{"id":508,"date":"2021-05-03T13:27:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-03T17:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.passionatelypets.com\/blog\/?p=508"},"modified":"2021-04-20T13:29:34","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T17:29:34","slug":"mental-stimulation-a-fun-easy-guide-for-you-and-your-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.passionatelypets.com\/blog\/mental-stimulation-a-fun-easy-guide-for-you-and-your-dog\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental Stimulation: A Fun & Easy Guide for You and Your Dog"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Frenchie<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"going<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You go for long walks, let your pup run it out with their friends at the park, play fetch in the backyard and they are still full of energy.\u00a0 You do your best to tire them with activity and nothing seems to work.\u00a0 They still are begging to play and when ignored, cause excessive barking and destruction around the house. You don\u2019t know what else to do. Sound familiar?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t worry, you are not alone.  I take my dog Penny for a long walk every morning, but the truth is that she\u2019d tire more from 15 minutes of training or scent games than from our hour long walk around the neighborhood. Mental fatigue makes dogs (and humans) feel more physically tired than a physical effort alone. The good news is when you incorporate mental challenges into their day there is minimal effort and time commitment on your part.  And these activities can be really fun \u2013 for both of you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try some of these ways to make your dog concentrate and they\u2019ll be ready for a nap in no time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ditch The Bowl<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Embrace your dog\u2019s natural scavenging habits at meal time and stop dumping their food in a bowl for them to gobble up in 5 seconds flat.  Instead, you can use their kibble as motivation for training time, try scatter feeding and\/or provide your dog\u2019s meals in fun food dispensing toys like the Bob-A-Lot<\/a>, a favorite in our household. Whether you scatter their food across a large area, use a puzzle feeder or ask for them to do tricks, they have to problem solve to get their food. This takes effort and brain power! Make sure to get a few different food dispensing toys and vary your feeding method from meal to meal to keep your dog guessing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never Stop Learning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Training your dog should be a lifelong journey.  You\u2019ll be surprised what your dog can learn (and how tired they can get) from spending as little as 5-15 minutes a day training. There\u2019s always a behavior to enforce or new trick to teach.  Pick something of the appropriate level for your dog and go for it!  Your dog will want to perform the desired behavior.  Getting there will require thinking and concentration which will tire them out, all while strengthening your bond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not A One Trick Pony<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apply the tricks you\u2019ve taught them in other creative ways. Ask your pup to retrieve various objects around the house, once they have mastered a solid retrieve. Ask them to drop the ball in all sorts of objects, from tall to tiny containers. The options are endless as long as you are just as excited as they are about every success!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adventures In Sniffing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Scent<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In large part, dogs \u201csee\u201d the world through scent.  This allows them to interact with their environment through their noses tapping into an often-overlooked processing tool. It\u2019s easy to take a scent walk. Just set off on a path, and when your dog stops for a sniff, let them. Be fully engaged, which means: put away your phone and pay attention to your dog. This is needed because there are still hidden \u201ctreasures\u201d you may need to avoid.  As you stroll, allow your dog to select the path and the amount of time they spend on each odor.  It will add enrichment to their day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How\u2019s That to Chew On?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dogs have a natural desire to lick and chew so make sure they have a healthy daily outlet for these behaviors.\u00a0 Discover a favorite chew like a Himalayan Cheese Chew<\/a> or Bully Stick<\/a>.\u00a0 Provide layers to lick with Lick mats<\/a> and treat dispensing toys like the Qwizl<\/a>, Kong and Toppl<\/a> which can be filled with Creamy Treats<\/a>, peanut butter, yogurt or pumpkin.\u00a0 For added interest and difficulty you can layer them with items of different textures and to make them last longer, you can freeze them!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s All Fun & Games<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Providing mental stimulation for your dog is really just playing games!  Here are some more you can try:<\/p>\n\n\n\n