It’s a rainy and cold day and you’re worried your dog is going to go stir crazy and cause a ruckus if you don’t fulfill her somehow. Fear not, mental stimulation is even more exhausting for dogs than physically exercise is. Like humans but even faster, dogs increase their endurance with every walk or run they take. Getting exercise is important for your dog’s overall health but do not write off the power of mental stimulation and everything it does for a dog.
Getting your dog to think creatively in your house can demonstrate that the house isn’t just a place to relax, rather it can be an arena of unlimited games and puzzles- both of which dogs love. Recently I had a client say that their dog figured out one of those treat mazes rather quickly and they were disappointed about how to stimulate their dog next. I said “why not create your own mazes?” The thing about us creating the rules is that there is an endless games we can create and what’s better about you doing it is it strengthens your bond with your dog. You’ll see I touch on that a lot. When your dog understands that the two of you can go through stress together, or when she sees that you are in charge of a reward for figuring out a game, your relationship will flourish.
- Hide their meals around the house. Hunting for food is biologically ingrained in dogs and using their noses to sniff around the house is a great way to get the brain firing. You may even find that they are way more excited about meal time if they get to work through his game first!
- Similar, hide their favorite toy somewhere and have them seek it out. I started this game by first putting my dog on a leash inside and tied it to something sturdy. This backtie allowed me to run away while showing my dog the toy the entire way and teasing him up. After you come back from hiding the toy, unhook the leash and your dog will take off looking for their toy.
- Make your own food puzzle. This does require you to get a little more creative but don’t worry, I did a quick Google search of “DIY dog food puzzles’” and there are plenty! You can take an empty oats container and poke large holes in there where the kibble can fit through. Then let your dog paw and nose it across the floor as she figures out how to extract the kibble.
- Train some new tricks! Can your dog leave kibble on the floor until you tell them to get it? Will they weave between your legs? A great training session can be 10-15 minutes and if you do them a few times a day, you can pick up right where you left off.
Don’t minimize the impact that mental stimulation can have on your dog.