Many dogs start to exhibit bad behaviors simply because they are bored. I cannot tell you how many times I have had an owner call me about behavioral issues, I tell them they have a breed that is known for its high energy/drive and they reply, "Well he gets PLENTY of exercise, I have a big yard, you know!" Unfortunately, there are at least three things wrong with this statement. 1. A backyard may be less static than the inside of your house but it will still be a little like running on a treadmill for your dog (B-O-R-I-N-G). How would you like to stare at the same 4 walls all day long? 2. Even if your dog is content to chase his shadow around all day in his yard (which is not likely), your dog is ONLY getting physical exercise and not mental stimulation. 3. Exercise and Mental stimulation should be used as an opportunity to strengthen your bond with your dog, so unless your out in that yard running around with him, it doesn’t count. Since weather does not always permit playing outside, I have compiled a list of Brain Games that will help challenge your dog mentally.
Trying to physically wear them out is only half the job!
Trying to physically wear them out is only half the job!
Fetch
I know, I know, you already know this one right? However, I have a couple of new thoughts on this old game that challenges your dog mentally AND allows them to practice their self control. First, make them do a command to get you to throw it. For instance, ask them to sit, then toss the toy for them to retrieve. Each time ask for a different command to keep them guessing! You can really challenge them by seeing if they can Stay while the object is thrown and wait for you to release them to run after it. When they bring it back mix it up with them again, sometimes ask them to drop it, sometimes play a little tug with them (but ONLY if you have a reliable drop it command), and sometimes just let them happily prance around with it for a few minutes while you pet them. This way they won't associate you reaching for them with something being taken away. Toss the item out of sight or in a hard to reach place and see if they can retrieve it.
I know, I know, you already know this one right? However, I have a couple of new thoughts on this old game that challenges your dog mentally AND allows them to practice their self control. First, make them do a command to get you to throw it. For instance, ask them to sit, then toss the toy for them to retrieve. Each time ask for a different command to keep them guessing! You can really challenge them by seeing if they can Stay while the object is thrown and wait for you to release them to run after it. When they bring it back mix it up with them again, sometimes ask them to drop it, sometimes play a little tug with them (but ONLY if you have a reliable drop it command), and sometimes just let them happily prance around with it for a few minutes while you pet them. This way they won't associate you reaching for them with something being taken away. Toss the item out of sight or in a hard to reach place and see if they can retrieve it.
The Muffin Man's
Best Friend
Have a muffin tin? Have some tennis balls? Have some treats? Then you can play this game with your dog! Take a muffin tin, let your dog see you place a treat in each cup, then place a tennis ball on top of each treat in the muffin tin. Set it down and let your dog figure out how to get the tennis balls out. You can mix this game up by either using balls that have different shapes or textures or by only putting treats in some of the cups so the dog has to figure out which cups contain a prize! Credit for this game goes to Julie at Dog Day Afternoon, thanks Julie!
Best Friend
Have a muffin tin? Have some tennis balls? Have some treats? Then you can play this game with your dog! Take a muffin tin, let your dog see you place a treat in each cup, then place a tennis ball on top of each treat in the muffin tin. Set it down and let your dog figure out how to get the tennis balls out. You can mix this game up by either using balls that have different shapes or textures or by only putting treats in some of the cups so the dog has to figure out which cups contain a prize! Credit for this game goes to Julie at Dog Day Afternoon, thanks Julie!
Hide and Seek
This game is a great way to mentally challenge them, physically wear them out, AND practice their "Come When Called" command! This game is better played with more than one person unless your dog can successfully do a Stay while you are out of sight. Person 1 is in the kitchen and person 2 is in the bedroom. Person 1 calls the dog, when he gets to them, he gets a treat! Person 2 calls the dog, while the dog is going to the bedroom, Person 1 switches from the kitchen to the living room. When Person 1 calls the dog back to him, the dog will run right to the kitchen and be amazed you disappeared! He will then have to use his eyes, ears, and nose to locate you. They LOVE this game! Of course while he is finding Person 1, Person 2 is finding a new hiding spot. You can slowly do more and more difficult hiding spots (the shower? In the closet? Under the bed?!) but you want your dog to understand the game first so they do not get easily discouraged when they cannot find you.
This game is a great way to mentally challenge them, physically wear them out, AND practice their "Come When Called" command! This game is better played with more than one person unless your dog can successfully do a Stay while you are out of sight. Person 1 is in the kitchen and person 2 is in the bedroom. Person 1 calls the dog, when he gets to them, he gets a treat! Person 2 calls the dog, while the dog is going to the bedroom, Person 1 switches from the kitchen to the living room. When Person 1 calls the dog back to him, the dog will run right to the kitchen and be amazed you disappeared! He will then have to use his eyes, ears, and nose to locate you. They LOVE this game! Of course while he is finding Person 1, Person 2 is finding a new hiding spot. You can slowly do more and more difficult hiding spots (the shower? In the closet? Under the bed?!) but you want your dog to understand the game first so they do not get easily discouraged when they cannot find you.
