From Life With Lana ♡
How to run a good puppy session
Keep it short, keep it easy, and always end while your puppy is still having fun.
Start with the towel roll — it needs nothing and puppies love it
Puppies tire fast — short sessions work better than long ones
Let them win every time at first to build confidence
Finish with a snuffle mat or a lick mat before nap time
A long, deep sleep after means their brain did the work
Puppies don't need complicated — they need short, engaging, and winnable. A towel, a muffin tin, a cardboard box — most of what you need is already in your home, and five quiet minutes of nose work can change the whole energy of the afternoon.
Lana taught me that a deep nap after a snuffle session is one of the most satisfying things to watch. But every puppy is different, so try a couple of these with your own pup and see which one makes their tail go. That's the one to keep coming back to.
If you try any of these with your puppy, I'd love to see it. Tag @lana.thegoldenretriever on Instagram — there's nothing better than a puppy enrichment video. ♡
Good to know
What indoor games are good for puppies?
Great indoor games for puppies include a towel roll, a muffin tin puzzle, a find-the-toy game, a snuffle mat and a simple box search. All five use natural puppy instincts — sniffing, foraging and problem-solving — and are gentle enough for dogs from 8 weeks up. Keep sessions short and always end while they're still enjoying it.
How long should puppy enrichment sessions last?
Keep it to 5 to 10 minutes for young puppies. Their brains tire quickly and they can become overstimulated, so short and focused is always better than long. One or two sessions a day is plenty — and a deep nap afterwards means it worked.
Are snuffle mats safe for puppies?
Yes — snuffle mats are one of the gentlest enrichment tools for puppies. Scatter a small amount of kibble into the pile and let your puppy snuffle it out with their nose. It's calming, natural and perfectly sized for short attention spans. Always supervise so they don't chew the mat itself.
Can I use household items for puppy enrichment?
Absolutely. A hand towel, a muffin tin with tennis balls, and a couple of cardboard boxes are all you need for three different games tonight — no special equipment required. Store-bought toys like snuffle mats and puzzle feeders are lovely upgrades, but you can start right now with what's already in your kitchen.
Is mental stimulation important for puppies?
Very. Puppies need mental stimulation just as much as physical exercise — sometimes more. Sniffing, foraging and problem-solving tire a puppy's brain out in ways that running around often doesn't, which is exactly why a good nose-work session so often leads to a long, calm nap.
Are these games safe to play unsupervised with a puppy?
Always supervise puppies with games involving cardboard, tennis balls or small parts — puppies chew everything and pieces shouldn't be swallowed. A snuffle mat is the safest lower-supervision option, but staying close is always best with young dogs.
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