Did you know that 20 minutes of mental stimulation or sniffing work is equivalent to 1 hour of walking for dogs? Because dogs are highly intelligent animals, mental stimulation and mental exercise are just as important as physical exercise.
This applies to puppies, adult dogs, and even older dogs. Knowing how to mentally stimulate your dog is important for their brain health and necessary for daily enrichment.
Here we will cover why mental stimulation is important, signs your dog is bored and needs mental stimulation, and a list of ways that you can easily and effectively mentally stimulate your dog.
Why Is It Important To Know How Mentally Stimulate Your Dog?
Whether you are looking for rainy-day dog activities, trying to entertain your dog while working from home, or just want to tire out your pup, there are many benefits to learning how to mentally stimulate your dog:
· Reducing your dog’s stress levels.
· Improving your dog’s cognitive development.
· Decreasing the likelihood of destructive behaviors due to boredom.
· Improving your dog’s mood and mental health.
· Strengthening your bond with your dog.
· Keeping your dog healthy.
· A way to exercise your dog when you are unable to get outside.
· Decreasing hyperactivity in your dog.
Signs Your Dog Is Bored and Needs Mental Stimulation
All dogs were originally bred to perform jobs. If you don’t give your dog a task or job, they can become bored, which can lead to destructive behaviors. Knowing how to mentally stimulate your dog and providing them with brain games can help decrease negative behaviors.
Signs that you have a bored dog bored include:
· Crying and whining excessively.
· Begging you for attention.
· Pacing around the house and acting restless.
· Chewing on things they shouldn’t chew.
· Making messes, like getting into the trash.
· Digging holes in your yard.
· Trying to escape from home.
How To Mentally Stimulate Your Dog
We have put together a list of easy and effective ways to mentally stimulate your dog. Many of these brain exercises are free and most can be done without having to leave your house.
We have had some great success working on these interactive games with our German Shepard Dog. Hopefully, you find these mental exercise activities as helpful as we have.
1. Take A Scent Walk
One of the reasons your dog loves to go on walks is because they get to explore and investigate the world with their nose. The simple act of giving your dog the freedom to sniff where they want, for as long as they want, provides physical and mental stimulation.
According to certified trainer and dog behavior counselor Mikkel Becker, scent walks give dogs “a chance to follow their nose and learn, leading to a happier, more content, and fulfilled dog.”
We have all been there, willing our dogs to hurry up and do their business while they are distracted and smelling a patch of grass. Try to remember that your dog’s sense of smell is similar to our sense of sight.
The part of a dog’s brain dedicated to smelling is actually 40 times larger than a human’s. Your dog can tell who has been in the area, weather changes, and passages of time, just from sniffing.
It’s easy to take a scent walk. Just start walking and when your dog stops to sniff, stop with them. Let them sniff the area until they are ready to move on and let them lead to the next sniffing spot.
2. Try A New Walking Route
Just like humans, our canine companions can get bored from doing the same thing repeatedly. Changing your routine and taking your dog on a new route for their daily walk can be very exciting for them.
Dogs are mentally stimulated by new scents and smells. So while may be just another street to you, it’s an exploration adventure for your dog. New walking routes are great physical and for both young dogs and old dogs.
3. Towel Treat Puzzle
This homemade puzzle toy is one of my personal favorite brain games for dogs and an awesome way to keep your pup occupied. Grab a large bath towel and lay it flat. Then start to roll the towel up tightly, sprinkling treats into the towel as you roll. You can give this to your dog once it’s completely rolled up and let them try to extract the treats.
For an additional challenge, you can also tie the rolled towel into a loose knot. Our dog loves this rainy-day dog game and she goes nuts as soon as she sees us bring out the towel.
4. Hide And Seek
Wondering how to mentally stimulate your dog on a rainy day? Recommended by the American Kennel Club, the same game you played as a kid also doubles as a mentally stimulating dog game!
We start by having our dog “stay” on her dog bed while we hide. Our favorite hiding spots include inside closets and behind the shower curtain. Once we are hidden, we shout “OK!” and she runs around the house sniffing, trying to find us. Sometimes we call out her name to give her a hint.
If your dog doesn’t know the “stay” command, you can try hiding while your dog is distracted. This is also great for anyone trying to exercise a dog in an apartment. Just remember to praise your dog once they find you!
5. Find It Game
Like other nose work games, “Find It” forces your dog to use their problem-solving skills. This fun game is like hide and seek, except instead of your dog seeking you, they are seeking out their favorite toy or treat.
Have your dog “stay” in one area while you go hide treats or their favorite toy. Make sure you place it in an area where they can access it once they find it. After you hide the item, return to your dog and let them sniff your hand. Once they understand what you hid, release your dog to “find it.”
