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8 Brain Games for Dogs: Vet-Approved Fun & Stimulating Activities

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Image Credit: Flatka, Shutterstock

Last Updated on June 27, 2024 by Dogster Team

VET APPROVED

REVIEWED & FACT-CHECKED BY

Dr. Alice Athow-Frost

BVM BVS MRCVS (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Dogs are not just those beloved friends that cheerfully join us on our daily walks; they are also brilliant companions who enjoy mentally stimulating games and thrive when playing them. As you might expect, a mentally stimulated pup is a happier and better-adjusted pup than those that are left to become bored. They also tend to exhibit fewer destructive behavior problems and enjoy a better overall quality of life.

With brain games, it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive for dog owners to provide their pets with enjoyable ways to challenge their intellect, stave off boredom, and strengthen their bond. Read on for various brain games that will keep your four-legged friend sharp, entertained, and happy!

The 8 Brain Games for Your Pup
1. Hide and Seek

This classic game engages your dog’s sense of smell and problem-solving skills. Start by hiding treats or toys (or yourself!) in various locations around your home or yard. Encourage your dog to find them by using verbal cues or simple commands. As your pup becomes proficient, you can increase the difficulty by hiding items in more challenging places.

2. Puzzle Feeders

Puzzle feeders are fun for turning mealtime or treat time into a mental workout! These devices dispense food in a way that requires your dog to figure out how to access it. Various types of puzzle feeders are available, from simple designs to more complex ones. These keep your dog entertained, slow down fast eaters, and provide mental stimulation as they work to retrieve their meals.

Pro Tip : If your dog is a little too smart and figures out how to solve the puzzle and get to the treats too quickly, pour a bit of water into each compartment where the food is. Then, place the feeder in your freezer until the water is frozen. Give the puzzle to your dog, and watch them lick the ice until they can finally release and gobble up the treats! This tip should only be used as a game, not to feed your dog their regular meals.

Corgi dog bent over interactive educational puzzle toy

3. Interactive Toys

Interactive toys, such as treat-dispensing balls, are similar to puzzle feeders and designed to challenge your dog’s problem-solving abilities. They often have hidden compartments where treats can be placed, requiring your dog to manipulate the toy to access the rewards. Make sure to choose products that are appropriate for your dog’s size and skill level, to ensure that they remain engaged without becoming frustrated.

4. Tug of War With a Twist

Traditional tug of war is a great physical workout, but adding a twist turns it into a brain game. Introduce various rules, such as only releasing the toy on command or waiting for your signal to start playing. This adds an extra layer of mental engagement as your dog learns to follow instructions while enjoying a spirited game.

5. Name That Toy

Most dogs are perfectly capable of learning and recognizing names for various objects. To play “Name That Toy,” start by selecting a few of your pup’s favorite plushies. Place them in a row, and using consistent verbal cues, ask your dog to bring you a specific toy. Reward them with praise and treats when they choose the correct one. This game will help sharpen their memory and reinforce communication between you and your furry pal.

6. DIY Obstacle Course

Create an obstacle course using household items in your backyard or living space. Set up hurdles, tunnels made from blankets or cushions, and weaving poles. Help your dog get through the course using treats and positive reinforcement. This game is a great way to squeeze more exercise into your pup’s day while also challenging their coordination and problem-solving skills.

7. Peanut Butter in a Kong

Turn a Kong toy into a yummy stimulating activity by stuffing it with peanut butter (or if you prefer, a mixture of wet dog food and treats), then freezing it. The challenge for your dog is to figure out how to extract the frozen goodies. This occupies their time and provides a refreshing delight, especially on warm days.

Side Note : In case you’re wondering, yes, it’s safe for healthy dogs to have one or two teaspoons of peanut butter a day. Just make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol, as that is extremely toxic to dogs.

8. Scent Trail

Tap into your dog’s extraordinary sense of smell by creating a scent trail for them to follow. Begin by rubbing a treat or toy against the ground to leave a specific scent. Gradually increase the difficulty by making the trail longer or incorporating turns.

Why Does Mental Stimulation Matter?

Dogs, especially those with high intelligence levels , can easily become bored when their minds are not adequately engaged. Boredom often leads to destructive behaviors, such as chewing furniture, excessive barking, and digging. Mental stimulation helps redirect this energy into positive activities, reducing the likelihood of destructive behaviors and promoting a calm demeanor. 3

Also, just like humans, our loyal four-legged friends benefit from solving problems. Brain games challenge them to think, plan, and execute strategies to reach a goal. Engaging in activities that require problem-solving skills helps them develop their cognitive abilities and keep their minds sharp as they age.

Mental stimulation is about not only challenging your pet’s intellect but also providing a positive outlet for excess energy . Indeed, dogs that lack mental stimulation may experience heightened stress and anxiety levels, which can negatively impact their overall well-being.

Incorporating brain games into your dog’s routine is a win-win for both of you. These activities provide essential mental stimulation and strengthen the bond between you and your lovely and smart pup. That said, choosing games appropriate for your dog’s size, age, and skill level is crucial to ensure a sufficiently challenging experience. After all, you’ll want to make sure your canine doesn’t figure out the scheme in just 2 minutes!

See also: Dog Friendly Activities in Detroit
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/do-it-yourself-cognitive-dog-toys-for-home/
https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/smartest-dog-breeds
https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-peanut-butter
https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/endocrine/c_dg_xylitol_toxicity
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8388720/

Featured Image Credit: Flatka, Shutterstock

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About the Author

Genevieve Dugal

A biologist and science writer, Genevieve has a special fondness for capuchin monkeys, pumas, and kangaroos, which has inspired her to volunteer and work at wildlife rehabilitation centers in countries like Bolivia, Guatemala, Canada, and Australia. Now living as a Canadian expat in Argentina, she enjoys the sight of horses and cows outside her home office window every morning. Genevieve is the proud owner of three r rescue dogs —Lemmy, Nala, and Pochi—and a lively kitten named Furiosa. She finds happiness and fulfillment in sharing her passion and extensive knowledge of animals with others.

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Tips & Tricks For Dog Owners

10 Fun Brain Games For Dogs

Last updated on February 1, 2024 By Puppy Leaks 17 Comments

Looking for some fun and easy ways to entertain your dog and keep them mentally stimulated ? If so try adding a few of these fun brain games into their routine.

Brain games are a great way to bond with your dog, plus they’re good for teaching basic manners. Mentally stimulating activities like brain games enrich our dogs lives by giving them something meaningful to do, and because these activities alleviate boredom they can decrease the likelihood of our dogs developing behavioral issues such as excessive chewing or barking.

If you’re looking for some easy ways to challenge your dog’s mind (and keep them out of trouble) here’s 10 fun brain games for dogs.

Find the Treats

My absolute favorite brain game for dogs is a game of find the treats. It’s super easy to play (you just need treats), and it can be played pretty much anywhere.

Simple nose work game like find the treats will keep your dog mentally stimulated, and it’s a fun way to let them hone in on their natural sniffing and scavenging abilities.

How to play find the treats with your dog:

Grab some treats and have your dog sit in a stay position
While your dog is in the stay position put a few treats on the ground around them
Give your dog a release command and tell them to “find the treats”
Encourage them as they start picking up the treats
Practice a few times until your dog understands what “find the treats” means
Start placing the treats further away and repeat steps 3 & 4
Start placing the treats in more challenging places that are out of sight such as under a rug or on a chair and repeat steps 3 & 4

Keep in mind that although dog’s have an excellent sense of smell that doesn’t mean they’ll automatically use it right away when playing this game. If they’re not used to sniffing things out it’ll take a little practice. That’s why gradually increasing the difficulty of where you hide the treats is important.

You’re teaching them to start utilizing their scent to find the treats rather than just relying on sight. Finding the treats themselves is rewarding for your dog, and the addition of your encouragement during the game can keep it exciting.

After your dog has a good concept of what “find the treats” means you can keep upping the game to make it more of a challenge for them. Since Laika’s been playing this game for years she’s gotten pretty good at it. She’ll hunt out those treats wherever I hide them — under rugs, on furniture, or on the window sill behind a curtain. All of those various hiding spots keep it exciting for her, and it’s a really simple way to keep her entertained.

One of my favorite brain games for dogs is “find the treats.” It’s easy to play, and it’s mentally stimulating. It gives your dog the opportunity to use some of their natural instincts to work for food.

Food Dispensing Toys

Another fun brain game for dogs is using food dispensing toys . A food dispensing toy is any toy that contains food and requires your dog to work to figure out how to obtain the food. To use a food dispensing toy you simply fill it up with treats and encourage your dog to engage with it. As your dog starts moving the toy around it’ll start dispensing treats.

Food dispensing toys are a great way to give your dog some extra mental stimulation. And as with other food related games they give your dog a chance to use their natural scavenging abilities in a fun and challenging way. In the wild our dogs spent a lot of time hunting and searching for food, so they’re pretty receptive to the idea of having to work for their food. Food dispensing toys are an easy way to emulate those natural instincts .

My favorite food dispensing toys are the Bob-A-Lot & the Kong Wobbler . There’s plenty of DIY options as well. You can make your own food dispensing toy out of an old plastic container , bottle , or PVC .

Dog Puzzles

One of my favorite brain games for dogs is using puzzles. They come in a wide variety, but they all have one thing in common — your dog has to figure out how to get the reward (treat). Like other food related games they provide your dog with plenty of mental stimulation and help relieve boredom .

Dog puzzles come in many shapes and sizes , and they’re available at most pet supply stores. Some of them are quite challenging, and others are pretty basic. Some will keep Laika busy for a few minutes, but others take a few seconds.

If you’ve never given your dog a puzzle before I’d start by making your own DIY doggie puzzle out of a muffin tin & tennis balls . You can gauge your dog’s interest in puzzles with it, and determine what level of difficulty is best for them.

The Which Hand Game

The which hand game is an easy way to stimulate your dog’s brain — and the only thing you need to get started is some treats.

How to play the which hand game with your dog:

Grab some treats and have your dog stay in the sit position
Allow your dog to watch as you place a treat in one of your hands
Close your hands into a downward facing fist and extend them out to your dog and ask “which hand?”
Once your dog touches or signals the correct hand praise them and give them the treat

If your dog doesn’t catch on right away don’t worry. Some dogs get super pumped up by treats and will start pawing at both of your hands due to excitement. By only rewarding them when they touch the correct hand they’ll start to catch on. (if they’re struggling with being polite during this game you may want to work on some impulse control )

The “which hand” game with your dog is a great way to help your dog work on their problem solving skills.

Stuffed Kong

One of my favorite brain games for dogs is using a stuffed Kong. I love them because they’re a really simple way to keep my dog busy and mentally stimulated for a long period of time. You can put some treats in there to give your dog something to work for, or if you’re looking for something more challenging try freezing it overnight. If you’re not sure what to use check out our list of 39 healthy treats to stuff in a Kong .

Stuffed Kongs are fun and mentally stimulating for dogs. Kongs are great because they’re dishwasher safe (easy to clean) and pretty tough. We’ve had ours for years and my dog hasn’t been able to put a dent in it. If you’re not a fan of Kongs check out the West Paw Tux toy — it’s my favorite alternative (they are much smaller).

Using a stuffed Kong is also a great way to keep your dog busy while you’re at work. Put your stuffed Kong in the freezer overnight and give it to your dog in the morning as you’re leaving. A frozen Kong will last 30+ minutes for most dogs — much longer if it’s filled completely.

If you’re looking for a way to keep your dog busy and mentally stimulated with minimal effort you can’t go wrong with using a stuffed Kong.

The Shell Game

The shell game is another simple brain game for dogs. You’ve probably seen it before — it’s the game where a treat is hidden under one cup (or shell) and then shuffled around. The shell game will give your plenty of mental stimulation by giving them a chance to work on their problem solving skills.

How to play the shell game with your dog:

Grab 3 cups and some treats
Have your dog watch as you place a treat under one of the three cups
Shuffle the cups around
Encourage your dog to find the cup with the treat underneath

Hide & Seek

Playing a game of hide and seek is by far one of my dog Laika’s favorite games. It’s a fun interactive game you can play with your dog, and it’s mentally stimulating. If your dog doesn’t have a good stay command down you can ask a friend to help by having them distract your dog as you go and hide.

How to play hide and seek with your dog:

Have your dog sit in a stay position (or enlist help if your dog keeps peeking)
Find a hiding spot
Call your dog
Praise when they find you

Laika loves a game of hide and seek, and even though I keep picking the same 3 hiding spots over and over she doesn’t seem to mind. Hide and seek lets your dog use some of their natural scent tracking abilities in a fun and stimulating way.

Put Your Toys Away

I know what you’re thinking — putting things away is the opposite of fun, but hear me out for a minute. Teaching your dog something new such as putting their toys away is mentally stimulating. And if you teach them how to do it in a positive way you can make a fun game out of it.

If your dog’s toys are kept in a container you can teach them to put their toys away . I know it sounds weird to teach your dog to clean up after themselves, but it’s actually a lot of fun. Teaching your dog new skills boosts their confidence, and it’s a great way to give them more mental stimulation.

If your dog already knows “ drop it ” have them pick up a toy and give them their drop it command once they’re standing over the container. Praise them like crazy, then repeat. With some practice and consistently you’ll have a dog that knows how to clean up after himself, and best of all he’ll enjoy it.

Dogs enjoy learning new skills (as long as you keep it positive), and teaching your dog new skills, such as putting their toys away, will boost their confidence and keep them mentally stimulated.

The (Toy) Name Game

Another fun brain game for dogs is the name game, and the best way to do it is by using your dog’s toys. Do you already have names for your dogs toys? If so you’re already ahead of the curve.

Start by playing with your dog and one specific toy, giving it a name while you do. After some practice & praise your dog will assign that verbal name with the chosen toy. Once your dog has learned that specific toys name you can test their skills by seeing if they can pick it out among their other toys. After your dog knows the name of one toy you can move on teaching them the name of another.

On average dogs can learn 165 different words , so your dog has the potential to learn the names of a lot of different toys. My dog knows the names of about 30 toys, and having her pick specific ones out of a pile is a great way to boost her problem solving skills. Chaser the Border Collie, an extraordinary example seen in the video below, knows the names of 1000+ toys.

Learning New Tricks

Learning new tricks isn’t the first thing you probably thought of when it comes to brain games for dogs, but they are be a fun way to challenge your dog’s mind (as long as you keep it positive). And teaching your dog new skills is a great way to boost your dog’s confidence.

Does your dog know how to weave through your legs and jump through a hoop? There’s always a new trick you can teach your dog. And teaching your dog how to weave through your legs is a lot easier than it sounds.

Here’s a list of 52 tricks with instructions that you can work on. Once your dog knows a bunch of tricks you can step it up a notch and combine those behaviors into new tricks .

What Are Your Dog’s Favorite Brain Games?

What are your favorite brain games for dogs? Do you play hide and seek with your dog? Does your dog enjoy a game of “find the treats?” Let me know in the comments below.

10 Fun Brain Games For Your Dog #dogs #dogtraining #dogtips #doglovers

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10 great brain games for dogs

These vet-approved brain games for dogs will give your pup a great mental workout and help them learn new skills too!

What are the benefits of brain games for dogs?

How do you mentally stimulate a dog, do brain games tire your dog out, which breeds benefit most from mental stimulation, what brain games can i play with my dog, brain games for dogs.

Brain games for dogs are a wonderful way to give your pup's mind a good workout. While physical exercise is super important, mental stimulation and enrichment is also vital for your dog's health and wellbeing. Not only can brain games help to banish boredom and prevent destructive behaviors, they're super fun too!

If you've been pondering the reasons why your dog's recall isn't reliable or tearing your hair out because your canine companion has strewn their toys all over the floor, we have great news — as well as providing your pup with mental exercise, brain games can assist them in learning new skills. And they're great for helping senior dogs stay alert and active.

Below, expert vets Dr. Joanna Woodnutt and Dr. Hannah Godfrey discuss the benefits of mental stimulation, what dog breeds benefit most, and share some of their favorite easy games that require very little equipment or setup. So, grab a bag of the best dog treats (you'll need them for many of these fun activities!) and let's dive in...

