Games to stimulate the minds of dogs

Games to stimulate the minds of dogs. If you own a dog, you are surely interested in its well-being. Therefore, you take him punctually to his medical appointments, take your pet for a walk, buy him the right food; you give it a bath when necessary, and so on. But are you doing what it takes to stimulate your furry friend’s mind? Have you ever thought about that aspect?

If you hadn’t taken your dog’s mind into account, don’t feel bad, most people overlook this situation. For that reason, here we present a list of different games to stimulate the mind of dogs. These games can be practiced from the comfort of your home, without the need to leave the park.

Healthy mind in healthy body

Your dog, just like you, needs to keep his mind occupied. For that reason, it’s important that they go for a walk in the park and allow your dog to socialize with other dogs and other people. But if we stay at home, we can not forget the fundamental role that mind games for dogs have. They should also be part of their education. In addition, mind games for dogs have several benefits. Some of the most relevant are:

• Improve the bond between you and your dog.
• Avoid boredom and behavioral problems.
• Prevent cognitive problems that may appear when the dog is an elderly person.
• Promote your dog’s physical and mental exercise, which increases his well-being.
• Improve the dog’s emotional balance

And we can not forget that mind games for dogs also have benefits for you. For example:

• Playing with your dog is an excellent distraction.
• It is good for your body, when playing with your furry friend, you secrete hormones such as oxytocin, serotonin, dopamine and endorphins. Which make you feel happy.
• You are comforted by the company and physical contact with your dog.
• Reduces stress and anxiety.

Games to stimulate the minds of dogs

Next, we will mention some games that you can put into practice and thus stimulate the mind of your furry friend. Without the need to leave home, or invest large amounts of money for sophisticated and expensive toys. These games can be put into practice with things you already have in your home.

The treasure hunt.

Hide your dog’s favorite treat anywhere in your home. Leave some clues so that your dog can find on his way to reach the treasure. Some of the tracks may be in high places or inaccessible, so it will need your attention and help. With this game, you will be developing your search ability, sharpening your sense of smell and your attention.

The ball game

This game can be practiced in the yard of your house, or if you prefer, you can play inside, you just need to move some furniture and save the coas that can be broken, to avoid any accident. Once you have the play space cleared, throw the ball and your dog will gladly go for it. Some people even play soccer with their dog, an ity that can make both of them happy.

Let him learn a trick.

Obedience exercises are great mind games for dogs. Teach him tricks like pawing, turning on himself, or making himself dead. You must be very patient to teach these tricks to your dog. And give him a prize when he manages to perform the trick, a treat can be an excellent option. With this game, you are activating your dog’s concentration and learning process.

Where was the ball?

For this exercise, you must have three plastic cups. Hide some food under the glass you prefer and move it along with the other two glasses. Then let your dog point to the one with the food. It is possible that at first he does not understand what you are doing, but if you repeat this activity several times, in a short time your dog will be able to perform this fun activity and will be very happy to receive his prize. With this mind game, you are reinforcing their natural search instinct.

Award-winning sock

Surely you have one or more unparalleled socks inside your drawer. Don’t keep those socks anymore and put them to better use. Grab a sock and hide some food and make a simple knot. Give it to your dog. If you want to eat what’s inside, you’ll have to figure out how to undo the knots.

Catch me if you can.

Fishing rod toys also work very well with dogs. You can make one with the broomstick, a rope and a stuffed animal. Hide behind a door or curtain and draw the dog’s attention to the stuffed animal. When you are going to approach, lift him up so that he cannot reach him. The challenge is that your dog must do everything possible to reach his goal, we guarantee a good time of fun. Once your pet manages to reach the stuffed animal, we recommend that you give him a prize or some words of congratulations.

What does it smell like?

Use objects that have different smells that your dog is not used to. They can be fruit flavorings, the fruits themselves, pieces of cloth with a few drops of essential oils. One by one, the objects are placed on him so that he can smell them and then hide them. Give him the search warrant and pay him when he finds the hidden object.

Music for dogs:

Did you know that there are melodies or certain sounds of nature that help stimulate your pet’s intelligence? That’s right, more and more studies show that there are various natural or musical sounds, which allow your dog to feel happy, lively, attentive or relaxed. You can even find various options on YouTube or on the internet, so that your dog can hear.

As you can see, there are several options that you can put into practice to stimulate the mind of your furry friend. Combine these mind games with the other care you are already providing to your beloved pet and you will make your best canine friend very happy.