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You and your dog can have a lot of fun playing classic games like “fetch,” but exercise is more than just rushing around. Additionally, mental activity is crucial since it can prevent boredom and teach your dog amazing new abilities.
Even though your dog will enjoy these games whenever they get the chance, dog brain games can help keep your pup alert when it’s too rainy to play outside. Brain games for puppies stimulate their growing brains and keep them learning new abilities, so they’re perfect for dogs of all ages. They may even keep senior dogs alert and energetic. They can also help keep adult dogs stimulated.
Best Dog Brain Games
Ten of our top cognitive Dog Brain Games for dogs are compiled here.
1. Treasure Hunt
This is an excellent cognitive game to assess your dog’s reasoning abilities! Your dog will love to hunt for bits of their favorite treat hidden around the home or, if the weather is fine, in the garden. It will be up to your dog’s nose to scent out the reward.
To keep things new each time you play this dog brain game, hide the treats in progressively harder locations. If your dog enjoys tracking scents—such as if you have a scent hound—try setting up a “trail” for them to follow throughout the house or yard. Simply pick a sweet treat that smells good, touch it on various surfaces throughout the house to create a trail, and then hide it at the end.
Dogs love to follow odors, but to avoid situations where they can spend the whole day looking for food in the house or yard, it might be a good idea to provide a start signal (such as “search”) and an end signal (such as “finish”). In this manner, after the game is over, your dog will know when to stop searching and when to unwind.
2. Brain Training Toys
Treats hidden within a particular toy is a really easy brainteaser for dogs. You may purchase a variety of toys specifically designed for this use; simply stuff your dog’s favorite treats inside and watch as they attempt to escape.
This could be applying pure willpower, rolling their toy in a specific manner, or applying pressure. Whichever toy you select, it will help keep them busy and distribute their food or treats over a longer length of time.
3. Learn a Trick or Two
Spending time with your dog and stimulating their mind can be achieved by teaching them a few tricks. Teach them to roll over on command, retrieve your slippers, and identify items.
These canine brain games will test your dog’s memory and attention span in addition to making an impression on others! Here are five advanced dog training methods that you may teach your dog.
4. Three Cups
You may train your dog to pay attention to you by playing this game. Three cups plus a treat, like a slice of cake, are all you need.
Make sure all the cups smell like the reward before beginning the dog brain game. You can easily check this by wiping the treat along the inside rim of each cup. The reward should then be placed beneath one of the overturned cups, with the other overturned cups placed close to it, while your dog is observing you.
While your dog is still observing, rotate the cups and let them to attempt to tip over the correct cup with their paw or nose. If they select the incorrect one, show them the reward but withhold it from them; shuffle once more and allow them to try until they are able to locate the right cup!
5. Advanced Dog Brain Games – Independent Thinking
This sophisticated dog brain game promotes self-reliance in thinking since your dog will be rewarded for attempting new, self-invented “tricks.” This is a fantastic method to foster their creativity.
Give your dog a chair or another relatively new object to play with, and tell them a “trick.” Give your dog a treat whenever they engage with it; they might even sniff it.
Repeatedly give the command “trick.” Give your dog another treat every time they attempt something new, like pushing the chair.
Continue giving them instructions, and give them praise each time they think of anything original. Just ignore them and refuse to give them the reward if they imitate the same action, like pushing the chair again.
Your dog will eventually learn that attempting new actions when you say “trick” will earn them a treat. They’ll soon think up a million creative methods to get their gift, like climbing on top of the chair or squeeze under it.
6. Find the Toy
The first thing to do in this game is select a toy. It can be any favorite of your dog’s, just make sure it’s one they enjoy retrieving and can recognize with ease. It’s a good idea to play hiding spots that are easy to get to, like behind a cushion or under a blanket, but are still somewhat visible.
To begin with, show your dog the toy and allow them to sniff it to entice them to look for it. Next, place the toy in one of the concealing places while maintaining their focus. Use cue words like “Search!” or “Find the toy!” to help them find it.
To help your dog unwind as well, keep in mind that it may be a good idea to indicate to them when the game is about to end (“finish” or “it’s over”).
