How to Exercise a Dog Indoors Without Walking: 15 Easy Games That Burn Energy When I first brought home my golden retriever, Murphy, I figured a quick walk around the block would do the trick. Learning how to exercise a golden retriever inside home was a totally different challenge. I quickly realized that a tired golden is a well‑behaved golden—and a bored golden is basically a fluffy wrecking ball with a tail, even if you live in an apartment . You can effectively exercise a golden retriever indoors with a mix of structured games, scent work, short training sessions, and strategic use of equipment like an indoor obstacle course (or even a dog treadmill). The goal isn't just to burn energy; it's to provide mental stimulation that genuinely tires out their brain. Table of Contents The Hard Truth: Why "Just a Walk" Won't Cut It Section 1: Physical Exercise Without Leaving the Living Room Section 2: The Game Changer (Brain Games for Dogs at Home) ...