Mental Stimulation
Is your dog restricted to short walks for health reasons, gets too stressed out on walks, or needs extra help to get tired despite plenty of exercise? Try providing some mental stimulation in addition to or instead of walks. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise and can be safely done at home.
Using Food or Toys for Mental Stimulation
Depending on your dog’s diet and preferences, you can use food or toys as rewards.
Food-Based Puzzles and Games:
Puzzles: Use commercial puzzles or make your own with recycling materials like cardboard, toilet rolls or plastic bottles. Ensure your dog doesn’t swallow any parts. Supervise until you're confident it's safe.
Homemade Puzzle Box: Get a large box, take off the side parts and fill it with crumpled brown paper (newspaper only if he doesn’t chew it as the ink can be harmful), and hide kibbles inside. Use toilet paper or kitchen towel rolls filled with kibbles and fold the ends closed. Yoghurt cups, cereal boxes with holes, and other creative containers work well.
Snuffle Mats: These can be homemade or bought. Hide small treats in the fabric for your dog to find.
Hanging Food: Foods like apple slices, carrots, or cucumbers can be hung on a string between two stable objects.
Spinning Bottle Game: Use a bottle with a stick through it, fill it with kibbles, and let your dog spin it to release the food. There is no wrong or right approach, paws or nose.
Pull Puzzle: Use a kitchen paper towel roll, cut slices across from each other, slide a matching piece of cardboard through, and fill it with kibbles. Your dog must pull the slices out to release the food.
Training Commands and Tricks:
Teach new commands or tricks or improve existing ones. Start with easy tasks to build confidence. This can be tiring for dogs as they need to focus for longer periods.
Hide-and-Seek Games:
Hide food or toys around your home for your dog to find. Use a prey dummy bag filled with food, hide it, or throw it for your dog. Work on impulse control by making them wait and perform a few cues before retrieving it. Let them bring it back to you for a reward.
Benefits of Mental Stimulation
This type of stimulation, when done in a relaxed and fun way, can tire dogs out naturally and calmly. Over-exercising and constantly making dogs run after balls can be mentally and physically stressful. Mental stimulation helps your dog be exhausted in a relaxed manner.
Try these ideas, and your dog will be happier and more content. If you feel your dog could benefit from additional guidance, feel free to get in touch!