After graduating as a veterinarian from the University of Nottingham, Dr Joanna Woodnutt went on to practice companion animal medicine in the Midlands, UK. Dr Woodnutt is specifically interested in consulting and helping her clients understand their pets better, whether it’s around medical problems such as dermatology, behavior, and nutrition.

Dr Hannah Godfrey is a small animal vet who graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2011 and began work straight away at a busy mixed practice. Initially, she treated all species, but focussed on small animals from 2014. She has a passion for soft tissue surgery, ultrasound, and canine and feline dentistry, having completed additional training in these areas.

1. Can help reduce frustration, boredom, and destructive behavior

"Keeping your dog occupied and stimulated will help to prevent boredom, which can lead to chewing, scratching, and other destructive behavior," says Godfrey.

"While chewing household items causes damage to your property, it also poses a health risk to your dog. I have seen many dogs in practice who have chewed up items of clothing, toys, or even furniture and have subsequently required surgical treatment to remove foreign material from their stomach or intestine."

2. Encourage independent play

"This is particularly useful in puppies but applies to any dog who struggles in moments without your company and attention. This doesn’t just reduce boredom; it also builds your dog’s self-confidence and may reduce separation anxiety over time," explains Godfrey.

3. Improve or maintain your dog’s memory and cognitive ability

"As humans, it’s noted that regular brain ‘training’ can help to maintain cognitive function during the aging process, and this may also be true for dogs. Therefore, giving your dog regular brain training tasks can keep them on the ball (so to speak) and may reduce or delay signs of cognitive decline associated with age," Godfrey says.

"There are lots of ways to encourage your dog to use his brain and stimulate him mentally," says Woodnutt. "Some are simple, like letting him sniff on a walk. Others are more difficult, such as training or canine sports.

"Whilst some types of mental stimulation need specialized equipment, the vast majority don’t – and since every dog should have some sort of mental stimulation, it’s all about finding the right brain game for you and your dog."

"All types of mental stimulation are tiring for dogs – just as school is tiring for humans," Woodnutt explains. "Learning new things requires effort and energy, as does putting the brain to work solving puzzles.

"Our modern dogs lead luxurious lives, but one downside of this is that they can quickly get bored and lazy. Adding brain games to your dog’s routine is a great way to tire him out."

"Young dogs and those with high energy levels will benefit most from mental stimulation. This would include working dogs like spaniels, labradors, and beagles," says Godfrey.

"However, mental stimulation and enrichment will have a positive effect on the majority of dogs and can encourage more activity in dogs who are often sedentary. This means it’s a great idea for dogs who have mobility issues or are recovering from surgery."

"Even if your dog isn’t likely to hold world records for intelligence, it’s still important for them to use their brain. In fact, mental exercise is good for behavior and may even help to slow the onset of dementia," says Woodnutt.

So, what brain-training games can you try with your dog? Below, Woodnutt has listed her tried-and-tested top brain games that her own dog loves and we're confident that they'll get the big paws up from your own canine companion!

1. Find the treats

What you'll need: A packet of dog treats | Duration: 10 minutes

Hide a few dog treats around a room in your house
Tell your dog to 'find the treats', giving encouragement as you do
Once you've played this game a few times with your dog, increase the difficulty by hiding the treats in more challenging places

This game allows your dog to use their most powerful sense – their nose – and engages the parts of their brain used for sorting scents.

"The length of time that this game takes will depend on how good your dog is, and over time they’ll get better and better at it," says Godfrey. "This means you’ll have to find better hiding places or even use a snuffle mat to hide the treats.

"Because this game uses food, it’s important not to overdo it, or else your dog will gain weight. Initially, this game could take ten minutes or more, but rather than using time as a guide, ensure you’re using the same amount of food, even as they get better at it.

"It’s important to always factor this food into your dog’s daily calorie allowance, so you might decide to use a handful of their daily kibble for this instead."

2. Which cup?

What you'll need: Two or more cups, some dog treats | Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

Place some treats under a cup
Say 'which cup' and then wait for your dog to look at or put their nose on the cup
Lift the cup up as soon as they've selected one, allowing them to have the treat
Once they've got the idea that 'which cup' means they should indicate the cup containing a treat, you can add more cups and even move them around slowly so your dog has to work harder to indicate the right cup

This is a fun game that works on your dog’s patience and impulse control as well as their focus – they’ll be watching you like a hawk when you try to mix up the cups.

"Again, as your dog gets better at this, they’ll get much quicker. However, it’s also more likely to engage them for longer once they get the hang of it," Godfrey suggests.

"You could aim to spend 10 to 15 minutes playing this game, but the most important thing is not to get carried away and give them too much extra food!"

3. Learn a new trick

What you'll need: A pinch of patience! | Duration: 10 minutes

You might be thinking that this isn’t really a game, but all tricks and commands should be taught in a fun way – and they are certainly good brain training. This doesn’t have to be a ‘serious’ command like recall or sit – why not pick something fun? If you’re stuck for trick ideas, you could choose one of the following:

‘Spin’ and ‘twist’ – a clockwise and counter-clockwise turn. It’s extra-impressive if they can go both ways
‘Shy’ – dog paws at his nose as if shy
‘Speak’ – teach your dog to bark on command. This one is useful as it’s also the first step in teaching your dog not to bark at all
‘Bow’ – if your dog knows a few tricks, they’ll need the bow command for the end of their performance

"Learning a new trick isn’t easy for every dog, and it requires patience from both you and them," says Godfrey.

"It’s a good idea to be consistent and work on the trick regularly, around ten minutes every day or every other day would work. However, if your dog keeps losing interest before the ten minutes is up, come back to it another time. And don’t forget to give plenty of encouragement."

4. Towel roll

What you'll need: An old towel, some dog treats | Duration: 30 minutes

Lay an old, clean towel on the floor
Spread dog treats over it
Roll up the towel so that the treats are spread in each layer
Give it to your dog and let the figure out how to unroll the towel in order to get the treats
To make this game extra hard, you can use several towels

"This game could keep your dog entertained for half an hour or more, especially when they’re new to it!," says Godfrey. "It's great when you want a longer form of mental stimulation and to encourage independent play, because you don’t need to worry so much about overfeeding them – the effort they have to put in to find each treat/dog biscuit means that you don’t need to use too many."

5. Which hand?

What you'll need: Dog treats | Duration: Two to three rounds

Hide a treat in one hand
Offer both hands to your dog
Ask him to choose one
When your dog indicates the correct hand, open it to reveal the treat and let him eat it
Repeat two-three times, making it more difficult as you go

"This game is quicker than the ‘which cup’ game, as you can’t very easily switch hands during the game (doing so behind your back too many times could lead to frustration)," explains Godfrey. "Since a treat or food is required for each round, it’s best not to play this for more than two or three rounds at a time."

6. Dog parkour

A bull terrier dog jumps over a wooden obstacle lying on the grass

What you'll need: Whatever is in your environment | Duration: 30 minutes or more

Teach your dog some basic commands - to go over things, under things, weave and to walk along a narrow wall or similar
Once your dog has got the hang of these, add a bit of parkour into your daily walk (a combination of energetic exercise and brain work)
Ask them to leap onto the wall and walk along it, weave through bollards, or crawl under the slide in the park

"This game requires complete focus on you whilst your dog waits for the next command," says Woodnutt.

Godfrey adds, "Since this game involves physical activity too, there’s less risk of overfeeding and weight gain. This means you can safely play this game for half an hour or more, as often as you and your dog would like!"

7. Learn a new word

What you'll need: Dog toy | Duration: Train in short bursts

Choose an unnamed toy
Play with the toy often, using the word 'teddy' whenever you instigate the game
Start to leave teddy out of reach and say 'teddy', then reward your dog for looking towards or picking up his toy
Soon he'll have the hang of all his toys and you'll be able to start naming other objects, like 'slippers'

"This game works on your dog’s memory and improves his ability to learn," says Woodnutt.

"Depending on whether you reward your dog with praise, a fuss, or food, and how far away the objects are that they are retrieving, you might want to modify how long you play this game for to avoid inadvertently giving too many treats," adds Godfrey.

"However, in the early stages when learning a new word, it’s best to mention the new word often and train in short bursts."

8. Hide and seek

What you'll need: Just your imagination! | Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

Tell your dog to sit and stay (or have a family member hold onto him)
Go and hide and then call your dog
Praise him when he finds you
Step it up a notch after a few rounds and hide in more difficult places (under the bed or up high) or have several people hiding that your dog has to find

"A great game for rainy days, with children, or for dogs working on their recall, hide and seek is simple and requires little set up or training," says Woodnutt.

"Your dog will be using energy as they search for you (as long as you’re good at hiding!), so you don’t need to worry so much about giving them too many treats," Godfrey adds.

"Equally, many dogs will play this game just for the excitement and verbal praise they receive when they find you. Depending on how good your dog is at hide and seek, you could play this game for 10 or 15 minutes; but be sure not to cause them anxiety or frustration by making the game too hard."

9. Putting away toys

What you'll need: Any toys lying around the house | Duration: As long as you like

"After all that play, there might be a bit of a mess. Teaching your dog to put away his own toys can take time – but watching them learn is part of the fun!," says Woodnutt

Before you start teaching this game, ensure your dog is well versed in the 'drop it' command
Get your dog to pick up a toy near his basket and ask him to 'drop it' as he moves close to, or hovers over, the basket
Reward him every time he gets close, giving him extra praise if the toy goes into the right place
In time, you'll be able to ask him to tidy up his toys after a play session

"This game will take much longer in the beginning, and you might only be able to persuade your dog to pick up and drop one toy," says Godfrey. "However, as they learn, you could spend up to ten minutes tidying toys."

10. Chase the treat

What you'll need: Dog treats | Duration: Up to 15 minutes

"One of the easiest games to play, with almost no training involved, is ‘chase the treat’. It’s good fun and allows your dog to practice recall and coming back to you," says Woodnutt.

Find a wide, open space where your dog is safe off-lead (or a long trailing line can be used for security). You’ll also need a treat big enough for your dog to see, but not so big they take a long time to eat, and ideally a bit round – your dog’s kibble might be perfect!
Get your dog’s interest in the treat, by moving your hand back and forth and making it exciting, then throw the treat away and tell your dog to ‘go get it then’
Once they’ve done so, call them back to you and get them to sit and wait for the next round
As your dog gets to anticipate the game, vary how far and in which direction you throw the treat, or throw it high or roll it along the ground
Each time, make sure your dog comes back to you before starting the next game, as you want them to learn that you are the source of the fun, not hanging around in the distance waiting for treats to be thrown their way.

"As this game involves burning energy, overfeeding is a little less of a concern. However, the stopping and starting involved in waiting for and chasing the treat could risk causing damage to your dog’s joints or soft tissues if played for too long, so it’s best to do it for no longer than 15 minutes," Godfrey advises.

There are tons of brain games for dogs you can play with your pooch. Some require hard work on your part, whilst others are relatively easy. But regardless of which game you choose, engaging your pup's mind as well as their body is wonderful for their overall health and wellbeing.

And if you're looking for more inspiration on how you can add more stimulation and enrichment into your fur friend's life, check out these clever ways to have more fun with your dog on walks .

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After graduating as a veterinarian from the University of Nottingham, Dr Joanna Woodnutt went on to practice companion animal medicine in the Midlands. She quickly developed a love of consulting and helping clients with medical problems such as dermatology, behaviour and nutrition - anything that involved helping clients understand their pets better. Jo started writing about pet health in 2017, realising that it meant she could help even more pet parents. Since then, she has written for countless online and print publications and is a regular contributor for Edition Dog Magazine. Jo now lives in the Channel Islands with her husband Ian and terrier Pixie, and they are expecting their first child very soon.

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Dr. Hannah Godfrey BVetMed MRCVS Vet

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15 Brain Games for Dogs: Unlock Your Dog’s Inner Genius

There are a lot of different options for you to entertain your pup. And brain games for dogs are among the best.

Often you will have to go above and beyond to find ways to stimulate a dog’s brain, and that’s why I’ve collected a whole lot of different games with varying levels of difficulty to really challenge your dog.

So keep reading and see all of these different fun brain games for dogs!

Table of Contents

The 15 Best Brain Games for Dogs

Playing games with your dog is a great way to keep them mentally stimulated and engaged. It can also be a fun way to bond with your furry friend. However, not all games are created equal, and not all dogs enjoy the same activities.

In this article, we’ll explore games such as Hide and Seek, a classic that most dogs love, and numerous other games you can play with your furry friend.

Hide and Seek

Hide and Seek is a game that has been enjoyed by children for generations, and it turns out that dogs love it too. The game involves hiding and having your dog find you. This activity can be played with one or more people and can be adjusted to the skill level of your dog. It’s a game that doesn’t require any expensive equipment and can be played indoors or outdoors.

To play Hide and Seek, start by having your dog sit and stay while you go and hide. You may want to start with an easy hiding spot at first so that your dog can quickly find you. Once you are hidden, call your dog’s name and encourage them to come to find you. When they do find you, make sure to give them plenty of praise and love.

One great thing about Hide and Seek is that it can be adjusted to the skill level of your dog. For dogs who are just starting, you may want to make it easy by hiding in an obvious location, such as behind a couch or in a closet with the door slightly open. As your dog gets better at finding you, you can make the hiding spots more challenging, such as hiding in a place that requires your dog to jump up or climb over something.

Another great thing about Hide and Seek is that it doesn’t require any treats, making it a great option for dogs who are watching their weight. Instead of using treats as a reward, you can use praise and affection to reinforce good behavior. This can help to build a stronger bond between you and your dog.

Dog Puzzles

Dog puzzles are an excellent way to give your furry friend the mental stimulation they need while also relieving boredom. You can find puzzles in various shapes and sizes, and they all have one thing in common: the dog must figure out how to get the hidden treat on their own.

Pet supply stores offer a variety of puzzles that range from basic to challenging. Some puzzles can keep a dog occupied for several minutes, while others take just a few seconds to solve. The PAW5: Wooly Snuffle Mat and the Outward Hound Puzzle Toy (affiliate link) are two of our favorite puzzles that we have tested and tried.

Puzzles are an excellent way to keep dogs of all ages engaged and entertained. They provide mental stimulation that can help keep them sharp and prevent boredom. Dogs that are left alone for long periods can benefit from the extra entertainment that a puzzle can provide. Furthermore, they can help to improve problem-solving skills and boost confidence.

Remember to supervise your dog when they are playing with a puzzle. Some puzzles have small pieces that can become a choking hazard if they are not used correctly. Puzzles that are too challenging can lead to frustration, which can lead to destructive behavior. By starting with a simple puzzle, you can help build your dog’s confidence and prepare them for more challenging puzzles in the future.

Indoor Agility Course

When outdoor play is not an option, creating an indoor obstacle course can keep your dog entertained . Look around your house for items like your dog ’ s toys, chairs, towels, and blankets to set up an obstacle course. For example, have your dog walk around each chair, jump over or duck under towels, and perform tricks in a blanket-covered area. Use your imagination to create a challenging course.

Indoor agility courses are a great way to provide mental stimulation for your dog but can be time-consuming to set up and take down. So, it’s recommended to start with a simple course and gradually increase the difficulty level. With patience and consistency, your pup will become an agility master in no time.

It’s essential to ensure the safety of your dog while setting up an indoor agility course. Remove any hazardous objects and make sure that the course is not too difficult for your dog’s skill level.

Overall, indoor agility courses are a fun way to keep your dog mentally and physically engaged when outdoor activities are not possible. They are also a great bonding experience for you and your furry friend. So, let your creativity flow and have fun creating obstacle courses for your beloved pup.

Treasure Hunting

Treasure hunting is an easy game you can play with your dog that will stimulate their brains and senses. Start by having your dog sit and stay while you hide a treat somewhere obvious. Once your dog understands the game, you can start making it more challenging by hiding the treat in harder-to-find places.

Introduce a cue to start searching, like “find it,” and reward your dog with praise and attention when they find the treat. As your dog gets better at the game, you can gradually increase the difficulty level.

Treasure hunting is a great way to entertain your dog, and it requires little effort from you. It’s also an excellent way to bond with your furry friend and provide them with mental stimulation. Try it out, and you and your dog are sure to have a blast!