Shell Game
Take 3 Solo cups, the disposable pots your plants came in, or even party favor boxes. Teach your dog to "target" the box for a treat. Targeting usually means the dog either puts his paw on the box or touches it with his nose. Once you have him targeting the object for the reward. Place 3 boxes out with only one containing a treat and let him figure out only targeting the box with the treat in it will get him rewarded! This game gets him using his nose!
Take 3 Solo cups, the disposable pots your plants came in, or even party favor boxes. Teach your dog to "target" the box for a treat. Targeting usually means the dog either puts his paw on the box or touches it with his nose. Once you have him targeting the object for the reward. Place 3 boxes out with only one containing a treat and let him figure out only targeting the box with the treat in it will get him rewarded! This game gets him using his nose!
Homemade Pupsicle
Next time you buy your pup a new bone, submerge it in chicken broth and put it in the freezer. Once it is frozen let your dog enjoy figuring out how to get to his new treasure (I guarantee he will love every bite)! Be sure to put the pupsicle in a bowl, let them work on it in their crate or outside in case it starts to melt! I wouldn't want to be responsible for
someone's carpet permanently smelling
like chicken broth! :)
Next time you buy your pup a new bone, submerge it in chicken broth and put it in the freezer. Once it is frozen let your dog enjoy figuring out how to get to his new treasure (I guarantee he will love every bite)! Be sure to put the pupsicle in a bowl, let them work on it in their crate or outside in case it starts to melt! I wouldn't want to be responsible for
someone's carpet permanently smelling
like chicken broth! :)
Find it
Get your dog to using his nose in a way that doesn't lead him to the kitchen trash (that he does on his own!). Start by tossing out treats where he can see them and saying "Find it". Once he has the hang of the game, let him see you place the treat out of sight and say "Find it". Slowly build his confidence in going after something he cannot see, then gradually make the hiding spots more difficult. Once you feel your dog has good search confidence and is certain there is something to be found when you say "Find it", start hiding treats when the dog is out of the room and see if he can sniff those treats out!
For more nose games like Find it and
the Shell Game, consider taking one of my
Scent Classes!
Get your dog to using his nose in a way that doesn't lead him to the kitchen trash (that he does on his own!). Start by tossing out treats where he can see them and saying "Find it". Once he has the hang of the game, let him see you place the treat out of sight and say "Find it". Slowly build his confidence in going after something he cannot see, then gradually make the hiding spots more difficult. Once you feel your dog has good search confidence and is certain there is something to be found when you say "Find it", start hiding treats when the dog is out of the room and see if he can sniff those treats out!
For more nose games like Find it and
the Shell Game, consider taking one of my
Scent Classes!
Tricks of the Trade
So you have gone through basic obedience and you know you need to keep your pup's mind sharp by practicing his commands but you are getting a little tired of the same ole same ole curriculum ( and so is your dog!). Teaching your dog tricks opens up an endless array of possibilities! Right now I am working with a brilliant little dog who shall remain anonymous :). In three days he has learned Naptime, Beg, Spin, Shake, and Paws up! He learns so quickly that the only way to keep him challenged are games like the ones listed or learning new tricks! There are great tricks on Youtube as well as great books out there, check out our Pinterest board "Books we LOVE" for the Trick book we recommend or our "You Tube Inspiration" board for great tricks to keep your dog challenged! Also, look for us to be hosting Trick classes in the future!
So you have gone through basic obedience and you know you need to keep your pup's mind sharp by practicing his commands but you are getting a little tired of the same ole same ole curriculum ( and so is your dog!). Teaching your dog tricks opens up an endless array of possibilities! Right now I am working with a brilliant little dog who shall remain anonymous :). In three days he has learned Naptime, Beg, Spin, Shake, and Paws up! He learns so quickly that the only way to keep him challenged are games like the ones listed or learning new tricks! There are great tricks on Youtube as well as great books out there, check out our Pinterest board "Books we LOVE" for the Trick book we recommend or our "You Tube Inspiration" board for great tricks to keep your dog challenged! Also, look for us to be hosting Trick classes in the future!
Word of Warning
In doing some research for this blog entry, I did come across some ideas that I was NOT too keen on. Some games you might see online can encourage behaviors that you may not want to encourage. For instance, taking an empty cereal box , putting treats in it, sealing it up, and letting your dog rip it apart is encouraging destructive behavior. Or taking an old sock, putting treats in it and tying the end off can encourage your dog to raid your laundry basket. I would even be careful about making homemade puzzle games out of empty plastic containers. You may not be able to keep your dog out of your recycling bin! P.S. these are all real life stories owners have personally told me! Instead think of games like the muffin tin game that asks your dog to manipulate objects that are not necessarily "off limits" like tennis balls. I also saw some ideas that could be dangerous to your dog (like putting peanut butter inside of an old toilet paper tube) I don't know about you guys but I am pretty sure my dog would eat peanut butter flavored cardboard. Not only is that encouraging bad behavior, it is also allowing them to eat something they shouldn't which can cause at minimum and upset stomach, at maximum a costly trip to the vet!
So do your dogs a favor and try out some of the games a listed above, and before you know it they will be thanking you for the fun and you will be thanking them for less bad behavior!
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