Dogs need physical as well as mental stimulation. Unfortunately, many pet owners tend to focus on giving their dog physical exercise and neglect to provide their pet much needed mental stimulation. Dogs lacking mental stimulation will get bored and find ways to "amuse" themselves with undesirable behaviors such as excessive barking, whining, tail chasing, chewing (on things other than dog toys), and digging holes in the backyard or your favorite carpet.
Just like humans give their children mental stimulation early in life, puppies should also be mentally stimulated. And as your puppy grows, mental stimulation should remain a consistent part of your dog's life.
There are several ways you can mentally stimulate your dog, most of which don't involve any significant expenses. Here are our favorite ones:
Do Not Stick to One Route When Walking Your Dog
Walking your dog is good exercise for you and your pet, but it can get boring for both of you if you just stick to the same route every day. Try to go through different routes. Explore new neighborhoods and change your pace. Walk through a park or forest or walk along a lake. The smell of different surroundings will help mentally stimulate your dog. This also gives your pet something new to look forward to every time you go out.
Make Your Dog Work for Treats
Hiding treats for your dog to find is a great way to mentally stimulate your pet. You can start off with simply making your dog choose which of your hands (closed into fists), has the treat. Then, you can change it up to hiding treats in different parts of the house and then, to places outside of the house, such as your backyard or near the perimeter fence. You can also be creative by building obstacle courses, making use of boxes and sturdy containers. Hide the treats within the course and at the end of the course. Finding treats becomes more fun and challenging for your dog.
Arrange Play Dates for Your Dog
Taking your dog for a ride is an excellent method of mental stimulation. The different sights and sounds that your pet is subjected to throughout the duration of the trip will make the ride interesting. But seeing other dogs at your friend’s place will definitely boost your dog’s emotional and mental state. Go slow when introducing your dog to potential new friends, and always monitor them until you are sure that they get along well together. And make sure that your friend’s dog is up-to-date on vaccinations and deworming treatments.
Don’t Forget Physical Exercise
Just because your dog needs mental stimulation, it doesn’t mean you should stick to exercises that do not require your pet to move too much. You still need to play with your dog and you need to take him for a run or walk. However, running or walking your dog on a regular basis can become boring. Apart from changing your route, you can ask other members of your household to join you.
Provide Interactive Toys During Playtime
Dogs love playing with toys. They love balls, Frisbees, chew toys, tug-of-war toys, even baskets and boxes. But if you want to really stimulate your canine friend’s brain, you should provide interactive toys, such as those that dispense food. These toys are made of sturdy plastic and you can put kibble inside. If the dog wants to get the food or treat, he has to roll the toy with his nose to release the food.
Rotate Your Dog’s Toys or Give Him New Ones
Just like kids, dogs can get tired of playing with the same toys every single day. Rotate your pet’s toys, or try to give your dog a new toy every few weeks. This is particularly true for dog breeds with short attention spans. They easily get bored. When your dog gets bored, he will find ways to entertain himself and may indulge in destructive behavior.
Bring Your Dog When You Run Errands
Bring your dog if you need to bring something to a friend’s house or if you need to do some grocery shopping. A new environment every once in a while is what your dog needs to stimulate its brain and to boost its spirits. Just make sure dogs are allowed in the places you have to go, and never leave your dog in the car to wait on a warm or very cold day.
Try Simple Obedience Training
You don’t need to teach your dog complex commands. Teaching your pet the basics such as, “sit,” “stay,” “lay down,” “come here,” and “shake” would be a good starting point. Just spend a few minutes of teaching these “tricks” to your dog and he will get a good mental workout.
Try Agility Training
Agility training provides your dog with a combination of physical and mental stimulation. Try making an agility/obstacle course using sturdy containers, ramps, portable stairs, or tunnels. Teach your dog how to go through the course and reward your pet by hiding treats within the course or giving treats when it finishes the course. You can find agility training courses in most areas.
Bring Your Dog to a Dog Park
Dog parks are great places to bring your canine friend. These are typically enclosures wherein dogs can run free under the supervision of their pet parents. A word of caution though: your dog may be overwhelmed with seeing different dogs and different people at the dog park for the first time. It would be a good idea to keep your dog on a leash if it is his first visit to the dog park.