The Muffin Tin Game

The muffin tin game is a great option for those short on time but wanting to stimulate their dog’s brain. It can provide hours of entertainment for your furry friend.

First, find a muffin tin or something similar that can hold tennis balls. Make sure the balls fit snugly, so they won’t come out too easily but not too hard for your dog to remove.

Next, put treats with a strong scent into some of the holes and cover them with tennis balls. Your dog will have to figure out how to remove the balls to get the treats. If they’re having difficulty, start with something smaller to make it easier for them.

If you’re unsure about what treats to use, try using everyday snacks like eggs or bananas that you likely have at home. Your dog will love the challenge, and you’ll love watching them figure it out.

The Cup Game

This is another good game to play with your dog, but be aware that it does require some brainpower. And while you can increase the difficulty of the game, your dog might never quite grasp it, so you might have to keep it simple.

Take two cups and put them in front of your dog. Then put a treat under one of the cups.

Once you’ve put the treat under the cup, let your dog guess exactly what cup it’s placed under. In the beginning, you should give them the treat anyway, no matter what cup they choose. And after 12-15 tries, they will typically start to figure out that every time they guess a cup, they will receive a treat.

Your next step is to no longer give them a treat when they get the wrong cup. This will usually take a lot more time for your dog to understand. But with continued practice, in most cases, they’ll soon learn just to guess.

When they are able to guess the difference between the wrong cup and the right cup, you can make the game even harder. Now you start swapping the cups around, and your dog might not be able to guess correctly any longer.

Instead of switching the cups around, you could always try to just add another cup or two to the game as well.

If your dog has problems guessing correctly, it doesn’t mean that they’re not smart. As with humans, dogs’ intelligence can show in many different ways. And if they aren’t good at guessing what’s hidden under a cup, they can most certainly still be great at a lot of other things.

Magic Tricks

One game that’s similar to the cup game is perfect to play with your dog. The concept is pretty much the same.

Allow your dog to see you and place some treats somewhere behind you.
Now you should put both your hands behind your back and hide a treat in one of your hands. Now show your dog both hands.
When they nudge at or show interest in one hand, show them that hand. If they’ve chosen the empty hand, close both your hands again and let them get another guess at finding the right hand.
Your dog will in time begin to understand the concept of this game, and they will keep on guessing till they get the right one.

This trick is quite a bit easier than the cup game, so if you just have time for a few quick and easy games, this is a perfect fit.

Red Light, Green Light

If you have a dog that struggles with knowing when to be calm and when to be excited, this is a great game for them. However, if your dog is overly excitable, you will need to be patient.

Before beginning this game, you will need to teach your dog a command to lie down.
Once they have learned this command, take them outside and have them lie down. Then say, “Ready…Set…GO!” and sprint a few steps forward. Stop and say “Down”. If your dog lays down, give them a treat and lots of attention.
As your dog gets better at this game, you can increase the speed. Once they have mastered it, try saying ‘Go’ just as their belly touches the ground. Eventually, your dog will play this game for fun and not just for the reward.

Playing this game with your dog is a great way to bond with them. While it is best played outdoors, it can also be played indoors if you have enough space.

Big or Small

This is another great game that can not only entertain your dog but also teach them a new trick. However, if your dog is overweight, this may not be the best game for them.

Start by taking a handful of kibble and holding it in one hand while holding a single piece in the other.
Extend your closed hands in front of your dog and say “big” as you open both hands.
If your dog goes for the bigger pile, they are allowed to eat it. But if they go for the smaller pile, close your hands and try again.
Repeat this until your dog associates the word “big” with the larger pile of kibble.
Once your dog has learned this, move on to phase two where you say “small” instead of “big”.
Keep practicing until your dog understands both words.
When they have learned both words, you can really start playing the game with them. Eventually, you can say “small” or “big” and your dog should be able to pick the correct pile every time. However, be sure to withhold the treat until they choose the right pile.

Ring Stacking

If you’re up for a challenge, ring stacking is a great game to test your dog’s mental abilities. However, be warned that it takes time and patience for your dog to understand the goal of the game.

First, find some rings and a stick that are the right size for your dog. Wooden, dye-free options are a safe choice. Using a clicker or similar tool, give your dog a treat every time they pick up a ring. Once they’ve learned this step, give them a treat every time they bring a ring to the stick.
At first, you may need to guide the ring onto the stick. Click and treat when the ring is successfully on the stick. It may take several weeks for your dog to fully understand the game, so be patient.
When they’ve mastered the game, try placing the stick on different surfaces, such as a wall or in a different room, to make the game more challenging.

Ring stacking is one of the most difficult brain games for dogs, but it’s a great way to test their mental abilities.

Are you tired of picking up your dog ’ s toys scattered around the house? Then toy pickup might be the perfect game for you and your dog. This game will encourage your dog to pick up its toys and put them away all by itself, freeing up your time.

To begin with, you need to teach your dog the “drop it” command. Give them an item to hold onto, then show them a treat and use the command. If they drop the toy, give them a treat. Repeat this until they understand what “drop it” means.
Next, get them to drop a toy into a box or basket. Guide them to the basket when they have a toy in their mouth and say “drop it.” If they drop it near the basket, still reward them.
Once they can drop the toy correctly, add a new command like “box” to teach them the difference between “drop it” and “box.”
When they can put toys into a box on their own, try taking it further by getting them to pick up a toy with a specific name like “ball.” Eventually, they’ll know precisely what it means when you say “ball” or “box.”

This game requires patience and practice, but it’s worth the effort to have a tidy house and a smart dog. Who knows, maybe you’ll wish you could teach your kids this trick as easily as your dog!

The Name Game

Dogs can actually remember the names of their toys, so teaching them the name can be a fun game.

Here’s how you can do it:

Pick a toy that you want your dog to learn the name of, such as a ball.
Give your dog the toy and say the name of the toy, for example, “ball”. Then give them a treat.
Repeat this for a few days until your dog starts to understand the name of the toy.
To check if your dog knows the name , say the name of the toy when it is nearby, and see if they go for it.

This can be done with every toy, and soon your dog will know all of their toys by name.

Hot & Cold

Playing Hot & Cold with your dog is a great way to test their brainpower, just like how we used to play it with our friends when we were younger. Even though it works best with a clicker, it’s still possible to play without one. However, if your dog gets easily frustrated, this game might not be the best choice for them.

Choose an object you want your dog to pick up and then let them close in on it.
When they start to approach the object, click the clicker, give them a treat, and say “hot”. But if your dog starts to move away from the object, don’t click or treat them, just say “cold”.

This game requires a lot of repetition and patience, but eventually, your dog will understand the difference between “cold” and “hot”. When they finally pick up the object you wanted them to, give them a lot of love, attention, and a treat.

Playing Hot & Cold is a great way to test your dog’s intelligence, and it can be a fun and engaging game for both you and your furry friend.

Obedience Fetch

If you have played regular fetch with your dog countless times and want to try something new and exciting, obedience fetch can be a great alternative.

Start by throwing the ball for your dog as you usually do, but instead of just picking up the ball and bringing it back, you can now train them to do a specific trick before returning the ball.
To get your dog to understand what you want them to do, you might have to start with easy tricks such as sitting or lying down and then gradually move on to more advanced tricks.
Once your dog has learned a few tricks, you can make it more challenging by asking them to perform multiple tricks before fetching the ball.
And to really challenge your dog, ask them to do a different set of tricks every time before they get to fetch the ball again.

This is an excellent way to exercise your dog’s brain, and the best part is that you don’t need to use treats to do it. So if you are worried about your dog’s weight, obedience fetch is definitely worth trying out.

The final brain game for dogs is perfect if your dog already knows a lot of tricks and you want to keep their training fresh and interesting.

This game is easier with a clicker, but it’s not a necessity.

Start by having your dog perform a trick, and when they succeed, give them a treat and use the clicker.
Then say “next trick”, and reward them with another treat.
Repeat this process until your dog repeats a trick twice. At that point, say something like “no, not that one…next trick”, and they’ll learn not to repeat the same trick twice.

When your dog is still a puppy, reward them for anything they do, even if it’s not perfect. For example, if they jump at you, give them a treat, but don’t reward them if they repeat the same behavior.

This game requires patience, but it’s an excellent way to keep your dog’s training fresh and engaging.

Once your dog becomes really good at these games, you can extend playtime to 15-20 minutes.

Bonus Games

If you’ve exhausted all the brain games for dogs, consider checking out the Brain Training for Dogs program created by Adrienne Faricelli.

This program features a variety of enjoyable games that you can play with your furry friend, all presented in simple videos for easy understanding.

By enrolling in the program, you will also gain access to a members’ area where you can directly ask Adrienne any questions and access numerous case studies.

For more information, check out this link. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking for fun and engaging ways to train their dog’s brain.

https://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/10-brain-games-to-play-with-your-dog
https://www.cuteness.com/13711223/17-best-mental-exercises-for-dogs
https://www.puppyleaks.com/brain-games/
https://www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/dog-advice/brain-games-dogs
https://www.justrightpetfood.com/blog/brain-games-for-dogs

Hey there, I’m Thomas and I’m the proud owner of two dogs. I’ve always been a dog lover and have a passion for training and caring for them. Now, I’m excited to share my knowledge and experience with you through my blog on dog training and dog care. Whether you’re a new dog owner or have had dogs your whole life, there’s always something new to learn about these amazing creatures.

Some of My Favorite Products For Dog Owners

I hope this article has helped you just a bit in everyday life as a dog owner. Being a dog owner for more than 25 years, I’ve tried many different products with varying success, but these products below are some that I can highly recommend to every dog and their owner without hesitation!

These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. But it’s products that I use daily myself, and I have the utmost praise for.

Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. But since 2015 when the company was founded, I’ve been using Ollie Petfood. With their product being tailor-made to suit every dog’s specific needs, and as my dogs love the product, I’m pretty sure I’ve found a product I will continue to use for many years more. If you use my link you can get 50% off your first order.

Dog Training: If you’ve ever owned a puppy, you know that it requires a lot of training to grow into a well-behaved adult. Brain Training for Dogs has helped me immensely with the mental training part of raising a dog, and it’s something I strongly recommend you consider.

Grooming: If you have a dog in your home, you’re going to need a brush, and for this, I recommend a Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush . For that price, you simply can’t beat this brush for everyday grooming.

If you’re looking for the most up-to-date recommendations, check out my recommended products section that I’ve created to help every dog owner!

Brain Games For Dogs: How To Keep Your Pup Mentally Stimulated (And Behaved)

Last Updated: May 1, 2024 | 7 min read | 2 Comments

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Many dogs were bred for specific jobs, like retrieving, tracking, herding, and guarding. These various instincts have become innate, but today, many dogs don’t satisfy these instincts in their daily lives, becoming bored. Bored dogs can exhibit bad or even destructive behavior.

Does this sound like your furry friend? If so, I’ll give you some ideas to keep your pup mentally stimulated and happy. Learn more about brain games for dogs and how to keep your dog mentally active.

Table of Contents

Why Do Dogs Need Brain Training?

Brain games are a great way to keep your dog well-trained and mentally stimulated . But before we give you specific game ideas, we want to point out that training your dog is an essential part of setting him up for mental and behavioral success.

Training your dog’s brain to behave appropriately in all kinds of situations can help keep them mentally alert. How? Because you’re teaching him skills that your dog can remember and use all the time. It’s also a great way to bond with your pup.

Brain Training For Dogs Course

Brain Training For Dogs is an excellent online course that teaches you how to brain-train your dog from puppyhood into adulthood. Adrienne Farricelli, a professional CPDT-KA certified dog trainer, developed this force-free training program that uses positive reinforcement . Many of the topics covered involve correcting bad behavior (excessive barking, jumping, leash pulling, biting, etc.), no matter how ingrained it may be in your dog.

The course teaches you specially designed techniques and games that engage your dog on a higher mental level than methods many other trainers use. Farricelli believes that mental stimulation is vital to correcting bad behavior — and boosting what she calls your dog’s “natural intelligence.”

8 Best Brain Games For Dogs

All dogs need regular physical exercise and interactive play, like fetch , tug-of-war, etc. However, many dogs need more. Here are some of the best mental stimulation games for dogs that we’ve found. Some are easy DIY games, and others are affordable interactive dog toys.

Nina Ottoson by Outward Hound's Dog Brick Puzzle.

There are many dog talking buttons and puzzle games that you can find online or at your pet store. They come in various degrees of difficulty, but most involve your dog figuring out how to get to a hidden treat. Nina Ottoson by Outward Hound’s Dog Brick Puzzle is a popular intermediate-level option for interactive dog toys.

If you want something more advanced, Trixie Pet Products has a fun and challenging flip-board puzzle that will offer plenty of mental stimulation and keep your pup occupied while working on getting to his treats.

Benefits Of Puzzles

Puzzle games help dogs build memory and boost their logic and problem-solving skills. Just like us, dogs need a mental challenge . Making your pup do a brain workout for about 15 minutes is equal to approximately 30 minutes of physical activity. Making them concentrate uses a lot of energy and makes them tired. Mental work like solving puzzles helps relieve stress and anxiety in dogs. Puzzles can be beneficial in working out destructive behaviors and decreasing hyperactivity.

See how our very own Barley loves his puzzles (and treats).

2. Treat-Dispensing Toys

Another fun brain game is a treat-dispensing toy, like OurPets IQ Treat Ball, that can keep your dog mentally stimulated for an extended period of time. The OurPets interactive treat-dispensing toy is available in 3 and 4-inch sizes, and you can adjust the level of difficulty as your dog learns how to get treats faster. See more interactive dog toys .

Our Personal Experience With OurPets IQ Treat Ball

This toy keeps our puppy occupied for hours. And, when Barley stops playing with it, he falls asleep!! It is also impossible for him to chew, which means this toy will thankfully last much longer than most in our home. – Michelle Schenker , Rescue pup parent and website co-founder

Read more about this and other toys we love

3. Stuffed Kong

A stuffed Kong is an excellent way to keep your dog mentally stimulated and occupied for a long time. You can load it with treats or peanut butter — and for an even greater challenge, freeze the peanut butter-stuffed Kong overnight. Your dog will enjoy working for his treat.

You can even turn this into a game by playing a treasure hunt . Show your dog the stuffed Kong, and then tell him to sit and stay while you hide it. Then, release him to go sniff out the treasured prize.

Our Personal Experience With Kong Dog Toys

I have used the classic Kong chew toys with my dogs for over 20 years. These toys are fantastic for super chewers. I have always had large dogs, Labrador mixes, who love to chew. These keep them entertained for hours on end and last for a very long time. They have literally saved my furniture from getting destroyed, and my dogs love them. – Danielle DeGroot , Labrador Retriever parent and website writer

See our reviews of popular Kong toys

4. The Cup Game

This is the dog version of the old hustling cup game. It can help your dog develop problem-solving skills and is a great interactive game for you and your pup to do together.

Get three plastic cups and some yummy-smelling treats
Line up the cups on the floor
Have your dog watch you as you place a treat under one of the cups
Shuffle the cups around
Give your dog the treat when he picks the right cup

In puppies, fun brain games like this help boost brain development and strengthen their bond with their owners. At any age, positive feedback boosts a dog’s confidence and further secures the connection you have. Mental games for dogs are fun for them and you.

5. Hide-And-Seek

Yes, it’s a game you usually play with kids, but your dog can enjoy a good old game of hide-and-seek , too. And it’s yet another game that lets you interact with your dog. If your dog hasn’t mastered the stay command, you can ask a family member or friend to help by having them distract your dog when you go and hide. Be sure to praise your pup when he finds you so he knows he’s mastered the end result.

For a different version of hide-and-seek , you may also want to try out this Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel dog toy. You hide the plush squirrels in the trunk, and your dog is challenged to nuzzle them out. The squirrels have hidden squeakers for added fun.

Our Personal Experience With Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Dog Toy

This is my dog Daisy’s favorite toy. She has had several of these and will take care of the little squirrels for months. Eventually, she tears them up, and we get a new one. This is a perfect toy for her because she loves hiding things and then finding them. We will hide the squirrels themselves all over the yard, and she will search them out. -Danielle DeGroot, Labrador Retriever parent

6. The Name Game

Your dog has likely caught on to everyday terms like “walk,” toy,” and “treat.” But it’s mentally stimulating for him to learn different names for each toy (or person in your home). He’ll have fun learning the terms for each object or person and then seeking them out when you ask him to.

