Like us, our furry friends need mental challenges to stay healthy and happy. If you want to see your pup physically fit and mentally agile, you're in the right place. Mental enrichment can be as tiring for a dog as a long walk.
So, even if you don't have much time, have a puppy or a dog on a restricted walking schedule, you can still give it a go. Mental stimulation plays a crucial role in maintaining your dog's overall well-being. Not only does it keep your pup busy, but it can also help create a better bond and nurture their cognitive health.
Enrichment activities can drastically reduce the chances of destructive behaviours, enhance mood, and improve concentration and memory. Let's start with five simple enrichment games and puzzles. The easiest one is scatter feeding, which will transform a boring mealtime into an exciting treasure hunt!
Dogs are natural scavengers, so you engage their natural foraging instincts by scattering their food around the house or garden. This game is a great way to make them work for their food while having fun. Want to ensure they found everything, or you're feeding wet or raw food?
You can put the food on small plates, little bowls or even jar lids and put these around the house or garden. Have a limited space? No problem!
Use an old towel, sprinkle the food and roll it for your pup to unroll. Had an Amazon delivery? Use that box!
Put the brown paper inside (or an old towel), throw some food and let your pup dig in. Want to make it more challenging? Save the cardboard tubes from toilet paper, put the food inside and lightly close both sides.
Put them inside the box as a bonus. Another game is hide and seek - very entertaining and a great way to engage your dog's incredible sense of smell and improve their recall. Start with two people - one hiding, the other holding the dog, unless your pup has a reliable "stay".
Hide in an easy spot in your house or garden and call your dog to come and find you. Once they do, reward and praise enthusiastically. Gradually make it more challenging as your dog gets better at the game.
If your dog enjoys it, sign up for mantrailing classes, which would be an excellent progression. Target training is one of the best tricks you can teach your dog, as it can be used as a base for more complex commands such as closing doors, resting their chin on something, turning around, and so on. It engages your pup's brain, improves communication between you and your dog, it can be used to guide your dog into specific positions for veterinary examinations or grooming without force, and is particularly beneficial for shy or fearful dogs, as it encourages them to interact with new objects or people in a non-threatening way.
To teach your dog a target touch, start with choosing a target (this can be your hand or an object like a target stick for dog training) and getting some treats. Hold the target a few inches from your dog's nose. If using your hand, you can hold it flat with your palm facing the dog.
If your dog's nose touches the target, mark the behaviour with a clicker or a verbal marker like "yes," and immediately reward it with a treat. Repeat this process several times until your dog is reliably touching the target. Once your dog consistently touches it, you can add a verbal cue like "touch" right before you present the target.
You can then increase the difficulty and practice with other commands. Shell game does not require many props and is a simple yet effective way to engage your dog's mind and senses. You will need three identical cups or bowls and some treats.
Let your dog watch as you place a treat under one of the three cups. Initially, don't shuffle the cups. Just encourage your dog to find the treat.
Praise them when they choose the correct cup (they may paw or nose at it - see how the target practice is already coming in handy? ). Once your dog understands the game, start shuffling the cups around after placing the treat under one.
Make the shuffling simple, then gradually increase the complexity as your dog gets better at the game. If they choose the wrong cup, show them where the treat is without scolding them. After all, it's all about positive learning.
The last on our list are puzzles and licki mats. Playing puzzles and using licki mats can offer a range of benefits for dogs. These activities are not just a way to pass time, but they serve essential roles in your furry friend's mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Puzzles engage your dog's brain, encouraging them to think and solve problems. This mental exercise can prevent boredom and related behavioural issues. For dogs that eat too quickly, puzzle feeders can slow them down, aiding digestion and reducing the risk of bloat.
Focusing on a puzzle can be calming, especially for anxious dogs. It provides a constructive outlet for their energy. Many puzzles are designed to stimulate a dog's sense of smell and touch, which is crucial for their overall sensory development.
Licki mats can help calm dogs during stressful situations like thunderstorms or fireworks, as licking is naturally soothing. The licking action can promote healthier gums and teeth by stimulating saliva production and gently scrubbing the tongue across the mat's surface. These mats can be an excellent distraction for dogs during grooming sessions or when they need to be kept busy and quiet (especially when you're on that important Zoom call with your boss or a client).
Because they prolong feeding times and can be used with low-calorie foods or treats, licki mats can also be a tool in managing your dog's weight. But you can do more than just utilise games and puzzles! Agility classes are an excellent way for dogs to receive a healthy dose of physical exercise and mental stimulation.
They require dogs to navigate various obstacles, such as jumps, tunnels, and weave poles. Navigating an agility course requires a high level of focus and concentration from the dog. This mental engagement helps to sharpen their minds, reduce attention deficits, and improve overall cognitive functioning.
Completing agility obstacles can significantly boost your dog's confidence. Each new skill mastered and obstacle overcome can make a dog more self-assured and less anxious. And because agility courses are often changed and reconfigured, dogs can't simply memorise a single path.
This variability keeps their minds engaged and constantly adapting to new layouts and challenges. In agility training, dogs must follow their handler's cues to complete the course correctly. This strengthens the bond between the dog and the handler, which is something that we, as dog owners, should strive for.
The last on our list is to teach your dog new tricks. And you can choose from simple ones like 'sit' or 'paw' to more advanced such as 'bring me the car keys' or 'clean your toys'. Learning tricks requires dogs to use their brains, helping to keep their minds active and engaged.
Many tricks also involve a physical component, providing both mental and physical exercise. Practising and remembering tricks can enhance your dog's memory and recall abilities and boost their confidence. Again, training sessions are an excellent bonding opportunity as you work together and learn to communicate effectively.
And the best part? They don't have to be long. In fact, shorter, more frequent sessions are better.
So, next time you're waiting for a kettle to boil, use it to practice a new trick with your dog. Remember, every moment you spend teaching and playing with your dog isn't just about having fun or learning something new. It's about strengthening the bond you share, enhancing their well-being, and truly enriching their lives.
You'll be amazed at how these activities can light up their world and bring so much joy into yours. Have you ever wondered why dogs lick our faces? Is it more to it than just affection?
Check out our video for find out!
