How to Keep Your Dog’s Mind Active and Sharp?

Dogs are similar to people in that their minds get bored after a time if they follow the same routine. Therefore, it is so crucial to challenge their minds from time to time. The thing with mental stimulation for dogs is that it is an area that often gets neglected.

It happens because dog parents forget that it is just as important to exercise their minds as it is with their bodies. Not only does this boost their mind, but it also reduces the chance that they would indulge in any destructive behavior that becomes commonplace when dogs get bored.

11 Ways to Mentally Stimulate Your Puppy

There are several ways to stimulate your puppy mentally

1. Teaching your dog new tricks 

You would see that dogs love to learn new tricks, and if you happen to have a few tricks in the vicinity, they would feel an even greater urge and a sense of excitement to master those new tricks. It would be better to spend a few minutes each day where you teach your dog the ways to perform new tricks.

That way, you would be able to entertain them and enrich them. For example, you can teach them how to follow various commands by pointing toward the treats through such training.

It would help when your dog cannot retrieve toys or is unwilling to hand them to you.

2. Giving them toys that challenge them 

Activities such as puzzle toys that challenge your dog’s intelligence and force them to strategize are a great option for getting their attention and getting them to think. Toys that dispense food combine the two things a dog loves the most – play and food.

These brainteasers are available in several options about size. They allow your naughty one to chew, paw, bounce, and nudge at them so they can get those tasty treats within the toys.

3. Providing them with great nutrition 

Nutrition is a crucial factor in affecting your dog’s mental abilities as much as their health. These days, there is no shortage of brands that provide you with the best food and other pet supplies in terms of quality so that you can keep your little one healthy.

Apart from that, you have online and offline stores that get products from the best brands – you can always have faith in them to keep your dog content strong and healthy. You also have several options if your dog needs a special diet to achieve optimum health.

4. Using puzzle feeders

Your dog eats every day. Hence, you can always turn mealtimes into an experience that simulates their mind. You can have your baby work for their food by using puzzle feeders. It might take longer than only placing a food bowl before them.

However, when your dog can solve these problems, it will get a boost in its confidence, and the food, in this case, would act as a reward. Puzzle feeders are great when dogs eat too fast.

5. Playing with your dog using interactive toys and games 

You can buy a canine puzzle or doggo board game to challenge your dog. Some good options in these cases are the likes of Dog Dominos and Dog Memory. You can use toys that hide objects and treats within themselves and engage your dog by asking them to work things out independently.

There are several ways in which you can go about this. It may sound silly. However, it sure is fun. They are great ways to challenge your dog, who has to work hard to figure it all out.

6. Having your dog work for their food

Pet dogs have it easy as far as their mealtime goes. All you have to do is set their bowl down and let them get on with it. Nothing is wrong with that, but it is a far cry from their natural habit of scavenging for food.

So, if you want to add an element of mental stimulation to your dog’s daily routine, you can start by changing its feeding routine. Rather than simply handing over their bowl, you can create a fun game.

7. Asking them to find hidden treats 

A great way to keep your dog engaged is to play with their sense of smell; engaging them when you are not at home is a great option. Several options include hiding some treats around the house or leaving them with interactive toys.

At times, you can arrange for both options for them. These options would engage them mentally and physically, even as they don the garb of Sherlock Holmes to find those hidden treats.

8. Having them sniff and explore while on walks 

As far as training the brain of your dogs is concerned, it does not get much – if not any – better than simply allowing them to sniff around. Sniffing is ideal for dogs to burn off some energy and engage their minds!

So, if you are going for a walk, you should let your dog stop and sniff to their heart’s content. You may even want to present them with a special treat when they stop and sniff.

9. Providing them with obedience training 

You must get your dog used to being in the presence of other dogs and people. It is an exceptional option for dogs who have issues with their behavior owing to issues such as stress or boredom that they experience when they are left alone. Such behavior worsens in cases where they are left alone for too long in one place and when this happens a lot daily.

10. Giving them a job 

When looking for options to keep your dog mentally stimulated while you are at home or away from it for work, a great idea would be to give your dog a job. Some of the most popular options, in this case, maybe enumerated below:

• toys that dispense treats
• puzzle toys
• find-it games
• trick training
• snuffle mats

Depending on factors such as the breed and the size of your dog and the location where you live with your fur baby may enjoy playing with and chasing other animals outside.

11. Rotating their activities and toys to keep them engaged 

No one in the world likes doing the same thing every day of their lives, and this includes your dog as well. So, if you have a basket full of toys for your dog, remove 50% of these and put them away on a high shelf.

Once every week, pull out these hidden toys and put away the toys used for the rest of the week. You can apply this logic to the puzzle feeders you use to deliver treats and food to your dog.

FAQs

Q: How can you provide mental stimulation to your dogs?

Following are some ways in which you can provide your dogs with mental stimulation:

• hide and seek
• interactive dog toys
• dog tricks
• putting away toys following playtime
• scatter feeding
• obstacle course
• food puzzles

Q: What is the best way to stimulate the mind of your dog?

Interactive toys are capable of exercising your dog’s brain by letting them perform activities such as the following:

• chew
• lick
• sniff
• explore

The best toys in this case are:

• KONG
• activity flip boards
• puppy puzzles

Q: How can you make your dog sharp?

Following are some options that you can try in this case:

• teaching your dog a new trick
• running errands with your pooch
• giving them toys that stimulate their minds

Q: How can you distract your dog’s mind?

Following are some ways in which you can distract your dog mentally:

• playing a game of finding treats with them
• teaching your dog to clean up their toys
• playing the shell game

Q: How can you teach your dog not to be crazy?

Clicker training is supposed to be particularly effective when teaching a dog how to behave calmly, as the clicker lets you catch the moments when they are calm and reward your dog.

Conclusion

Keeping your dog’s mind active and sharp is crucial for well-being and happiness. Providing mental stimulation through interactive toys, puzzles, and training exercises can improve their cognitive abilities and reduce boredom and anxiety.

Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and quality sleep are essential to maintaining your dog’s mental health. Incorporating these practices into your daily routine can help your furry friend lead a fulfilling and enriched life.