7. Put Your Toys Away

Like the Name Game, this is another fun training game. You can teach your dog to pick up his toys and place them in a container. Tell your dog to “get your toy” or “retrieve,” and then show him where to take them. Once he’s at the toy box, you say, “Drop it.” It may take some time for him to learn what you’re expecting, but training dogs with new skills boosts their confidence and keeps them mentally stimulated.

8. Obstacle Course

Training your dog to go through an obstacle course is a great mental workout. This can be a DIY dog brain game where you arrange some chairs, tables, blankets, toys, etc., and create your own obstacle course. Or, if you want to go all out, you can purchase some agility equipment for your yard.

Outward Hound has an affordable ZipZoom Beginner Dog Agility Training Obstacle Course that includes an adjustable jump, weaving poles, and a tunnel. For a greater challenge, you may want to check out this PawHut Agility Training kit . It comes with an adjustable high jump, tunnel, weave poles, a square pause box, and an adjustable jumping ring.

Homemade Dog Brain Games (Video)

Watch this brief video for a few additional DIY dog brain games you can create with everyday household items.

Make Your Own DIY Dog Games & Puzzles

Not all dog games and brain puzzles need to be bought. With a little time and a few supplies, you can quickly make fun brain games and interactive dog toys at home for your pup.

DIY Dog Puzzle

You can make a DIY dog puzzle if you have a muffin pan, dog treats, and a few toys. You can substitute an egg carton if you don’t have a muffin tin. Hide a few treats in the muffin cups, then cover them with a toy, balled-up paper, or other items. Your pup must sniff through and play with each toy as they seek the treats. You can make a DIY food puzzle the same way. Simply fill up the muffin cups or egg cartons with kibble, then cover the top with cardboard or other items.

A fun and easy interactive dog toy you can try is to make a dig box for your pup. Find an old bin or cardboard box. Sprinkle a few treats at the bottom. Then, cover them with shredded bits of paper such as recycling, old newspapers, ads, etc.

Frozen Treats

Some dogs love frozen treats, like ice cubes or snowballs. Freezing up some tasty bone broth is another way to incorporate a frozen treat into play. You can add these to a food puzzle or toys like the Kong . Hide them around the yard for your pup to find in a scavenger hunt.

DIY Doggie Ramp

You can use a board and a rolled-up towel or blanket to create a doggie see-saw type of ramp . It will not be a huge incline, but dogs love it when it moves. You can add a ball or treat at the other end of the ramp to make it even more fun.

Cardboard Box Maze

Creating a maze out of everyday household items and cardboard boxes can provide tons of fun for your pup. Add treats and toys behind different turns. Create a cozy spot inside for your dog to lay down with a soft blanket. Your pup can spend hours in the maze, and you can easily add new twists and turns. These are also easy to clean up and recycle when you are done.

Don’t Forget To Stock Up On Dog Treats

You want to make sure you have plenty of dog treats when you’re training your dog or using some of these brain game ideas. Dogs are motivated by these tasty rewards, but not all treats are the healthiest options. You may want to consider vegan dog treats or calming treats if you have a highly energetic pup. See the best treats to reward your dog for some of our top recommendations.

Why Trust Canine Journal?

Sally has over 10 years of experience researching and testing hundreds of pet toys, accessories, and other methods to keep our four-legged friends mentally and physically stimulated. She’s part of a team of dedicated canine professionals who are committed to the health and well-being not only of our own pups but of all of our readers’ furry friends.

The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety advice or professional care. Please consult your health care provider, attorney, or product manual for professional advice. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do we guarantee their functionality, utility, safety, or reliability. Our content is for educational purposes only.

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Dog's Best Life

The information you need to keep your dog happy, healthy, playful and loyal.

Discover the surprising health benefits of brain games for dogs

PUBLISHED: August 2, 2024 | UPDATED: August 2, 2024

Playing brain games with your dog helps develop problem-solving skills.

Dog owners look for ways to keep their pups mentally stimulated and engaged.

While many people focus on physical activities like walks, runs, and fetch, it’s equally important to challenge your dog’s cognitive abilities.

Just as you enjoy a good puzzle or brainteaser, your dog enjoys problem-solving and using its brain.

What type of dog is best suited to benefit from brain games? The simple answer is any dog.

From Chihuahuas to the Great Pyrenees , canines of all shapes, ages, and abilities will benefit from these activities.

Exploring the potential benefits of brain games for specific breeds or age groups of dogs can be a valuable endeavor.

Different breeds and age groups may have varying needs for mental stimulation, and understanding these specific requirements can help develop targeted brain games to keep our canine friends engaged and mentally sharp.

Why brain games matter for dogs

Do brain games tire dogs?

Online retailers, make your own, hide and hunt, diy agility course, frozen treat puzzles, scent games, bottle game, treats under tennis balls.

Add brain games to your dog's daily routine

Increase the challenge

Master dog training: 30 expert tips for a perfectly behaved pup

Mental exercise is essential for a dog’s well-being, just as physical activity is vital to stay healthy.

Playing brain games with your pup can help it develop problem-solving skills and improve its independence, a goal every pet parent strives to achieve.

You can also use brain games to prevent dog boredom.

Here are some excellent benefits when challenging your dog’s brain.

First, these kinds of activities reinforce positive behaviors in dogs by providing them with ample rewards based on cognitive tasks accomplished correctly or at least attempted.

Interactive games and toys allow your pet to hone its problem-solving abilities, creating a stronger relationship with you and the pup.

These enhanced mental engagement sessions help reduce stress due to novelty and can be a great way to prevent boredom-related issues when regular walks or playtime are not included in your daily schedule.

In this case, brain games to prevent dog boredom are an excellent choice.

Finally, these savvy little entertainment tools help bring out natural predatory abilities from canine ancestors.

This allows your dog to express these instincts, thus increasing its levels of obedience in and around the house and other environments.

Red border collie appears to play chess. While the breeds on the DogsBestLife.com smartest dog breeds list may not be able to play chess, they're still pretty amazing.

Dogs are energetic, playful animals that require a lot of physical and mental stimulation .

Many pet owners employ brain games to focus their pup’s energy in a productive direction. But do these activities tire dogs out and aid them in calming down? The answer is yes.

Teaching puppies to engage in brain games is a great way to provide mental stimulation. Brain games can be as tiring as physical exercise and provide many beneficial results.

Brain exercises challenge your pup’s impulse control and problem-solving skills by engaging multiple senses, including vision, hearing, smell, and taste.

Using all of those senses in such a focused way is tiring.

Even if your pup has trouble keeping up with coordination or physical fitness, you can still stimulate its brain with fun mental activities that enrich and occupy it so you don’t have to worry about too much energy.

Where to buy dog brain games

When it comes time to buy brain games for your dog, here are a few places to look that are worth considering.

Visit your trusted pet store for an extensive selection of products designed specifically for our canine companions.

Oddly, the store will have various interactive toys that can be used as puzzle challenges or treat dispensers.

Another good option is online retailers who specialize exclusively in canine products.

These websites typically have an excellent selection, including puzzle and chew toys, obstacle courses, snuffle mats, and treat mazes.

Finally, if money is tight right now, why not engage in the craft by creating DIY enrichment activities like interactive dog toys or dog puzzle toys at home?

Brain games without breaking the bank

Owner plays hike-and-seek game with dog. Finding ways to boost your dog's brain helps keep him happier and healthier. Try 11 easy and economic games to challenge your dog.

Have you ever wondered if your pup could benefit from mental stimulation without investing in expensive toys?

Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to make free brain games for dogs to help keep your furry friend sharp and engaged.

When selecting brain games for dogs, it’s essential to consider safety first.

It’s also essential to evaluate whether a game is age-appropriate and only use items that are the right size and texture so your dog doesn’t choke or potentially hurt itself.

If needed, start with slower-paced exercises during playtime, depending on each dog’s understanding level. Then, slowly increase the difficulty over time according to what works best.

Here are a few ideas if you’re looking at making doggy brain games yourself:

This classic hide-and-seek game involves hiding treats around the house and letting curious pups use their senses (especially smell) to hunt down goodies and build confidence in their abilities.

Let your dog see you “hide” some of the treats so it knows it should be looking. Choose hiding spots that are easy for your dog to access.

You can set up a simple obstacle course in your backyard using household items like tunnels, cones, and bars for your dog to navigate.

Fill a Kong or similar toy with treats, peanut butter, or plain yogurt, and freeze it. This will give your dog a tasty challenge to work on.

Hide a treat or toy and encourage your dog to find it using its sense of smell. By hiding items in more challenging spots, you can gradually increase the difficulty of this treasure hunt.

To get started, take an empty plastic bottle and add treats or small pieces of dog food.

Then, make teaspoon-size holes so that when rolled around, the treats are dispensed from various places, and your dog can nudge them with its nose or paw.

It’s also great because you can use kibble rather than expensive treats. When placing these holes, be sure not to go too big; you want this to be challenging for your dog.

However, it would be best if you didn’t make it too hard. Otherwise, your furry pal won’t be rewarded for its hard work and will likely give up before getting tired.

This brain game requires minimal materials and comes together in simple steps. Your dog must figure out how to remove the tennis balls to reveal the hidden treats.

Clean a baking tray or pan if previously used for cooking. You want to make sure it’s safe for your pup.

Next, scatter your dog’s favorite treats across the bottom of the tray. You can use small kibble pieces, fruit or vegetables like apples or carrots, or specially-made dog treats .

Place the tennis balls on top of the treats, filling the tray so that the treats are covered and out of direct sight. This is where your dog’s problem-solving skills will come into play.

Bring your dog to the setup and encourage it to investigate. You may want to demonstrate the game by moving a tennis ball to reveal the treats below.

Remember to praise and reward your pup for its efforts as it learns to play the game.

Add brain games to your dog’s daily routine

One of the best ways to incorporate brain games for dogs into your daily routine is to use interactive toys that dispense treats when manipulated correctly.

You can also create DIY brain games using items around the house, such as hiding treats for your dog to find or teaching them new tricks and commands.

Additionally, puzzle toys and games that require problem-solving can stimulate your dog mentally.

Other options include:

Hide and seek: Hide treats around the house or in the yard and encourage your dog to find them. This game exercises their sense of smell and provides mental stimulation.

Training sessions: Incorporate short training sessions into your dog’s daily routine. Teaching them new tricks or practicing obedience commands can challenge their cognitive abilities.

Interactive feeding: Instead of serving meals in a regular bowl, use interactive feeders or food-dispensing toys. This not only slows down their eating pace but also makes mealtime more engaging.

Scent work: Engage your dog in activities that involve sniffing and tracking scents. You can use scent boxes or set up simple scent trails for them to follow.

Adding these brain games to your dog’s daily routine can provide mental stimulation and prevent boredom, resulting in a happier and more fulfilled pet.

To gradually increase the difficulty level of games as the dog becomes more proficient, you can start by introducing new obstacles, increasing the complexity of commands, or using different rewards.

This gradual progression will keep the dog challenged and engaged while allowing continuous improvement and skill development.

Why do dogs like brain games?

Dogs are intelligent creatures with an innate curiosity and love for learning new things.

Playing brain games allows them to exercise their minds as much as they would when tackling a challenging puzzle or engaging in a stimulating conversation.

In doing so, our canine friends can strengthen cognitive abilities such as problem-solving and memory retention — skills essential for health and a good quality of life.

Dogs also appreciate games because of the rewards of completing a game or puzzle. These engaging activities have a bonus reward built into them.

When your pooch succeeds at cracking a puzzle or finds buried treasure mid-game, it gets some yummy snacks, making success all the sweeter (literally). What dog wouldn’t like that?

There are so many benefits of brain games for dogs.

Brain games will stimulate your dog mentally, and your furry friend will benefit from improved mental agility and overall well-being — and have a lot of fun.

Master dog training : 30 expert tips for a perfectly behaved pup

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Brain games for dogs – Treat Treasure Hunt

July 27, 2024

Brain Games are a great way to keep your dog mentally and physically stimulated, helping to keep some of the most common dog behaviour issues that I deal with as a dog trainer at bay.

Why brain games are important

When dogs are left alone all day in their backyards, or while their owners go out to work with nothing to do they get bored or anxious as they are just not getting enough mental and physical stimulation in their day.

Many also miss out on the daily walks, training and socialisation required to create a happy, healthy and well behaved dog, so adding some brain games into your dog’s daily activity can help bring some of this together.

Firstly, interactive toys are great way to get your dog’s body and brains working. Treat dispensing toys and puzzles are great for this, using their food or favourite treats to entice them to play.

My dog Darcy loves his treat dispensing balls that I fill with tiny bits of the Vitapet chicken sticks . He loves trying to push them around the house madly, being rewarded every time a small piece of treat falls out.

In my book Eat, Play, Love Your Dog , I talk about the importance of playing games with your dog to build a bond and to help keep many dog behaviour issues at bay. I also provide a few games and ideas such as the Treat Treasure Hunt below, but also others.

Problem solving with brain games

Brain games are great way to add some fun and stimulation into your dog’s day and are also a great way to help strengthen your bond with your dog.

Not only is it fun and interactive, but it also teaches your dog problem solving.

A really simple game that will get your dog’s brain and body moving is the treasure hunt. There are many others in my book, ‘Eat, Play, Love Your Dog’ too.

Treat Treasure Hunt

Playing a treasure hunt with your dog’s treats or kibble engages them mentally and physically.

It taps into their natural scenting skills, which also makes them feel good.

For first timers, you may have to teach them the rules of the game.

Step 1 : For the first couple of times have your dog sit and wait, or restrained on leash, but let them watch as their treats are hidden around the room

Step 2: Release your dog from their sit or leash and, when they target in on a treat, you indicate they are correct by saying ‘yes’ or using a clicker, which is then followed by the reward which is the treat itself.

Once they are reliably doing this, you can say ‘find your treats’ so you are working in some obedience training techniques too.

Step 3 : Some dogs are quicker than others, so if your dog is a little unsure about what to do, you could gently lead or direct them over to where the treat is hidden to help

Step 4: After you are confident that your dog understands what ‘find your treats’ means you can start making it a bit more challenging. Have them stay in another room when you hide the treats

Step 5: As they get better at the game start to hide them in places that really require them to use their nose such as under a rug or even an object like a paper cup

The great thing about this game is that you can use it as you are leaving them alone for a while to reduce both boredom and separation anxiety , particularly once they have a strong association with ‘find your treats’.

Simply hide some treats around the house or yard and as you leave give them the cue phrase ‘find your treats’ so they have a positive association with your departure as they go off hunting for food.

About the Author: Lara Shannon is a certified dog behaviourist and trainer, pet food nutrition specialist, Executive Producer and Host of Pooches at Play on Channel 10 and editor of Poochesatplay.com. Lara also runs her own dog training business in Melbourne’s Bayside area and is the Author of World of Dogs and Eat, Play, Love Your Dog

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Looking for more dog tips and fun facts?

Get your paws on Lara Shannon’s best selling books ‘Eat, Play, Love (your dog) and World of Dogs.

Available in Australia, USA, UK and Canada.

Pet Wellness

Brain Games: Keep Your Dog Thinking

Walking through your neighborhood and playing fetch are great ways to keep your dog in shape. But have you challenged their brain recently? Because that’s important for their overall health and well-being.

Brain games are important for dogs of every age:

Puppies. Brain games build self-confidence and teach them to play by themselves.
Adults. They encourage problem-solving and burn off energy.
Seniors. They keep their mind sharp and help prevent brain decline.
Dogs recovering from surgery or other medical treatments. These games can be boredom busters when your dog has to rest and take it easy.

Such activities help keep your dog engaged in positive ways. Bored dogs can develop bad habits, particularly if they’re already stressed or have a lot of energy.

But thinking skills can start to drop as your dog ages. More than one-third of dogs over 8 years old start to lose some of their brain function.