7. Muffin Tin Game
All you need for this game is a muffin tin and a few of your dog’s favorite goodies. For the goodies to fit within the tin cups, they should be small bits of candy. The next step is to introduce your dog to the muffin tray. Allow them to sniff it and observe you while you fill it with treats. Cover the rewards with some random things, such as a tennis ball, a toy, or fabric squares, after they look engaged and intrigued. Always keep an eye on things and stay away from anything that could be consumed and clog a passage.
Your dog should investigate each cup in the tin and lift the object to reveal the goodie. To get them to play, you may also give them a cue word, like “Find it!” or “Get the treat!” When they do well, reward them with praise and encouragement. There’s no doubt your dog will love it!
8. Name That Object
A straightforward but incredibly satisfying dog brain game is another fantastic one that can keep a dog occupied for hours on end. All you need to do is choose a few items that your dog is accustomed to and give them individual names, such as “ball,” “toy,” or “plushie.” It will take skill for your dog to identify the name and correctly recover the designated object.
Lay one of the items (like a ball) on the ground in front of you. Give your dog a treat (without saying anything) whenever they use their nose or paw to investigate the ball. until you’ve given them the treat, put the ball back on the floor and conceal it behind your back until they’ve eaten it. Give your dog the goodie once more and repeat the procedure a few times when they contact it.
After then, utter the word “ball” while setting the ball on the ground. The dog will go to touch it, as you will notice (in fact, it would have touched it even if you hadn’t mentioned “ball”). You will have successfully imparted to them the name of the object, which is “ball.” Then repeat the process using an alternative object. Put two named objects together, like a “ball” and a “stuffed animal,” to assess how well they have learnt their names. By adding additional objects to the exercise each time, you can make it more difficult.
VARIANT: EVEN HARDER
Try this if your dog is already familiar with ten different objects: Ten objects should be arranged in front of you, though it would be preferable if the objects were hidden from your view so that they wouldn’t be able to sway your judgment. Remember, they already know ten different objects. Take a new object (a stuffed cow, for instance), and place it alongside the other ten.
There are now eleven objects in front of the dog, and one of them is unknown to him. This is the time to say “cow.” By process of elimination, your dog will probably discover that the new object you placed is named “cow,” thus they will probably choose that one. They will have learned a new term from you (via “fast mapping”). You may swiftly teach children dozens of new words in this method.
9. Obstacle Course
This is an outdoor game, but it can absolutely be modified for inside play as well. Just make sure you have enough room, and depending on your dog’s size, age, and agility, use safe and stable toys like cones, low jumps, or hula hoops.
The secret is to introduce each obstacle to your dog one at a time. While utilizing positive reinforcement, such as food or praise, give them time to examine and smell it. Once this is finished, you may set up the obstacles in a logical order, starting with the simpler ones, to begin the obstacle course. Set them apart comfortably enough for your dog to be able to move between them without difficulty.
Use simple instructions like “sit,” “stay,” “leave it,” or “come” to lead them through the game at first. You’ll need to teach them these orders if they don’t already know them because it’s crucial that they comprehend them. Make sure your dog receives a treat or some praise at the end of the game!
10. Hide and Seek
Similar to traditional “Hide and Seek,” your dog will get a lot of brain exercise from this activity.
Give your dog the order to begin looking for you once you’ve located your hiding spot. To ensure your dog stays safe while searching for you, pick suitable hiding places. Treats, praise, and lots of excitement will help to keep your dog interested and entertained after they locate you. The nicest thing about this game is that you may play it again and again, switching up the hiding places and even including additional family members.
Also Read : Best 11 Dog Sleeping Positions & What each position means?
Closing Points: There Are Three Types of Dog Brain Games:
- Play games with your dog, such as balls, frisbees, and tug ropes. As long as you play with these toys, your dog will love them very much. It’s similar to a ball for kids in that they can play by themselves for a while, but if they have to play with it for extended periods of time, it’s best to divide into two teams and play soccer.
- Games that your dog can play by themselves for extended periods of time (a kid’s version of a video game system, on which they can play for hours on end without needing a partner). Any toy that dispenses food is a fantastic choice.
- Toys that are intended to keep your dog occupied but also teach them skills that will keep their minds active are known as cognitive toys. Interactive toys, cognitive mats, etc.
Once you’ve mastered these dog brain games, utilize your imagination to come up with fresh problems for your canine companion. Tell us everything about your brilliant game if you’ve created it!
Check out our list of seven nutritious dog treats that are perfect for potty training and teaching them new skills after that.
