Give it more life
Tips for taking care of your dog's health and safety
Mental challenges for intelligent dogs
Games
·
February 3, 2025
The classic game of cups
Level: Easy
Benefit: Reinforces concentration and the use of smell.
Place three cups upside down in a line and hide a reward under one of them. Slowly mix the cups and let your dog find out which one has the prize. If he guesses right, reward him with the snack.
🔹 Tip: If he is a beginner, start with a single cup and gradually increase the difficulty.
2. Interactive toys and food dispensers
Level: Medium
Benefit: Encourages patience and problem-solving.
Types of toys like Kong or food dispensers require your dog to manipulate the object to get his reward. This keeps him entertained and reinforces his analytical skills.
🔹 Tip: You can freeze the Kong with food inside to make it more challenging.
The scent rug: the challenge of aromas
Level: Medium
Benefit: Activates the searching and tracking instinct.
The scent rug (snuffle mat) has different textures where you can hide treats or kibble. Your dog will have to use its nose and brain to find them.
🔹 Tip: If you don't have a scent rug, use a rolled towel and place snacks inside.
Learn a new trick: purposeful stimulation
Level: Variable
Benefit: Strengthens the bond and learning ability.
Teaching new commands is one of the best ways to challenge your dog mentally. You can start with simple commands like "shake", "spin" or "bring an object" and then progress to more complex tricks.
🔹 Tip: Use positive reinforcement with treats and petting every time they do it well.
Surprise box: sensory exploration
Level: Medium
Benefit: Stimulates touch, smell, and decision-making.
Place various objects inside a box (paper balls, toys, balls) and hide treats inside. Your dog must rummage to find them.
🔹 Tip: Use objects with different textures and materials to make it more interesting.
Closed doors challenge: intelligence and patience
Level: Advanced
Benefit: Enhances problem-solving skills.
Place treats behind slightly open doors so that your dog has to push with its nose or paw to access them.
🔹 Tip: Start with doors slightly ajar and increase the difficulty by closing them a little more each time.
📌 Conclusion: the power of mental stimulation
Incorporating mental challenges into your dog's routine not only keeps them entertained but also boosts their confidence and reduces anxiety. Dogs that actively use their minds are happier, more balanced, and less likely to develop destructive behaviors.
💡 Which of these games will you try first? Let us know in the comments and share your experience with the Kolyy community!
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