Providing mental stimulation for our dogs is just as important for their well-being as physical exercise. Mentally enriched dogs can be happier, healthier, calmer and more confident! Supporting your dog’s mental health has benefits for them and for you, by reducing destructive behaviours and creating bonding opportunities.
Dogs are curious and clever animals that enjoy learning new things. That’s why introducing different games for your dog is an ideal way to encourage learning and mental stimulation.
Brain games are great for rainy days, for your older dog’s cognitive health, or simply for adding variety to daily routines. They help build your pup’s self-confidence and can also encourage them to learn to play independently.
There are many games you can play with your dog to boost their mental health, and in this blog, we’ll share six of our favourites for you to try!
One of the games you can play with your dog to help with their mental stimulation is a treasure hunt! This involves hiding treats around the house or garden to encourage your dog to sniff them out.
Start easy by clearly scattering their food, then increase difficulty by hiding treats under cushions or behind furniture to give them more of a challenge. You can also add in cue words such as ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ to help your dog (once they have learnt what they mean of course!).
Playing this along with other scent games is a great way to give your dog mental stimulation by enhancing their natural instincts to hunt and explore. Scent games can help improve a dog’s focus and problem-solving skills and even promote the bond between you and your dog.
Activity feeders like snuffle mats, puzzle feeders and stuffable chews help dogs learn how to play independently while also building their problem solving skills and memory. They are also beneficial for slowing down fast eaters by encouraging them to work a little harder for their food! Activity feeders come in a variety of difficulty levels, so if your dog is not used to these, start with an easy level to prevent frustration and build up their confidence.
If you want to set yourself a challenge too, there are many DIY versions of these toys you can try. For example, you can create a muffin tin treat puzzle by hiding your dog’s favourite treat under crumpled-up pieces of paper placed inside the holes of a muffin tin. This way, your pup can enjoy a mentally stimulating dog toy that’s super easy to make!
Having a variation of interactive toys allows you to play different games to keep your dog mentally stimulated. Items such as puzzle toys can keep your dog’s brain working by encouraging interaction.
Incorporating games with different interactive toys into your dog’s routine can enrich their environment and promote physical exercise. The different types of interactive and mentally stimulating dogs’ toys can include:
Varying your daily playtime with different interactive toys can help improve your dog’s mental health by preventing boredom, encouraging independent play and supporting their overall well-being.
This is another great game to play with your dog that provides mental stimulation. Simply show your dog a treat, then hide it under one of three cups or something similar, such as a small box or plastic plant pot. Shuffle the cups and let your dog sniff out the right one. Usually, they’ll nudge the cup with their nose or paw to indicate the right one. Not only is it brilliant for your pup’s focus and memory, but it’s also a lot of fun for humans too!
Try creating a simple course in your garden or indoors, depending on the weather. You can use different objects from around the house to create a fun obstacle course game for your dog, providing both mental and physical stimulation. When creating the course, be sure to use safe objects and consider the space your dog has to move in.
Obstacle courses encourage dogs to use problem solving skills and decision making to work out how to navigate the obstacles you create. As well as benefiting your dog’s mental health, it also promotes exercise and enhances agility to help your dog release any built up energy. If your dog shows an aptitude, you could also look for local agility classes to take part in.
Vary your usual training sessions by adding a ‘twist’. Mix up basic cues that your dog already knows, such as sit, stay and down, with new tricks or tasks. These can include teaching your dog to spin, give a high five or other more advanced essential skills, such as recall, when they are focused on something else. Keep these training sessions short and fun, splitting new tasks into bite-sized chunks and ending on a positive note.
Using positive reinforcement during your sessions can also provide mental stimulation for your dog, as it encourages problem solving and engagement.
For more advice on life with your four-legged friend, continue exploring the rest of our blogs online. Previous blogs share more ways to keep your dog mentally healthy! Or if you’d like to receive the latest news and advice straight into your inbox, don’t forget that you can also sign up for our newsletter.