Signs of mental decline in dogs include personality changes, accidents in the house, restlessness at night, decreased activity, and memory loss. A dog might forget simple commands or tricks they knew before. They can become cranky or stressed, particularly in new situations. And they might sleep more and become less active.

Medications and supplements might help slow this decline, but research has found that mental stimulation can also help keep their brain alert and healthy.

The Power of Food

Most dogs are motivated by food. Research shows they prefer to get food as a reward, rather than getting it without doing anything. In one study, dogs got excited and wagged their tails when they performed a task and knew food was coming.

But other dogs in that study were given food at random. They showed signs of frustration because they didn’t know when to expect treats.

Try starting brain games at mealtime when your pup is already hungry and interested in food. Use part of your dog’s daily food for games so you don’t end up feeding them too much. You might need to cut back on their feedings if you offer a lot of treats.

Food-based games encourage your dog to use natural foraging instincts as they hunt for hidden food.

Types of Brain Games

Brain games for your dog can be toys, puzzles, or other activities that challenge them and require problem-solving. There are some you can make, some you can buy, and some that require no extra materials. Always supervise your pet when playing so they don’t swallow any small parts or materials.

Scatter and sniff games. These are an easy place to start. Scatter some of your dog’s kibble on the floor or around the house and encourage them to go look for it. Make sure you choose locations that are clean and easy to clean up after. Sprinkle food in boxes to make this foraging game more challenging.

You can also let your dog’s nose work hard by using a snuffle mat. These are usually made of fleece or fabric strips attached to a flat bottom. You can buy snuffle mats or make them by sewing strips of fabric on a sturdy cloth bottom. Some also have pockets or hidden crevices. Sprinkle your pet’s kibble or some treats into the folds and they have to use their nose to hunt for them.

With any game, if your dog seems frustrated and can’t find the food, point out where the treats are to help them.

Puzzle feeders and toys. There are many games and toys you can buy where your dog has to problem solve in order to get access to food. Some require your dog to nudge or push them, so they rock and distribute food. Others are more complicated puzzles where your pup has to learn to lift a lid or slide a lever in order to release treats.

Start off with an easy toy and then gradually work your way up to harder puzzles as your pup masters each one. If the game is too hard and they can’t get the treats easily, they may give up in frustration.

You can make a simple puzzle feeder using an old tennis ball. Use a sharp knife to cut an X or two into the side of the ball. Then stuff it with kibble and give it to your dog to explore. Puzzle feeders are also helpful for dogs who eat too quickly.

Stuffed food toys. These are durable rubber toys you can stuff with food. Start by adding some dry kibble or treats so they’re easy for your pup to find. Once they’ve figured that out, add a filling and freeze it. Try yogurt, peanut butter, or cheese. Maybe add kibble that’s been soaked in water or broth and freeze it. Frozen food toys can keep your dog busy for a long time. Know that they can be messy, so feed them in an area that’s easy to clean.

Destruction game. If you’ve ever seen a puppy attack an empty paper towel holder, you know dogs enjoy destroying things. Make a destruction game by filling a cardboard box with crumpled balls of paper, empty toilet paper rolls, and anything else that’s OK for your dog to shred. Add a few favorite toys and then sprinkle in some treats or dry food. To make it more challenging, close up the box so they have to get inside it. Make sure to supervise and stop the game if your dog decides to eat the paper and cardboard.

Worried About Your Dog’s Brain Health?

Although brain games can help keep your dog’s mind engaged, reach out to your vet if you’re concerned about your pup’s thinking skills. They’ll ask you about possible symptoms and try to find the cause of any behavior changes. They may recommend dietary supplements.

There’s no treatment to cure your dog’s brain decline due to aging, but keeping their mind engaged and challenged can help keep them healthy.

Show Sources

Photo Credit: Fenne / Getty Images

Colorado State University: “If You Have an Older Pet, Be on the Lookout for Signs of Cognitive Decline.”

Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences: “Cognitive Decline in Aging Dogs: What To Know.”

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home: “Brain games for dogs.”

Animal Humane Society: “Brain games for dogs,” “How to make a snuffle mat.”

British Journal of Nutrition: “Cognitive enhancement in old dogs from dietary supplementation with a nutrient blend containing arginine, antioxidants, B vitamins and fish oil.”

Animal Cognition: “Positive affect and learning: exploring the ‘Eureka Effect’ in dogs.”

Purdue University: “Enrichment in Kennels.”

Gerontology: “Cognitive Aging in Dogs.”

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10 Brain Games to Play With Your Dog

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California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

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Treasure Hunt

Hide-and-go-seek, ring stackers, hot and cold, 52-toy pickup, the name game, jumping rope, red light green light.

Everyone loves playing a good game of fetch with their dog. It's perfect for getting exercise and having fun. But the downside to the game is that there is no thinking involved — just a lot of running back and forth. So many games with dogs, from fetch to tug-of-war, don't require them to do a whole lot of thinking.

On the other hand, interactive brain games not only tire out your energetic dog, but they also defeat boredom, increase your dog's confidence, and strengthen the bond between the two of you as you work together as a team. So many great activities that you can do with your dog are simply dog-versions of favorite kids' games, all of which exercise and train the brain as much as the body.

Here are 10 brain games for dogs to get you started.

Why Pets Matter to Treehugger

At Treehugger, we are advocates for the welfare of all animals, including dogs and other domestic pets. We hope our readers will adopt rescue pets instead of shopping from breeders or pet stores and will also consider supporting local animal shelters .

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Getting your dog to use its nose to find hidden treasure is a great way to stimulate its brain and teach your dog to use all of its senses. Starting out, you'll want to set your dog up for success so it understands the game and doesn't get too discouraged. Begin with something simple. Put your dog in a sit-stay and hide a treat or favorite toy somewhere obvious, even letting your dog watch you hide it. Then give your dog the release cue to go find the toy. Reward your dog big-time for its success in finding the hidden treasure.

Once your dog understands the game, ramp up the difficulty. Hide the treat or toy in another room, or some place where other scents mask the treat or toy, like the bottom of the laundry bin or under the food dish. You can also make the game really hard by using cardboard boxes. Set up 10 to 20 cardboard boxes of different sizes and, without your dog seeing, place the reward in only one box. Let your dog investigate all of the boxes and provide the reward or a jackpot treat when it selects the correct box. There are so many variations on this game that it will have the two of you playing different versions for years to come.

Twinkle Studio / Shutterstock

Boost the excitement and reward level of the popular treasure hunt game by making yourself the treasure your dog is tasked to find. You'll need at least two people to play. One person distracts the dog and gives it the sit-stay cue while the other person hides. The person who is not hiding then gives the release cue for the dog to start looking. This game works wonderfully both indoors and outdoors, and is a fun way to spend a rainy afternoon playing with your dog .

Just as toys can teach toddlers eye-hand coordination, they can teach dogs eye-paw (or eye-mouth) coordination. Walking down the aisles of any toy store will set your imagination alight with things you can teach your dog. A tough game that takes awhile to learn, ring stackers will keep you and your dog hard at work together for hours. Patience is the key to success for this activity as it can take days or weeks to perfect the game. It's important to find wooden rings with natural dyes rather than plastic, since your dog will be biting down on the rings quite a bit. Choose rings in a size appropriate for your dog’s size and mouth dexterity.

Clicker training is ideal for learning to stack rings since your dog is feeling, rather than seeing, what it’s doing. One method to try is to click-and-treat your dog when it picks up a ring, then click-and-treat again as the dog moves closer to the stick. Continue by click-and-treating each time the dog touches the ring to the stick and when it tries to maneuver the ring onto the top of the stick.

What Is Clicker Training?

Training a dog by using a device that makes a clicking sound to let the dog know you approve of its behavior followed quickly by a reward or treat.

You can change things up by mounting the stick to a wall so the dog has to fit it onto a horizontal stick rather than dropping it onto a vertical stick. You can also put the rings in a different room so your dog is running back and forth to collect and stack all the rings before earning the jackpot reward.

Dogs love this simple but challenging game because, as with all good games, there are treats involved. Take two opaque plastic cups and flip them upside down. With your dog watching, place a treat under one cup. Give your dog the cue to come turn over the cup and get the treat. Do this eight or 10 times, giving your dog time to really understand the game. After the dog has caught on, alternate which cup you place the treat under. When your dog selects the correct cup, let it have the treat. If the dog doesn't select the correct cup (which will happen, even when it sees you placing the treat under the cup), show the dog the treat under the correct cup but don't let the dog have the treat. This will keep the dog focused on watching which cup you place the treat under so it can guess the correct cup. While the game may sound easy, for many dogs this requires some serious thinking.

If your dog masters this, it's time for even more of a challenge. Place a treat under the left cup, then slide the cups to switch places, so that the cup with the treat is now on your right. Release your dog to find the treat. If your dog selects the correct cup, give it the treat. If your dog doesn't select the correct cup, show it the treat but don't let the dog have it. Keep repeating this and see if your dog can figure out the trick. Some dogs may never quite get how the treat magically switches sides — this is a tough game that requires visual tracking and not all dogs make the connection. But if your dog does, bump up the challenge even more by swapping sides randomly. See if your dog can use its eyes, nose, and thinking skills to find the treat after the old switcheroo. Very few dogs will be successful at this challenging version of the game, so don’t be discouraged if your dog isn’t a whiz at the shell game.

Jess Wealleans / Shutterstock

An activity that boosts your dog's creativity is the "new trick" game. It's a popular game in clicker training because it teaches a dog to think independently and come up with its own ideas about what behavior earns a reward. The premise is simple: Click and treat for a new behavior offered by your dog and ignore a behavior already offered. A typical game between a dog and its owner goes something like this: Say "new trick" and the dog might sit. Click and treat and then say “new trick” again. Repeat the sequence. The game continues as long as the dog does a new trick each time. Once the dog repeats a trick, let the dog know it already did that trick and don’t offer a reward. If the dog returns with a new trick, restart the game with another round of click and treat and a request for a “new trick.” Depending on the dog, this game can sometimes last for 30 minutes or longer.

If your dog isn't used to clicker training for shaping behavior, start simple when teaching this game. The slightest new thing can earn a treat. For example, set a box next to your dog. Click and treat your dog for looking at the box, for touching it with a paw, for touching it with its nose, for stepping on it, for walking around it, for just about any vague interaction with the box. But don't reward the same action twice. Your dog touching the box with his nose earns a reward once, but the second time it earns nothing. Once your dog gets the grasp of the game, expand it to other behaviors like sit, down, crawl, spin, sit up, and so on. Pretty soon, your dog will be going through your entire repertoire of tricks and coming up with new ones just to earn that treat for creative thinking.

The hot and cold game is also ideal for clicker training your dog since it follows the basics of shaping a new behavior. It's great for smart dogs who don't get frustrated too easily. And all you have to do is sit on the couch and say "hot" or "cold" and toss treats. It’s that easy.

Start by coming up with something you want your dog to do. It can be anything — maybe you notice your keys on the floor and you want your dog to go pick them up and bring them to you. Simply sit back with your bag of treats, and any time the dog makes a move that edges them closer to the keys, say "hot" with enthusiasm and toss a treat to the dog near the keys. If your dog moves away from the chosen goal, quietly say "cold." If the dog moves back toward the chosen goal, excitedly say "hot!" and toss a treat. You can teach your dog to go touch the doorknob on the other side of the room, grab a blanket from the couch, or pretty much any behavior you can think of.

Cleaning up has never been so much fun. To get your dog to understand the game, start by saying "drop it" to get your dog to drop a toy on command. This is a key component to getting your dog to the next step which is dropping a toy in a particular location. After your dog has mastered the drop-it command, start shaping your dog to drop toys in a basket or box. Click and treat stages of the behavior a little at a time — when your dog heads toward the basket with the toy or drops the toy near the basket. Anything that leads closer to the behavior of dropping the toy in the basket should be rewarded. Eventually, your dog will understand that a command like "put it away" means to grab a toy and take it to the basket, drop it in, and leave it there.

After this part is mastered, build up the number of toys your dog picks up. Start with rewarding your dog each time it puts a toy away. Then, begin to slowly reduce the amount of rewards offered. Reward the dog after it puts away two toys, then after three toys, and so on. Eventually, the reward will only come when every toy is put away, and you'll have a dog running around the room finding every toy as quickly as possible in order to win that wonderful jackpot reward of a handful of treats.

Just remember, it takes time to build these skills, and the journey is all part of the game, so have patience. It may take quite a few clicker sessions before your dog understands the meaning of “put it away.” But watching your dog learn and figure things out is part of the fun. Silence, or just a tiny bit of encouragement when your dog gets frustrated, goes a long way in helping it figure out the trick while also gaining confidence.

After your dog has mastered how to put away toys, provide a new challenge by teaching your dog to put away toys by name. Start by teaching your dog the name of specific toys, and then send it to go get a particular toy. Certain breeds — like border collies — are famous for their vocabulary, but even the most stubborn of dogs can learn the names of at least a couple of toys. It just takes a lot of repetition to hammer home the name. One way to get started is to hold a toy, say its name, let your dog grab it, then reward your dog for grabbing the toy. Let's say it's a rubber tug toy named Tug. Hold Tug in one hand, say "Tug," let your dog grab Tug, and give a reward. Repeat this 20 or 30 times. Then set Tug next to a very different toy of equal value, like a rope toy named Rope. Say "Tug" to your dog and if your dog selects Tug, give a reward. If your dog doesn't select Tug but selects Rope instead, say nothing but place Rope back next to Tug. Say "Tug" again and let your dog choose. Once your dog is consistently selecting Tug, place Tug next to another different toy, and repeat the steps until your dog is always choosing Tug over other toys of equal value.

Once your dog is successful with one toy's name, start the whole process over with a different toy, like Rope. Hold Rope, say "Rope," let your dog grab Rope, and give a reward, repeating this 20 or 30 times. Set Rope next to a different toy (but not the first toy, Tug), say "Rope," and only reward your dog when they select Rope. Say nothing if your dog selects the other toy, but return it next to Rope and try again. Keep repeating until you have the same consistent success that your dog had with Tug.

Once you've established Rope and Tug and your dog knows the names of these two toys, it's time for a test. Place Rope and Tug next to each other, and ask for Tug. Reward only if your dog chooses Tug. Keep trying until your dog is successful a few times, then switch to asking for Rope. When your dog has this down, consistently selecting the toy you ask for, you're ready to take the test farther by adding in a few more unnamed toys. See if your dog can pick out Tug or Rope from the small pile. If you have success with two toys, then keep the process going for more toys. Who knows how many names your dog will learn!

Eye and body coordination meet with this game. Your dog has to concentrate on the pace of the rope, on targeting a certain spot on the ground, and of course, on jumping. Think it can't be done? You'll be surprised.

Start by teaching your dog to target an object on the ground. A good object to begin with is a stick because it can demonstrate to the dog not just where to jump but also how much space there is to work with on either side so it can stay within the boundaries of the rope. Once your dog has mastered targeting, teach it to jump on that spot on a cue. After that, add in the rope, cueing your dog each time it needs to jump as the rope comes down. It will take a lot of practice, but it will also burn a ton of extra brain and body energy. Plus, this trick will certainly impress the kids in the neighborhood.

This is an ideal game for dogs who tend to get wound up during play and become overly enthusiastic. The game improves a dog's impulse control and reminds it to pay attention to you no matter how much fun it's having. This will ultimately make excursions to the dog park or other off-leash areas much more safe and enjoyable, but it is a game that can be played any time, anywhere.

To play, you’ll need to teach your dog the difference between “red light,” or stop, and “green light,” or go. Begin by having your dog sit or stay, say “green light” and encourage your dog to chase a toy, follow a lure, or run around. As you play with your dog, make sure it stays focused on you so it’s ready for your next command. When you say “red light,” immediately tell your dog to sit or lie down. Continue repeating the sequence until your dog ultimately learns the red light and green light commands without assistance. The video below is a great example of how to teach your dog to play the game.

