How can i mentally stimulate my puppy

It has changed both our lives. Now on days where I work him on new tricks and such, I have noticed that his temperament has calmed down. Challenging him mentally makes him much less anxious in general and he has become more relaxed around other dogs. Vince is proof that old dogs can definitely learn new tricks. Purchase a doggie board game or a canine puzzle to challenge your pup.

Engage your dog in a game of Dog Memory or Dog Dominos. Give your dog one of the many toys that allow you to hide treats and objects inside and engage your dog to figure out how to work them out. I put treats underneath a peg and she has to figure out which ones to lift up in order to find where the treats are.

There is another version where I cover up the treats with this piece of plastic and Snickers has to spin the board around to uncover the treats. It really challenges her and I see her brain working so hard to figure everything out. He gets to see lots of different sights and sounds and experience new situations. He loves going and gets so excited. And I can see his brain working as it takes it all in.

Dogs are bred to complete tasks such as hunting and herding. Engage your dog in a game of Frisbee. Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid. Additional Resources AKC. Clubs Offering: Training Classes. By Nicole Ellis Jan 01, 4 Minutes. Jan 01, 4 Minutes. A mentally stimulated dog is a happy dog. Playtime stimulation with your iFetch: Playtime plus training; what could be better? Hide and Seek: We all know the classic game we played as kids.

Games for dogs: There are lots of stimulating games available for purchase, and you can also make some at home. Sponsored by iFetch. Tips for Responsible Dog Owners This e-book is a great resource for anyone who's considering dog ownership or already owns a dog. Download for tips on how to be the best dog owner you can be. But sometimes, even when you make sure to give your pup plenty of exercises, they still act out.

Dogs are smart. They need to exercise their intelligence just as much as they need to work out their bodies. Fortunately, there are lots of dog toys oriented toward mental stimulation and even more puppy mental stimulation exercises that you can use to make sure your dog stays mentally sharp, as well as physically fit.

One of the simplest things you can do for your doggo is to give them the freedom to sniff around a bit. When going for a walk, let them sniff around at new smells. Factor in some time to let them sniff around if something grabs their attention either along your route or in your yard. There are lots of ways to do this. You can take a treat with a nice big smell for your dog and place it in an easy to find a spot before telling them to go get it.

Now keep in mind not all puzzle toys are loved equally by all dogs. My dog prefers a frozen Kong stuffed with treats over puzzle toys that lay flat on the ground. How many tricks does your dog know? Teaching your dog a new trick or command is great for mental stimulation, and it can be especially helpful with shy or fearful dogs.

Learning new commands can also help increase your dogs focus and impulse control manners. Not sure what to teach your dog next? One of my favorite tricks is weaving between legs. One of my dogs favorite activities is some basic nose work games. Having your dog use their nose to find things is a really simple way to help them hone in one their natural skills. And all that searching will provide your dog with a lot more mental stimulation in their daily routine.

As you have your dog in a stay position go hide some of those treats around the house. After they get the hang of it you can start hiding them in harder to find spots, encouraging them to use their nose more and rely less on visuals.

Does your dog know the names of their toys? So we started using toys as well. I started using this game after I saw those amazing videos of Chaser the Border Collie who knows the names of over toys. The basic principle of shaping games is to encourage our dogs to try something new.

By giving our dogs the chance to make their own decisions we can increase their mental and physical flexibility.

You start out with a box on the ground and without any cues let your dog investigate and decide what to do. Shaping can be used with any item, not just a box.

Teaching your dog how to go through an obstacle course is a nice mental workout for them. We use a blanket, some toys and a few orange hazard cones I picked up at the local thrift store. Our dogs love playing with us, and engaging in interactive play is one of the easiest ways to keep them mentally stimulated. Recent studies have found that the more play a dog engages in the less likely they are to suffer from behavioral issues.

Interactive play is when you actively engage with your dog. Playing a game of tug or fetch is interactive play, and those sorts of games help tremendously when it comes to giving your dog more mental stimulation.