14 Ways to Delight Your Dog Child Without Spending a Buck

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Aug 14, 2026 9:00 AM EDT

There are far too many suggestions and solutions out there when it comes to caring for our puppers. And almost all of them are desperate to have you buy a new toy or food. But we say nuts to that, fun does not have to cost a dime, and so we brought together these 14 fun things you can do with your pupper without spending a penny.

Life is getting pretty tough for a lot of us right now, the dimes don't be diming like they used to. And while we try to work harder, longer and better than before to keep ourselves above water it can feel like there is little we can do to avoid our fate. One which pawticularly hurts because we want to give our pups the best pawssible life that they can enjoy. And we are here to tell you that life does not have to be ruled by the expenditure of money, because fun can always be had fur free!

To begin with we would like to cover a suggestion which honestly is truly important train your dog. A trained dog can handle hooman life much better and with more enjoyment than an untrained one. And if you have no money to invest there are youtube videos out there for free and the time you will spend with your dog will bond you both deeply. But provided you have a pawfect pup who does not need any training you might try out a toy rotation system so that old toys feel like new ones thanks to being hidden, you might consider turning any trash you have into games and puzzles for your pup, and you might even consider hiding while your spouse tells the dog to go find you in the house. The options are endless and expansive so get out there and have fun with your pup.
 

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  • 01
    "Get more dogs, they play with each other and it's better than TV.
    via Classic_Recover2114

    Black and white dog lying in dry field on yellow frisbee chew toy

    Dog depicted by model

  • 02
    willowmarie27 Taking them for walks and letting them smell everything
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    LeisurelyLoner I've taught dogs the game "find it." I have them sit and stay, then hide a treat or toy (anything they'd be highly motivated by) in another room, then release them from the stay and let them sniff it out. You can teach a dog the game by allowing them to see you "hide" the treat or toy in plain at first, then gradually make it more difficult.
    via Classic_Recover2114

  • While this might be only one post, we can assure you there were tens more like it. Any variation of finding something, recalling something, sniffing something out is the kind of stuff that can keep a canine occupied for hours on end and has been reported to be super beneficial for the doggo by the tens of pawrents who posted about this kind of technique. Obviously it is a very flexible method and can go from something as small as treats in a folded sheet to full on hidden retrieval games, allowing you to adjust it as necessary for your dog and home. 
     

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    Cheezburger Image 10654041600
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    Shwangdang20 I've heard of people folding treats into a fitted sheet that they don't use (or buy one from goodwill)!
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    chrissiwit Our husky loooooves car rides and they mentally exhaust him for some reason.
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    ejly Take away the toys they're bored with, wash them, hide them for a while. Bring them out again after a few weeks and it's like they're new.
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    Cheezburger Image 10654042112
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    Lost-Turnip-9949 Training. Find a sport associated with your breed/mix and you can just do it at home. Every dog can do scent work and it wipes them out more then any physical exercise would.
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    watch_again817 Sliding an ice cibe across a hardwood floor like we're playing hockey and he's the goalie, never gets old.
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    Cheezburger Image 10654043136
    via TwoCraZyEyes0

  • We really love this. It is so deeply in the spirit of these no cost suggestions and it is one that can be such an involving and bonding activity. First off dogs love anything that moves freely like an ice cube would. Just getting to look at it skating across the floor is more than enough to get their minds engaged and going. But then the actual play of the cube is pretty genius too. This will work especially well with shorter breeds who were bred to hunt small mammals. The movement of the ice cube will be very similar to that of a field mouse and activate your dog’s instincts. 
     

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    Cheezburger Image 10654042368
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    colbitronic Got more dogs. Now they stimulate each other and I get to watch. Better than tv.
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    Cheezburger Image 10654043392
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    honnator Train obedience with your dog outside. Play a lot with them as a reward for training. A 15 minute session plus a walk back and forth from the place you choose to train, e.g. a park. Your dog will come home exhausted and ready for water and a nap.
    via Classic_Recover2114
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    Spark99 Social interactions with people and other dogs in a safe controlled environment if your dog is comfortable with that.
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    Cheezburger Image 10654042624
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    silver_chief2 Had my spouse hide in the house then ask the dogs where is she in a pitched voice. They had to find her.
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    Master Attitude_3033 Put most of their toys in a box up on a shelf and rotate which ones you leave out, so they feel 'new' when you bring it out! (Just like with kids!)
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    Cheezburger Image 10654043648
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    LighterBoots Anything that I plan on recycling gets used as a puzzle first. Wrap some treats in kraft paper from a package, stuff it in a paper towel tube, stuff that in a cardboard box, fold it shut. Maybe put some stuffed animal toys in there to make it harder to find the tube with the treats.
    via Classic_Recover2114
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    DoggoneitHavok We do things, go places, play, teach new tricks, even very simple one
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    Cheezburger Image 10654042880
    via TwoCraZyEyes0

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