Arhant, Christine et al. " Balancing Skill Against Difficulty - Behavior, Heart Rate And Heart Rate Variability Of Shelter Dogs During Two Different Introductions Of An Interactive Game ". Applied Animal Behaviour Science , vol 232, 2020, p. 105141. Elsevier BV , doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105141

Fugazza, Claudia et al. " Rapid Learning Of Object Names In Dogs ". Scientific Reports , vol 11, no. 1, 2021. Springer Science And Business Media LLC , doi:10.1038/s41598-021-81699-2

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10 Best Mind Games for Dogs That Actually Help With Boredom

Thomas Villalpando

November 19, 2023

Brain games are the 2020s solution to make a puppy intelligent. However, not many people understand the mentally stimulating part of brain games.

This read covers A to Z about the 10 best mind games for dogs. But that’s not it.

You’re also going to learn about a recently introduced secret. You can boost your pup’s intelligence a few times more than just playing brain games by utilizing that.

Bookmark this page, and be sure to read each section carefully.

Let us begin, my fellow pet parents!

Quick Summary

The 10 Best Mind Games for Dogs are Brain Training for Dogs Program, The Dog Puzzle, Treats For Improvised Tricks, Name Game For Toys (And Beyond), ‘Which Hand’, Variations of Hide-And-Seek, Shell Game, Toy or Food dispensing Toys, Tug Of War & Learn-A-Word

Brain games are beneficial for dogs and help with intelligence and boredom.

Playing fun brain games with dogs can improve their problem-solving skills, confidence, and understanding, and can also help with behavioral issues.

Table of Contents

Brain Training for Dogs – The Newest Trick in the Market

Why is it important to brain train a dog, 1. treats for improvised tricks, 2. name game for toys (and beyond), 3. the dog puzzle, if you’re using treats, if you’re using toys, 5. variations of hide-and-seek, 6. shell game, 7. toy or food dispensing toys, 8. tug of war, 9. hot or cold, 10. learn-a-word, the big question: does a ‘fun’ brain game mentally stimulate a dog, in conclusion.

This research reveals how dogs’ minds differ based on the breed. But we already know how pups and even some adult dogs struggle to develop their intelligence.

What if I told you there was a simple course to brain train your pup like a pro?

Before I answer that, check if the following are familiar to you:

Your dog is either a pup or needs to be trained.
A family member is struggling to play with the pup.
Your dog has barking, potting, whining, and even hyperactivity problems.
Is your dog aggressive?
Your pup definitely has a chewing problem.
You’re not familiar with brain games for dogs, at all.
And any experience that screams the need of mind training your dog.

If you can relate to any point mentioned above, you should probably check out the brain training online course designed by Adrienne Farricelli.

She’s a professional CPDT-KA certified dog trainer who single-handedly replaced the role of expensive professional dog trainers.

And, get this — the course is done ONLINE, the structure is simple and gradual, and affordable. But, most importantly, it is designed for even the most stubborn dog.

This course is named BrainTraining4Dogs . I highly recommend you to consider this course because it lays down the fundamentals of taming a dog.

This helps you skyrocket your dog’s intelligence levels with any brain game in and outside the course.

If information is not enough & you want to learn more about this course, click here to read the full review .

Mental stimulation games make dogs so much better. But, better how?

Bored dogs aren’t happy dogs. So, a fun brain game keeps a dog entertained.
Untamed dogs are notorious for destructive behavior. Brain games are ideal for impulse control.
Tamed dogs who are untrained lack confidence. You can boost your dog’s confidence with brain stimulating games.
Brain games for dogs improve problem-solving skills rapidly.
Dog owners can probably make money at dog tournaments!
Mental stimulation by these games improves your dog’s understanding. So, no more excessive barking at nothing!
Sometimes, bonding with dogs can be challenging. Fun brain games speed up the process.
How many times has your dog snatched away the food from the kitchen?

So now that you have the perfect foundation, let us get into these mentally stimulating games!

The 10 Best Fun Brain Games for Dogs

For your luck, pups are born intelligent to some extent. But a dog needs a reason to use its brain. This incentive for that is treats. So, how do you play this game?

The trick is to establish a command. For example, suppose you say, “do a new trick, buddy”, and the dog will sit, turn around, or do something else. Then, you’re supposed to give a treat with all the dog’s new tricks .

If the pup repeats a trick, say “you already did that, buddy. Do something new”. Have your dog learn that it needs to improvise every time for a treat.

This game is one of the best approaches to introducing complex commands to your dog.

Tip: Use words such as shy, speak, roll, twist, etc., that your dog understands.

Benefit: Intelligence boosting is as good as any toy with puzzling.

This game is about names for toys. So, indoors is the best place to play this fun game. So, how does this game work?

This game works perfectly, even if only a few dog toys exist. The point is to familiarize names of specific toys. Make sure you have a few treats when you start. After that, assign names to each toy.

After that, let the dog familiarize the assigned names. Once you do, you can simply guide them to identify toys by toy names. Then, give them treats as they do while repeating the process. This will help them choose a favorite toy as well.

Check this simple guide here and see how it works:

Tip: Don’t name all the dogs toys at once. Instead, familiarize each and move forward.

Extended benefit: Your furry friend learns the names of the toys. It lays a foundation for many other games.

Puzzle toys for dogs keep the pup occupied while its skills boost. The theory is simple; figure out a way to take the treat out.

I recommend starting things simple before you level up to an actual puzzle toy. Think of it as an introductory course to an outward hound puzzle.

For this, all you need is a muffin tin, a few softballs, and keeping your dog’s favorite treats inside. What happens next?

Hide the treats under each tennis ball and let your dog locate them first. Then, you’ll see how the dog’s interest focuses on finding the treat. Here’s a simple guide .

After the muffin tin and tennis ball stage comes actual puzzle toys, stuffed kong, or even a treat ball are simpler versions of puzzles. However, the outward hound puzzle is the ideal example. Here’s how this dog puzzle works.

The outward hound puzzle is a best seller on Amazon . A trick ball isn’t a bad idea either.

If you want to do something bespoke and DIY, here’s the perfect guide for homemade food puzzle toys:

Tip: Ensure the treat-revealing mechanism of the puzzle toy is dog-friendly.

Extended Benefit: Have your dog enjoy and understand mechanical mechanisms.

4. ‘Which Hand’

Making a dog choose between 2 or more choices is how you sharpen their brains. It’s like a baby being able to talk, although it probably won’t be a big deal as they grow up. So how does this game work?

There are two main ways to play the game: treats or dog toys. Whichever path you choose, keeping your dog mentally stimulated should be the priority.

Begin by having your dog sit, so the focus isn’t easily lost.

If you’re doing the game by using treats, the dog must get to smell the treat beforehand. That’s because your dog responds to the scent of the treats.

Close your fist with treats inside and let them smell it. It’s as simple as that. Check this demonstration right here:

However, the approach should be different with toys. You need to familiarize the toy well enough. But don’t feel discouraged if your pup isn’t so successful with toys. Because there’s a solution for that — it’s the shell game.

Tip: Dog’s brain responds to the scent of the treats better.

Extended Benefit: Improve your dog’s smelling capacity gradually.

Playing hide and seek is the oldest trick in the book. But, transforming this great game into a brain game doesn’t take much energy.

The dog is allowed to see you hiding when you play hide and seek traditionally. However, this version focuses on the detective skills of the pup. One could say it was a derivation of the name game.

You should hide without letting your dog see and call its name out. Don’t call their name out repeatedly. Playing hide and seek will keep your pup mentally stimulated the whole time.

This research right here proves the actual value of this game.

Tip: Hide in a place that your dog is already aware of.

Extended benefit: Dog’s analytical skills in locating sources of sound increase.

I told you not to worry if the ‘which hand’ game isn’t successful with toys. This game has multiple names; cup game, three cups game, and shell game.

You need to have three identical cups for this game. First, hide a toy or a small ball under a cup and train the pup to flip the cup or at least point at it. After that, have your dog watch as you hide the toy under a cup.

Then, let it choose where the toy is. Most dogs keep up easily. After that, let your dog watch as the cups shuffle. Now, the toy is under one cup. Let your dog pick that cup; if it touches it, it’s pretty enough.

As you go, you’ll be able to complicate the shuffling and use different toys.

Check out how pros play this game with dogs right here:

Tip: Avoid shuffling the cups unnecessarily fast because your dog might lose focus.

Extended Benefit: Improved attention span of your pup.

Do you remember how you extracted coins from your piggy bank?

The same theory applies to a toy or treat-dispensing toy.

Understanding dispensation patterns of a treat-dispensing toy is so much fun for dogs. Does it tire their mind out a little bit? Sure. But hear me out — it’s a good thing because the dogs will be much more intelligent once they get accustomed to it.

Let’s look at the two types of dispensation toys:

Toy dispensation toys

Imagine a bigger toy, preferably a soft-toy type, filled with more soft toys. For example, the bigger toy could be filled with plush squirrels.

As your dogs try to pull out the toys, their brain will analyze faster methods. This is the foundation for understanding much more complex real-world things.

Food dispensation toys

While food dispensation toys provide mental stimulation, the dog loves the food — Dogs are always hungry.

A stuffed Kong is one solid example of a food-dispensing toy. In addition, Kibble Nibble, Pickle Pocket, The IQ treat ball, and even the Tug-A-Jug are unique food dispensation toys.

However, our best recommendation is a kong toy. This food dispensing toy dispenses all sorts of dog food easily. In addition, you can keep your dog busy for a longer time.

Here’s a simple guide on using the Kong toy like a pro:

Tip: Be sure to show your dog how the toy or the treat comes out; the dispensation mechanism.

Extended Benefit: Boosts your dog’s problem-solving skills in a fun way.

Tug of war is an entertaining game. After all, the mental stimulation delivered is identified to be primarily physical. That’s where you’re wrong, my friend. The game’s design upgrades your dog’s brain.

The cup game needs static attention. But, this is a game of dynamic attention — the dog is physically active. And it’s so much fun.

All you need to do is tug on the toy as your dog holds onto it. In doing so, you must ensure that your dog doesn’t end up with damaged teeth.

The trick is to train your happy dog to let go on command. That’s how to steer clear of future aggressive behavior, preserving the dog’s good health.

Tip: Choose one specific toy just for tugging, and don’t play the game whenever the dog brings a toy up to you. Check out more mistakes to avoid right here:

Extended Benefit: Increases rapid responses to sudden commands.

This is a derivation of the name game. However, there’s a big difference. You train the dog to pause as it walks toward you instead of letting them come running at you.

Have your dog sit afar, maybe in the corner of your backyard or your room. Command the dog to come at you initially. When it does, say ‘hot’ when you want it coming at you. The word ‘cold’ could be to walk away or stay put.

There’s another way to play this great game. But that method might take some practice. Check out how strategic the dog trainer is right here:

You can hide a treat or toy and command the dog to find it. For example, if the dog is getting closer, you say ‘hot’, and you say ‘cold’ if it is getting away or off the path.

Tip: Familiarize the dog’s response to the ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ commands.

Extended benefit: The dog learns how to find hidden things with verbal commands.

A 2011 research study revealed that a Border Collie could learn roughly 1000 words from toys. So, yes — dogs are more than capable of learning new words.

Learn-a-word is one game that starts simple. For example, you let the dog learn different toy names. Then, as you go, you can start bringing in things that aren’t toys. This could be anything such as a shoe, a cup, a pillow, and so on.

With the learn-a-word game, the dog stays mentally stimulated while it expands its vocabulary. The more objects they can identify, the more commands you can use.

For example, you could train the dog to drop his favorite toys in one of the cardboard boxes. The other toys can go elsewhere. But, the dog can’t do this if it is unfamiliar with words. Identifying prerequisites makes brain games for dogs most successful.

Tip: Use the most familiar toys at the start.

Extended benefit: Increased vocabulary improves intelligence.

The short answer is YES.

Entertainment is the hook for your dog to stay interested. All the best brain games for dogs are based on a fun way of playing. Unlike humans, many dogs do not understand that there were more prominent reasons for the game.

One of the honorable mentions of a game is the treasure hunt. You can make a DIY course yourself , prioritizing the dog’s mental stimulation. A few cardboard boxes might be enough.

I need to pinpoint just how beneficial these games are for pups. Especially since tendencies for destructive behavior will be sorted without them even noticing it.

Eventually, your canine companion will be much more intelligent, entertained, and tamed. This case study from 2004 is a good academic source for that.

Tell me if you now don’t know EVERYTHING you need to know about brain games for dogs now.

So, I hope this read kept you hooked and educated you. If it did, be sure to leave a comment. After all, I’d love to hear if I missed anything significant. Did I? Let me know down here in the comments.

Be sure to check out the BrainTraining4Dogs because that’s the easiest way.

Most importantly, be sure to share this with your friends and family. Who knows? Their dogs will be thankful you did.

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7 fun brain games for dogs mental stimulation and happiness

For the second week of April, we are exploring the many benefits of playtime for dogs. Just like us, dogs should be engaging in activities that challenge them mentally as well as physically, and brain games for dogs are a great way to do this!

We know that getting enough physical exercise is important for a dog’s health, but less emphasis is put on the importance of exercising a dog’s mind. Dogs are curious and clever , capable of far more than we often give them credit for.

Because of this, dog owners should take time to stimulate their dogs with games that encourage brain skills like concentration, memory and problem solving.

By engaging in brain games with dogs, you help to improve their mood, behaviour and sleep routine.

Mental stimulation can work to tire your dog out and ensure a good night’s sleep at the end of the day! Just think about how wiped you can feel after a long week at work, or how children get tired after a day of learning new skills at school - it’s just the same for our furry friends!

Why do dogs need mental stimulation?

What are good mental games for dogs?

7 ways to provide mental stimulation for dogs:.

Hide and Seek
Scatter Feeding
Food Puzzles
Interactive Dog Toys
Put Toys Away after Playtime
Obstacle Courses
Is chewing mentally stimulating for dogs?

How much mental stimulation does a dog need?

Why do dogs need mental stimulation 🧠.

A large amount of canine research into the dog’s brain has been conducted across the world. Studies have shown that dogs are far more intuitive than you may think - not only are they able to read human faces and expressions, they also have the potential to develop counting skills and understand concepts like object permanence.

When dogs get bored, they try to create their own fun by engaging in behaviours deemed unacceptable by dog owners. While your dog is only trying to keep itself entertained, this can translate to humans as them exhibiting bad, even destructive behaviour. For these reasons, it’s important to keep your dog’s brain active and engaged throughout the day.

Providing your dog with mental stimulation can be as easy as giving them plenty of opportunities to sniff and explore while out on walks. However, if you want to take this one step further, you can play lots of different brain games for dogs.

If you’re wondering how to mentally stimulate a dog, you’re in luck - the options are endless! Many of these brain games for dogs can be easily incorporated into your pup’s daily routine, helping to increase their attention span and positively influence good behaviour.

1. Hide and Seek

One great way to boost your dog’s problem solving skills is to play brain games like Hide and Seek. With this activity, you also get the opportunity to reinforce dog commands like ‘wait’ and ‘come’ , as well as introduce new command words like ‘find’ .

There are lots of different variations of this game that you can try - testing your dog to seek out treats, toys or even you!

2. Dog Tricks

Teaching your dog a new trick requires a lot of concentration on their part, which is why tricks make for a challenging brain workout! By teaching new tricks with positive, rewards-based training, you can help to boost your dog's confidence and happiness. Just remember to provide lots of praise and enthusiasm!

We’ve all heard of tricks like ‘paw’ and ‘shake hands’ , but there are hundreds of other tricks out there that you can add to your dog’s skillset. Fun tricks that make for great mental games include:

Close the door

3. Scatter Feeding

Scatter feeding is an activity that encourages a dog’s natural foraging instincts by hiding treats or food on the floor around the house or garden. This type of enrichment activity is easy to introduce, all you need to do is let your dog search for and sniff out its food over a specific area.

Dogs boast an incredible sense of smell, and nose work games like scatter feeding encourage autonomy while providing an exciting alternative to the usual feeding routine of eating from a bowl.

4. Food Puzzles

While we're on the topic of feeding, food puzzles also make for an extremely popular type of dog brain game, as they too challenge your dog to work for food. There are lots of dog food puzzles available to buy online, or you can do it yourself and make a food puzzle at home!

These puzzles benefit both memory and problem solving skills, while also decreasing stress and improving a dog's digestion. With a puzzle game, the speed at which a dog eats is slower, as they have to successfully work out how to manoeuvre the puzzle to fully access the food beneath each hole.

