It’s raining, it’s pouring and your bored best mate is snoring! We’ve got some great ideas to get you both through a rainy day with some creative indoor activities. Can you remember the last time the two of you were mooching round the house trying to entertain yourselves? Read on to ensure you are both equally entertained!

Movie magic
Why not snuggle up for a classic dog film? For a great comedy, you can’t beat 101 Dalmatians – both the 60s animation and the remake with Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil are a hoot! And for a real tear jerker, try Eight Below – a heart-warming drama based on a true story of an Antarctic explorer forced to leave his team of sled dogs behind, and their inspiring fight for survival.

Mud bath
Don’t be a stick in the mud! It’s okay to let your fur kid run amok in the rain every now and again. Why not put on a raincoat, hat and gumboots and join him for a frolic? All that fresh air, mud and silliness is a great way to bond, exercise and get the adrenalin pumping, and earn an afternoon snooze curled up by the fire.

Trick n’ treat
When was the last time you and your chum mastered a new trick? If you’ve got sit, drop and stay down pat, wet weather could be the perfect time for adding something new to the repertoire. Stock up on treats and add plenty of praise and cuddles when your dog gets it right. With a little time and patience you might just have roll over, shake hands, or speak perfected by the time the rain clears.

Retail therapy
Don’t let a little water from the heavens get in the way of a good shop. Rug up and head out to your favourite retail strip with a fellow dog lover. Consider an outing to one of the growing dog shopping meccas – stylish strips lined with doggy boutiques like Bay St, Brighton in Melbourne, Double Bay in Sydney, and La Trobe Terrace in Paddington, Queensland. Make your final pit stop a dog-friendly café – there’s nothing quite like a latte and a puppaccino to finish off a shopping session, with your canine companions snoozing underfoot.

Fear factor
And if storm phobia has your dog cowering during a deluge, animal behaviourists like Jo Righetti suggest a thunderstorm CD like ‘Sounds Scary’ to help desensitize them to the noise. Harp music, relaxing scents like lavender and a den-like hiding spot can also help them chill out. The pet psychologist warns against comforting your dog when they’re in panic mode, which only reinforces their fear. Instead, try distraction, like all the activities we’ve just laid out to help you and your mate make the most of a rainy day.