Letting your dog search and sniff through your house, tracking the scent until they find what you hid provides lots of mental stimulation for you pup.
6. Scatter Feeding
Recommend by PetMD by Chewy, scatter feeding is the simple act of scattering your dog’s normal kibble food throughout your house in small piles.
Scatter feeding will slow down your dog’s daily meals and force them to work for their food. Scatter feeding also mentally stimulates your dog by forcing them to do nose work and focus in order to finish their meal.
7. Frozen Treat Puzzle
This puzzle toy is as simple as it sounds! Our pup loves her Kong, so we fill it with a mix of dog treats, peanut butter, water, and different types of treats (basically a stew of treats) and freeze it. This keeps her brain busy for at least an hour, using her paws, nose, and mouth to every morsel out!
No Kong? No Problem! Tupperware or a bowl that won’t break works just as well!
Regardless of what you use to make them, it’s helpful to keep some backup frozen treats in the freezer. These is a great activity to mentally stimulate your dog when it’s too hot to walk them outside!
8. Toy Rotation
As much as dogs love their toys, they can eventually become bored with them. According to Dr. Brittany Grenus of Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, you can mentally stimulate your dog by practicing toy rotation.
Toy rotation is only allowing a few dog toys out at a time and keeping the rest hidden. Once your dog shows signs of boredom, make a show of pulling out the hidden dog toys. Your dog will get excited because they feel like they are getting the toys for the first time.
9. Puzzle Toys
Puzzle toys, also known as interactive toys, are an easy way to mentally stimulate your dog. These treat-dispensing toys involve placing treats or dry food inside the toy.
These interactive toys double as brain games and call on your dog’s problem-solving skills, requiring your pup to move or manipulate the toy to get the contents out.
Our dog’s favorite puzzle toy is a giant Kong Wobbler. This Kong sits upright until the dog nudges it with their nose or paw. As our dog causes the Kong to spin and roll, the toy dispenses treats through a small hole.
Other great interactive dog toys include snuffle mats, treat balls, and slow feeders. Any type of puzzle toy will increase your dog’s mental stimulation.
10. Dog TV
This came in handy when our dog got fixed and we were looking for some easy mental stimulation. She was groggy and tired, and we needed to distract her from trying to lick her incision.
Now we use it to keep her busy while she’s lying on the couch, waiting for us to finish our workday at home.
There are multiple places to find these channels including dogtv.com and YouTube. While we weren’t as entertained by the nature sounds and closeup dog videos, our dog was fascinated for hours!
11. Teach Your Dog a New Trick
Trick training, or teaching your dog new tricks, is one of the most basic ways to mentally stimulate your dog and is just as good for them as physical exercise. Like humans, learning something new requires dogs to use new parts of their brains. Just 5-15 minutes of dog training or learning something new can hold your dog’s attention and exhaust them at the same time.
Most dogs enjoy training sessions with their owners. Dogs were bred to work alongside humans and actually benefit from structure, routine, and rules. When you praise your dog for learning something new, this helps them to feel accomplished and boosts their confidence. Some fun tricks that will mentally stimulate your dog include:
· Paw Shake.
· Rollover.
· High five.
· Speak.
· Heel.
The Takeaway
Taking time to mentally stimulate your dog is incredibly important for your dog’s wellbeing. By giving them a job or providing them with brain games, you are keeping them engaged and making them happy. There are many simple and effective ways to entertain your dog, many of which can be done indoors.
Mentally stimulating your dog improves their brain health and enriches their life. Pet parents who combine proper mental stimulation, physical exercise, and basic obedience training will find themselves with a well-adjusted and happy pup.
Now that you know how to mentally stimulate your dog, you can always ensure they have a great day!
What do you do to mentally stimulate your dog? Did any of these mental stimulation ideas work for you? Send us a message with any questions about mental exercise and let us know if any of these work for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep my dog's mind stimulated?
Give your dog a job to do! Keep them mentally stimulated with treat-dispensing toys, snuffle mats, puzzle toys, find-it games, or trick training.
How do you mentally tire out a dog?
Spending just 10-15 minutes everyday teaching your dog new tricks, working on obedience, or nosework will result in a tired and happy dog.
How long should a dog be mentally stimulated?
To make mental stimulation fun for your dog, keep the sessions short, especially with puppies. Adult dogs require at least 20 minutes of mental stimulation per day. For puppies, aim for 5 to 10 minutes.
What happens if a dog isn't mentally stimulated?
Dogs lacking mental and physical stimulation can exhibit destructive behaviors like making messes, destroying things in the house, and excessive whining and crying. They can also become withdrawn or depressed and less likely to engage with their human companions.
What are brain games for dogs?
Brain games are puzzles, toys, or activities that encourage dogs to use their problem-solving skills, making them a great way to burn off energy, especially for those with high energy or anxiety.