5. Interactive Dog Toys

There are many ways that dog toys can be used to train your dog's mind. Toys come in all shapes and sizes, with different features to make playtime fun and interesting.

Squeaky dog toys help to exercise a dog’s brain by capturing their attention and reinforcing their desire to chew and play. Equally, dog toys that roll, or bounce in different directions help to provide a challenge by perplexing a dog's brain.

6. Put Toys Away after Playtime

For dogs that have already learnt the 'drop it' or 'give it' command, you can enhance this skill further by teaching your dog to drop its toys back into the toy box, basket or container after playtime has finished.

This brain game caters to a dog's natural aptitude to fetch and retrieve. Not only is it a great way to start winding down and signify to your dog that playtime is over, it can also help to provide independence and give you one less thing to have to worry about cleaning up!

7. Obstacle Courses

There are many benefits of creating obstacle course games for your dog to engage in. Not only do they help to train the mind, they also improve agility and physical fitness.

You can utilise household objects like chairs, bed sheets, mops or brooms to make a fun obstacle course in the house or garden, or you can sign your dog up for agility training classes in the local area. Either way - your dog is bound to love burning off excess energy passing through a variety of obstacles.

Is chewing mental stimulation for dogs?

Absolutely! Chewing requires concentration and focus, which is why dog toys provide such a great outlet for mental stimulation. A durable dog toy can be used for both independent play, and to encourage social play with other dogs.

Plus - if you choose an unusually shaped chew toy, your dog will use extra brainpower as it focuses on gnawing the different angles and edges.

As a minimum, you should aim to incorporate 30 minutes of play for your dog per day, split between 2 x 15 minute sessions. The specific amount of mental stimulation a dog needs varies, so it’s important to observe your dog and adjust the amount of play to individual needs.

Generally speaking, larger high-energy breeds require more mental stimulation than smaller ones.

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Dog Enrichment Activities: The Ultimate List

Disclosure: Our recommendations are based on our testing, research and analysis. We may earn a commission on products purchased using links on this page.

If you want to give your dog their best life, there is no better way to do it than a dog enrichment activity. Dog enrichment involves mental stimulation, physical exercise, and food rewards to conduct great training sessions and improve your dog’s mind.

Enrichment benefits your dog’s mental and physical well-being and teaches them to soothe themselves and better react to anxiety and panic. Give your dog enrichment activities regularly, and you will turn them into self-sufficient adult dogs.

In this article, we look at a list of essential dog enrichment ideas to get you going. Improve your dog’s natural instincts with appropriate toys, mental exercise, and physical exercise today!

Table of Contents

Indoor Dog Enrichment Activities

Snuffle mats.

Snuffle mats are like tiny treasure hunts for your dog. These soft, fabric mats hide kibble or treats within their fluffy folds, engaging your dog’s natural instincts to sniff and forage. Beyond just mealtime fun, snuffle mats offer a wealth of benefits.

They act as slow feeders, preventing gulping and promoting healthy digestion. The act of sniffing is mentally stimulating, tiring out even the most energetic pups. They’re great boredom busters, providing enrichment for days with limited exercise. Plus, the success of finding hidden treats reinforces positive behavior and patience.

Puzzle Toys and Treat Dispensers

Many puzzle toys are designed to challenge your dog’s problem-solving skills. Puzzle toys extend the feeding process and make it more rewarding for your dog, and food dispensing toys also keep your dog’s mind busy.

You can hide kibble inside them, prompting dogs to figure out how to remove the treats.

Hide and Seek Games

Hide and seek is a classic. You can hide dog enrichment toys around the house and prompt your dog to find them. This productively engages their scent and is excellent for environmental enrichment, too, as it gets your dog to adjust to the environment and problem-solve around it. Plus, nothing’s more fun than hide and seek.

This is perfect for busy owners, bad weather and dogs who need new game ideas.

These games are used to teach and refresh foundation behaviors for your dog, like impulse control, coming to your side, putting their paws onto objects and more.

DIY Home Obstacle Course

You can even create your own indoor obstacle course using household items such as a large cardboard box, ice cube trays, and a ball pit. You can top it off with a lick or snuffle mat and even a muffin tin puzzle, when you place a treat beneath a toy on each tray compartment and get your dog to find it.

This is another way to tap into cognitive enrichment. Good dog! This creates physical stimulation for your dog and more mental enrichment, too. The benefits are countless, including the one where your dog sleeps deeply at night.

Outdoor Dog Enrichment Activities

Nature Walks and Exploration

Your dog probably loves going for walks. Walks are one of the most accessible and healthy ways to enrich your dog, particularly nature walks. Exploring new environments pushes their boundaries and grants them an interesting life. The fresh scenery is not only great physical activity but also acts as mental enrichment.

Fetch and Frisbee

If your dog likes to fetch, engage with this! Nothing’s more bonding between dog owner and pooch than a substantial fetch and frisbee session!

Dog Park Socialization

Social enrichment is great for dogs, and visits to the dog park are the most accessible way to give it to them, especially if your dog enjoys the company of other dogs.

Interactive Feeding and Training

Obedience training sessions.

Obedience training, even within the physical limitations of a household, can provide mental stimulation. Teach your dog new tricks and manners, then reward them with treats, praise, and strokes to make the new behavior stick. Make the commands simple, as your dog won’t understand complex obedience.

Food Puzzle Toys

If you hide food inside puzzle toys , you can achieve food enrichment too. Depending on the nature of the puzzle, your dog will need to engage parts of their mind to get the food out.

DIY Dog Treat Recipes

High-value treats can come from scent games as much as puzzle toys, but what’s better after a while is a novel treat, which you can make at home while your dog looks on. (Or for an extra special day, try this DIY dog treat kit from Barktivity .)

Mental Stimulation Activities

Scent Games

Scent is a big part of your dog’s life, so why not implement it into playtime? Scent games like “ find the treat ” will keep your dog entertained. Put the treat in a toy and then place that toy in a cardboard box beneath a heap of other toys. Then, give your dog some time to find the treat. When they do, it will be all the more sweeter and rewarding.

Brain-Teaser Games

Finally, brain teasers are more advanced puzzle games that challenge your dog’s cognitive abilities. Interactive boards and toys are everywhere and tap into different skills. Most involve foraging and dog treats, but the lessons learned are invaluable.

You now have a greater idea of enriching your dog and giving them the physical and mental stimulation that will turn them into well-behaved, intelligent, and happy dogs. There are many options to choose from to keep your dogs busy, but this is where you and your special relationship come into play.

Pick the games, activities, and feeding methods that resonate the most with your dog. If you don’t know your dog that well yet, then try different things until you hit the perfect notes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should i engage my dog in enrichment activities.

You should give your dog enrichment activities every day so that the behaviors set in and your dog remembers what they learn. But don’t go too far. Young puppies aren’t fit for exercise like older dogs, for instance.

What are some indoor enrichment activities for rainy or cold days?

Snuffle mats , puzzle feeders, interactive toys, indoor obstacle courses, and obedience training games can all be conducted from the comfort of your home. Just don’t forget to walk your dog. None of these activities are a substitute for that.

Can older dogs benefit from these activities, too?

Yes, older dogs can significantly benefit from them as they have often fallen into a rut and aren’t learning new things.

Are there specific activities for different dog breeds or sizes?

Not particularly, but certain dog sizes (pugs, we’re looking at you) aren’t going to be able to handle a massive obstacle course as well as a larger, more slender dog. Assess your dog, and go from there.

How do I know if my dog is enjoying the enrichment activities?

Look out for loose, goofy behaviors from your dog. This is a sign that they are enjoying the activities.

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Down to earth, common sense, proven DOG advice Welcome to Spike’s Dog Blog by Acme Canine. Throughout the site, you will find a variety of helpful dog training articles, insightful dog behavior tips, and truthful product reviews from nationally-recognized canine trainers and professionals.

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Best Way To Mentally Stimulate Your Dog

Dogs are incredibly intelligent creatures that require mental stimulation to keep them happy and healthy. Just like humans, dogs need to exercise their minds to prevent boredom and to stay sharp. There are various ways to mentally stimulate your furry friend, and in this article, we will explore the best methods to keep your dog engaged and entertained.

One of the most effective ways to mentally stimulate your dog is through interactive toys and puzzles. These toys can challenge your dog’s problem-solving skills and keep them occupied for hours. There are many different types of interactive toys available on the market, from treat-dispensing toys to puzzle games that require your dog to figure out how to access a hidden treat. These toys are not only fun for your dog, but they also provide mental stimulation and help prevent boredom.

Another great way to mentally stimulate your dog is through training and obedience classes. These classes not only teach your dog new skills and behaviors, but they also provide mental stimulation and help strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend. Training classes can range from basic obedience to more advanced agility training, depending on your dog’s skill level and interests. By participating in training classes, your dog will not only learn new tricks but also exercise their mind and stay engaged.

Engaging in regular playtime with your dog is also essential for their mental stimulation. Playing games like fetch, tug-of-war, or hide-and-seek can help keep your dog’s mind sharp and provide them with much-needed exercise. You can also try introducing new toys or activities during playtime to keep things interesting and challenging for your dog. By incorporating playtime into your daily routine, you can help keep your dog mentally stimulated and prevent boredom.

Taking your dog on regular walks and exploring new environments is another great way to provide mental stimulation. Dogs are naturally curious creatures, and they love to explore new sights, sounds, and smells. By taking your dog on walks in different locations, you can help stimulate their senses and keep them engaged. You can also try incorporating training exercises or games into your walks to provide additional mental stimulation for your dog.

Incorporating food puzzles and enrichment activities into your dog’s daily routine can also help keep them mentally stimulated. Food puzzles are toys that dispense treats when your dog interacts with them, which can help keep your dog entertained and engaged. Enrichment activities, such as hiding treats around the house or playing scent games, can also provide mental stimulation for your dog. By incorporating these activities into your dog’s daily routine, you can help keep them mentally sharp and prevent boredom.

Socializing your dog with other dogs and people is another essential aspect of mental stimulation. Dogs are social animals and thrive on interaction with others. By allowing your dog to interact with other dogs at the dog park or arranging playdates with other furry friends, you can help stimulate their minds and keep them engaged. Socialization can also help prevent behavioral issues and keep your dog mentally healthy.

Finally, providing your dog with a comfortable and stimulating environment at home is crucial for their mental well-being. Make sure your dog has access to toys, puzzles, and activities that will keep them entertained and engaged. Create a safe and secure space for your dog to relax and unwind, and make sure they have plenty of opportunities for mental stimulation throughout the day. By creating a stimulating environment for your dog, you can help keep them mentally sharp and happy.

Trends in dog mental stimulation are constantly evolving, with new products and techniques emerging every day. Here are seven interesting trends related to the topic:

1. Technology-driven toys: With the rise of technology, there are now interactive toys and puzzles that can be controlled through a smartphone app. These toys can provide a unique and engaging experience for your dog, keeping them mentally stimulated for longer periods.

2. Virtual reality games: Some companies are developing virtual reality games specifically designed for dogs. These games allow your dog to interact with virtual environments and characters, providing a new and exciting way to stimulate their minds.

3. Subscription boxes: Subscription boxes for dogs have become increasingly popular, with many companies offering monthly boxes filled with toys, treats, and puzzles to keep your dog mentally stimulated. These boxes provide a convenient way to keep your dog entertained and engaged.

4. DIY enrichment activities: Many dog owners are getting creative and making their own enrichment activities at home. From homemade food puzzles to DIY agility courses, there are endless possibilities for keeping your dog mentally stimulated using items you already have around the house.

5. Brain games for dogs: Just like humans, dogs can benefit from brain games designed to challenge their cognitive abilities. There are now specialized brain games available for dogs that can help improve their problem-solving skills and keep them mentally sharp.

6. Outdoor adventures: More dog owners are taking their furry friends on outdoor adventures, such as hiking, camping, and swimming. These activities not only provide physical exercise but also stimulate your dog’s senses and keep them mentally engaged.

7. Canine enrichment centers: Some pet care facilities are now offering canine enrichment centers, where dogs can participate in a variety of activities designed to stimulate their minds. From sensory games to group play sessions, these centers provide a fun and interactive way to keep your dog mentally sharp.

Now, let’s hear from some professionals in the field on the importance of mental stimulation for dogs:

“A mentally stimulated dog is a happy and healthy dog. Engaging your furry friend in activities that challenge their minds can help prevent behavioral issues and keep them mentally sharp.” – Canine Behavior Specialist

“Interactive toys and puzzles are a great way to provide mental stimulation for your dog. These toys not only keep your dog entertained but also help strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend.” – Dog Trainer

“Regular playtime and socialization are essential for your dog’s mental well-being. By engaging in activities that stimulate their senses and encourage interaction with others, you can help keep your dog happy and mentally healthy.” – Animal Behaviorist

“Creating a stimulating environment for your dog at home is crucial for their mental health. By providing your dog with toys, puzzles, and activities that challenge their minds, you can help prevent boredom and keep them mentally sharp.” – Veterinarian

Common concerns related to dog mental stimulation:

1. My dog seems bored all the time. How can I provide more mental stimulation for them?

– Try incorporating interactive toys, puzzles, and training exercises into your dog’s daily routine to keep them mentally engaged.

2. My dog is destructive when left alone. Could this be a sign of boredom?

– Yes, destructive behavior can be a sign of boredom. Providing your dog with mental stimulation and interactive toys can help prevent destructive behavior.

3. How often should I engage in playtime with my dog to keep them mentally stimulated?

– Aim for at least 30 minutes of playtime each day to keep your dog mentally sharp and engaged.

4. Are there specific breeds that require more mental stimulation than others?

– Some breeds, such as Border Collies and Australian Shepherds, are known to be highly intelligent and require more mental stimulation to prevent boredom.

5. Can training classes help provide mental stimulation for my dog?

– Yes, training classes not only teach your dog new skills but also provide mental stimulation and help strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend.

6. My dog seems anxious. Could lack of mental stimulation be a contributing factor?

– Yes, anxiety can be a sign of boredom and lack of mental stimulation. Providing your dog with interactive toys and activities can help alleviate anxiety.

7. How can I incorporate mental stimulation into my dog’s daily routine?

– Try incorporating training exercises, interactive toys, and enrichment activities into your dog’s daily schedule to keep them mentally stimulated.

8. What are some signs that my dog needs more mental stimulation?

– Signs of boredom and lack of mental stimulation in dogs can include destructive behavior, excessive barking, and lethargy.

9. Can food puzzles help provide mental stimulation for my dog?

– Yes, food puzzles are a great way to challenge your dog’s problem-solving skills and keep them mentally engaged.

10. How can I keep my senior dog mentally stimulated?

– Senior dogs can benefit from gentle activities like scent games, gentle training exercises, and interactive toys to keep them mentally sharp.

11. Are there any risks associated with providing too much mental stimulation for my dog?

– While mental stimulation is essential for your dog’s well-being, it’s essential to monitor their stress levels and provide opportunities for rest and relaxation.

12. Can virtual reality games be beneficial for my dog’s mental stimulation?

– Virtual reality games designed for dogs can provide a unique and engaging way to stimulate your dog’s mind and keep them entertained.

13. What are some DIY enrichment activities I can try with my dog at home?

– You can try hiding treats around the house, creating homemade food puzzles, or setting up an obstacle course using household items to keep your dog mentally stimulated.

14. How can I incorporate mental stimulation into my dog’s outdoor adventures?

– You can try introducing new sights, sounds, and smells during your outdoor adventures, as well as incorporating training exercises or games to keep your dog mentally engaged.

15. Are there any health benefits to providing mental stimulation for my dog?

– Mental stimulation can help prevent cognitive decline in senior dogs, reduce anxiety and boredom, and strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend.

In conclusion, providing mental stimulation for your dog is essential for their overall well-being. By incorporating interactive toys, training exercises, playtime, and socialization into your dog’s daily routine, you can help keep them mentally sharp, happy, and healthy. Remember to create a stimulating environment at home, engage in regular playtime, and explore new activities to keep your furry friend entertained and engaged. With the right combination of mental stimulation and love, you can help your dog live their best life.

17 Best Mental Exercises For Dogs

Left without sufficient stimulus, dogs may invent destructive pastimes . When your Australian cattle dog is too pooped to participate or your German shepherd is snoozing belly-up — you know you've done something right.

Tiring out these athletic big thinkers who like to have a job to do is an accomplishment in itself. But after a good night's sleep, they're all revved up and have their game-faces on again. Physical exercise like running after a ball and bringing it back, brisk walking, playing Frisbee, and even organized sports such as agility wears them out.

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But some cool mental exercises gives your dog a chance to get their brain in gear, spend quality time with you, and get that much smarter while having a blast at home, either indoors or out in the backyard. Interactive games, puzzles, and toys engage your dog's mind will staving off boredom and keeping your leather furniture and new designer shoes in pristine condition.

Dogs need more stimulation than you are currently providing.

Imagine being purposely designed by humans for a specific action like chasing down lions, treeing bears, catching rats, herding sheep, or defending your home and family — and then having to hang around doing nothing all day while waiting for your human to come home from work. Even worse than lounging on the sofa, your movement may be restricted as you sit in a locked cage with one tired old chew toy. Sadly, many dog's lives are insanely boring and from a dog's perspective, it's frustrating.

WOOF: How To Train Your Dog

Dogs not only need food, water, shelter, physical exercise, and love, but they also need stimulation for their brains. It's the responsibility of the pet parent to provide life experiences for their dogs. If you're up for a good time and a mutually beneficial bonding session with your dog, then try enriching their lives with any of these 17 challenging ideas created for your four-legged best friend to flex his cerebral cortex.

1. Give your dog some obedience training.

Even old dogs can learn new tricks and whether you enroll your dog in an obedience class or work on obedience exercises at home , any exercises that put her in a working mode will stimulate thinking .

Whenever you detect the slightest bit of boredom creeping in, reinforce training throughout the day in short bursts of 15 minutes. Like many exercises for people, variety keeps it interesting for them. Track your dog's progress, and do the exercises the same time every day.

2.Teach your old dog new tricks.

Fun new tricks are neat ways to engage your pooch and stretch their learning chops. Do a search on the internet or check out the library for new tricks you can teach and set aside a trick-teaching session every day. Before you know it, your dog has a repertoire that would put a show dog to shame.

3. Teach your dogs to help with the chores.

Give your dog a job. Just like in people, jobs require your brain to be engaged and give you a sense of accomplishment. Dogs are no different. Get creative and give your dog a job to open the fridge by tying a towel around the fridge handle so she can pull it.

Feeling useful and figuring out how to do new jobs is a great way to stimulate mental fitness in your dog. Teaching them how to help with chores around the house is a wonderful way to get your dog engaged in the daily life of your household.

4. Teach your dogs the names of their toys.

Chaser is a border collie who knows over 1,000 words and knows all her 800 toys by name. Not every dog is as intelligent as Chaser, but to amp up mental stimulation, why not teach your dog the names of their toys .

MORE: Here's How Dogs Choose Their Favorite Toys

Get started by playing with a toy and calling it a name. Repetition is key until your dog associates the toy with the name. Lots of practice and praise will set the tone for this exercise, and once your dog has learned a few words, keep going until he knows the name of all his cuddly buddies.

5. Teach your dog to put their toys away.

Now that your dog has learned the names of a few of her toys, it's time to teach her how to put them back into the toy box and keep everything tidy.

6. Clicker train your dog.

Clicker training is a great way to not only stimulate your brain, but your dog's brain too. It's challenging, but using a clicker is an effective method of positive-reinforcement training that encourages dogs through a sound association (the clicker) and food reward when the dog does the right thing.

7. Teach your dog to count.

Push your dog's intellectual boundaries and you may be surprised at what you find. That furry love-bug sitting at your feet can most likely count and maybe even do calculations. Yes, it may be scary but your dog is a mathematical whiz! Scientific studies are suggesting that dogs can count , and dog owners who take the time to investigate the theory are having a blast playing numbers games with their dogs.

MORE: Can Dogs Really Count?

But keep in mind, don't set your dog up for failure. These are complex exercises. Devise a way to introduce the concept of numbers and math and just have fun as you explore your dog's mental capacity. If your dog starts getting the right answers, you get bragging rights — and feeling proud of your dog is a good thing. If your dog never gets it, keep in mind not everyone is good at the numbers game, but you will have fun working together on these exercises.

8. Create a scavenger hunt in the backyard or inside your home.

Not much thought goes into eating a meal for our dogs. We pretty much dish it out the same time every day, same quantity, and mostly the same old food. Why not change it up by making a game out of meal time. Divide your dog's dinner into smaller portions and hide them around the house or in the backyard. It's the ultimate scavenger hunt!

9. Create an indoor agility course for your dog.

Roll up some towels, stick a meandering row of Post-It notes to the floor, and create a slalom course of fuzzy stuffed toys for your own customized obstacle course . Have your dog jump over the towels, weave through his toys, and then lay down on a blanket. Be inventive and create a different obstacle pattern each time you do it . Allow time for your dog to get into the swing of this exercise and as it encourages her to focus, it will keep her mentally stimulated.

10. Make a food puzzle game for your dog.

Working for food appeals to most dogs. Sure, they may rather you just dumped their dinner in the bowl, but making an effort to find and release food from its hiding place in a food puzzle sharpens up their problem-solving skills while activating ancestral hunting instincts.

11. Online learning for dogs.

Dognition is an innovative online tool that walks you and your dog through a series of 20 interactive games. You record your dog's responses at every step using detailed instructions and how-to videos and receive a full Dognition Assessment, which is your dog's personalized 10-to-15-page Profile Report.

Dognition gives you insight into the cognitive strategies your dog uses based on an analysis of the results of each game. All you need is a monthly subscription, an internet connection, a little space at home, a few household items, and your best friend. Developed by scientists, trainers, and behavioral specialists, the games are fun and easy to play, and they give your dog's brain a workout.

12. Dogs love to play hide-and-seek.

Spark childhood memories as you run and hide behind bushes when your dog is preoccupied with sniffing and digging. When she takes a break, she will instinctively look for you and will search every nook and cranny until until she discovers you.

13. This magic trick will be your dog's new favorite game.

This exercise is so simple, but it gets your dog thinking.

To play this ridiculously easy game, stand in front of a table or counter and place three treats behind you where your dog won't see them. Call your dog over and ask her to sit in front of you. Hold both your hands palm-side in front of her face and ask, "where are the treats?" Then reach behind with both hands and grab a treat in each hand. Now bring your hands back in front of her this time with both your hands clenched and ask where the treat is.

It doesn't matter which hand she chooses because she gets the treat either way. Repeat a couple of times until she's used to getting a treat. Then start putting only one treat in your hand. Keep switching around the routine and watch her face light up with delight when she gets it right!

14. This new twist to "fetch" will keep your dog guessing.

If your dog loves a ball, is crazy about playing catch with you, and knows some basic obedience commands, she will love this "fetch with a twist." It's a savvy combo of exercises performed at a lightning-fast pace with the ball as the reward. There are no food treats required, which is great for dogs prone to weight gain. The twist in this fetch makes her put her thinking cap on to get the ball back.

You throw the ball by hand or in a ball-thrower. When she brings you the ball, have her drop it in front of you and leave it there. Ask her to perform a series of short obedience moves in quick sequence such as sit, down, sit, down, speak, shake-a-paw, then quickly pick up the ball and throw it again. When she returns, change up your exercise sequence to throw her off guard. Your smartypants dog will love this gig. This rigorous blend of mental and physical agility will have her counting sheep in her head all afternoon as she naps.

15. Play the shell game with your dog.

Despite its dubious connection to tricksters, the shell game — three shells and a pea — is a game that can challenge your dog's mind in a positive way.

To play the shell game with your dog, you can still use three walnut shells, bottle caps, or identical small cups, and delicious treats broken into bite-size bits that will fit under the shells. You want a table or flat surface at your dog's nose level. Get your dog's undivided attention and as he watches, carefully line up the shells in a straight row. Grab a treat bit and hold it up to show him, lift one of the shells, then place the treat beneath it. Move slowly and deliberately in a dramatic way to pique his curiosity. Now start shuffling the shells around, and you'll notice he is following the one with the treat with his eyes. When you stop your shuffle, let your dog guess which shell has the treat. Lift the shell and if he's right, he gets the treat. If not, the game starts over again.

16. Dogs love the tennis ball and muffin tin game.

Easy, affordable, and fun, the muffin tin and tennis balls game keeps your dog challenged and entertained. Place small training treats such as dehydrated liver or sweet potato in a muffin tin and cover them with tennis balls. Your dog's problem-solving skills come into play as she plans a strategy to remove the balls and score the treats. This game is perfect for puppies and young dogs, as it's pretty simple. But then any game where treats are involved is a game most dogs would love to play.

17. Take your dog to new places.

Like people, dogs are intelligent beings who need the stimulation of new things. No one ever encounters new people and places in a purely visual way. A new adventure with all its sites and smells does wonders for your dog's mental acuity. Introducing your furry pal to new experiences is one of the vital ways you can keep them on their mental toes.

MORE: How To Keep Your Dog Mentally Stimulated

So find a new dog park, design a new neighborhood walk route, or drive to a new neighborhood your dog has not visited in the past. Research dog-friendly accommodations in your favorite parts of the country and take your dog along on your travels. Rent a mobile home and share a road trip together, mingling with the new world you find at each stop along the way.

Putting your dog through some mental gymnastics may seem like child's play, but it takes creativity and more than a little innovation to design games that your dog will actually like, look forward to, and learn from.

Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vet’s opinion.

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Dognition Blog: Keeping Your Dog Stimulated on a Rainy Day
I Love Dogs: Why Our Dog Needs Mental Stimulation
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Dr. Pitcairn: Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
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COMMENTS

The 10 Best Brain Games For Dogs
Brain training for dogs is a method of engaging and stimulating a dog's mind to promote better mental health and enhance their problem-solving skills. This approach involves using games, puzzles, commands, tricks, and other activities designed to challenge the dog mentally and promote cognitive development.
8 Brain Games for Dogs: Vet-Approved Fun & Stimulating Activities
The 8 Brain Games for Your Pup. 1. Hide and Seek. This classic game engages your dog's sense of smell and problem-solving skills. Start by hiding treats or toys (or yourself!) in various ...
10 Fun Brain Games For Dogs
The Shell Game. The shell game is another simple brain game for dogs. You've probably seen it before — it's the game where a treat is hidden under one cup (or shell) and then shuffled around. The shell game will give your plenty of mental stimulation by giving them a chance to work on their problem solving skills.
Top Activities For Dogs Who Like Problem Solving
Browse dog-friendly activities that will provide mental stimulation to your dog and help you bond. Break your routine and find fun activities for dogs who like problem solving! Whether you want an inexpensive outing, or a chance to spoil your pooch, discover the best pastime for any weather.
10 great brain games for dogs
1. Find the treats. This game allows your dog to use their most powerful sense - their nose - and engages the parts of their brain used for sorting scents. "The length of time that this game takes will depend on how good your dog is, and over time they'll get better and better at it," says Godfrey.
Brain games for dogs
Brain games are puzzles, toys, and activities that encourage your dog to experiment and problem solve. They're great for dogs who have energy to burn and are especially helpful for dogs with anxiety or a high energy. Brain games should be used under direct supervision to prevent ingestion of any materials used to make the toys.
15 Brain Games for Dogs: Unlock Your Dog's Inner Genius
Then toy pickup might be the perfect game for you and your dog. This game will encourage your dog to pick up its toys and put them away all by itself, freeing up your time. To begin with, you need to teach your dog the "drop it" command. Give them an item to hold onto, then show them a treat and use the command.
Brain Games For Dogs: How To Keep Your Pup Mentally Stimulated
Puzzle games help dogs build memory and boost their logic and problem-solving skills. Just like us, dogs need a mental challenge. Making your pup do a brain workout for about 15 minutes is equal to approximately 30 minutes of physical activity. Making them concentrate uses a lot of energy and makes them tired.
Brain games for dogs: Benefits, DIY activities, and safety tips
Playing brain games with your dog helps develop problem-solving skills, reduces boredom, and improves independence. Dog owners look for ways to keep their pups mentally stimulated and engaged. While many people focus on physical activities like walks, runs, and fetch, it's equally important to challenge your dog's cognitive abilities.
Mental stimulation for dogs
We are slightly obsessed with brain games at Practical Paw. Not only is teaching your dog something new fun. But problem-solving also gives your furry friend a mental workout that is at least, if not more efficient, at tiring them out than their regular walk.. Mental stimulation for dogs is as important as physical exercise.
Brain games for dogs
Problem solving with brain games. Brain games are great way to add some fun and stimulation into your dog's day and are also a great way to help strengthen your bond with your dog. Not only is it fun and interactive, but it also teaches your dog problem solving. A really simple game that will get your dog's brain and body moving is the ...
Brain Games: Mental Stimulation Keeps Dogs' Minds Sharp
Brain games are important for dogs of every age: Puppies. Brain games build self-confidence and teach them to play by themselves. Adults. They encourage problem-solving and burn off energy ...
10 Brain Games to Play With Your Dog
Take two opaque plastic cups and flip them upside down. With your dog watching, place a treat under one cup. Give your dog the cue to come turn over the cup and get the treat. Do this eight or 10 ...
10 Best Mind Games for Dogs That Actually Help With Boredom
Tamed dogs who are untrained lack confidence. You can boost your dog's confidence with brain stimulating games. Brain games for dogs improve problem-solving skills rapidly. Dog owners can probably make money at dog tournaments! Mental stimulation by these games improves your dog's understanding. So, no more excessive barking at nothing!
Brain games for dogs; 5 fun ways to beat boredom
The benefits of playing brain games go beyond having a tired dog at the end of the day; mental stimulation can help with behavior problemsas well as; Relieve boredom. Tire your dog. Increase your dog's confidence. Strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Help older dogs remain active. Invest a few minutes a day engaging your dog in a ...
7 fun brain games for dogs mental stimulation
7 ways to provide mental stimulation for dogs: 1. Hide and Seek. One great way to boost your dog's problem solving skills is to play brain games like Hide and Seek. With this activity, you also get the opportunity to reinforce dog commands like 'wait' and 'come', as well as introduce new command words like 'find'.
Boredom-Busting Brain Games for Dogs
There are countless ways to mentally tire your dog by getting them to use problem solving skills. You can do activities that cater to their specific breed, like hunting games, herding, or scentwork, or you can use puzzle toys and objects you have at home to create easy and fun activities for your pup. I like to add at least one daily session.
Dog Enrichment Activities: The Ultimate List
Puzzle Toys and Treat Dispensers. Many puzzle toys are designed to challenge your dog's problem-solving skills. Puzzle toys extend the feeding process and make it more rewarding for your dog, and food dispensing toys also keep your dog's mind busy.. You can hide kibble inside them, prompting dogs to figure out how to remove the treats.
Best Way To Mentally Stimulate Your Dog
5. Brain games for dogs: Just like humans, dogs can benefit from brain games designed to challenge their cognitive abilities. There are now specialized brain games available for dogs that can help improve their problem-solving skills and keep them mentally sharp. 6.
17 Best Mental Exercises For Dogs
If not, the game starts over again. 16. Dogs love the tennis ball and muffin tin game. Easy, affordable, and fun, the muffin tin and tennis balls game keeps your dog challenged and entertained. Place small training treats such as dehydrated liver or sweet potato in a muffin tin and cover them with tennis balls.
12 Best Dog Puzzle Toys For Mental Stimulation
Replacement bottles are available. Amazon. The LOOBANI Wooden Dog Puzzle Toy is great for testing your dog's intelligence and problem-solving skills. Made from durable, non-toxic wooden materials, this toy features either one or three bottles that your dog needs to tilt to release the treats from.
Effective Dog Problem-Solving Training
Embrace a Guided Approach to Problem-Solving. Our problem-solving lessons at The Dog Wizard offer a structured approach, assisting owners in effectively identifying and tackling a range of behavioral issues in dogs. This training process facilitates a more profound understanding between the owner and the dog, establishing a foundation built on ...

8 Brain Games for Dogs: Vet-Approved Fun & Stimulating Activities

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