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Looking for ways to keep your dog occupied throughout the day? Find cognitive enrichment ideas to help your dog get smarter, feel happier, and keep them away from destructive behaviors. And don’t worry, with our guide – cognitive enrichment for dogs is simple and inexpensive to implement.
If you recently adopted a new puppy and they are tearing everything up – it’s time to try cognitive enrichment! If you have an older dog who is returning to some puppy behaviors and acting out – it’s time to try cognitive enrichment!
Yup that’s right… cognitive enrichment for dogs is truly necessary for EVERY dog. There are plenty of activities and toys out there that can be used for all kinds of dogs.
It’s hard to not get frustrated when your dog chews up your favorite shoes or has a field day with the garbage can. But before you get too upset, think about how your dog is spending their day. Are you giving them ways to stimulate their brain? When dogs are starting or returning to those destructive behaviors, think of it as their way of saying “I’m bored.”
This post will help you find dog enrichment ideas at home and dog enrichment ideas while at work to keep your dog busy all day long.
Enrichment For Dogs
Firstly, it’s important to note there are actually 6 different types of enrichment for dogs. Some enrichment activities will actually utilize multiple areas all in one. It’s important to ensure your dog receives enrichment in each of the following areas for the happiest and healthiest lifestyle.
This post is all about cognitive enrichment for dogs.
Cognitive Enrichment For Dogs
What is cognitive enrichment?
Any positive form of mental stimulation that activates your dogs brain can be considered cognitive enrichment. Often this involves the brain engaging in problem solving skills like puzzles and games. Your dog can also receive cognitive enrichment from new sights, sounds or other enjoyable activities.
Why do dogs need cognitive enrichment?
Your dog needs cognitive enrichment throughout the day to stimulate their brain. Yes, dogs are creatures of habit and while it’s important to keep a routine, it’s also important to present your dog with mental stimulation!
Think about your own brain for a second. If you never engaged it – your days would be pretty darn boring. The same goes for your dog! Your dog doesn’t have the ability to play a brain game or go out for a fun activity on their own so it’s important you’re there to help challenge them.
By engaging your dog in enrichment activities you allow them to use their brain and actually help them get smarter.
How do I give my dog cognitive enrichment?
There are plenty of ways to give your dog cognitive enrichment (most are actually super easy!). Focus on providing enrichment through the five senses. Sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. Your goal should be to activate one or more of these senses for cognitive enrichment.
It’s also important to consider things like breed and age when it comes to selecting activities.
For dog breeds: What kind of activities are they naturally drawn to? If you’ve got a hound dog – they LOVE to sniff so help them utilize their nose.
For dog age: Puppy enrichment is going to in some cases look different than enrichment for older dogs. Consider your dogs mobile ability and overall physical wellness when selecting activities. Always be considerate of what makes sense for your own dog. You know them best!
Cognitive Enrichment Ideas For Dogs
These ideas focus on using your dogs brain and problem solving skills. Don’t worry there are ideas for everyone from cheap cognitive enrichment for dogs to fun puzzles and games you can easily order off Amazon.
Find the perfect enrichment ideas for your dog!
1. PLAY HIDE & SEEK
I play this with my dog all the time and I swear you can see her mind working! It’s so cool to see her processing where I could be hiding vs. where she has already looked.
There are actually two different ways you can play hide and seek with your dog. You yourself can hide and have your dog come find you. Or if you need to be elsewhere you can hide treats around the house and have your dog “seek” them.
If you are playing with your dog simply give your dog a stay command, find a good hiding spot, and then release your dog. I now use a “come find me” command so my dog knows we’re in hide and seek mode! If your dog is having a tough time finding you be sure to give them verbal clues along the way to keep them interested.
If you decide to play with treats – your dog’s nose is in for a workout! It’s a similar setup where you’ll give your dog the stay command, take some treats (the smellier the better), and hide them around the house. Allow your dog to then go on the hunt and see if he or she can find them all.
2. TEACH YOUR DOG NEW TRICKS
Dogs love learning new tricks! It’s not only a great way to stimulate your dogs mind – it’s also a great way for you to bond. Learning a new trick does take patience from both you and your dog so it’s great opportunity to work on those skills as well.
The key to teaching your dog a new trick is consistency. So it’s best to practice new tricks for a few minutes each day. Try and find a time where your dog is engaged but not overwhelmed. A quiet environment with no distractions is imperative.
Some basic tricks to try:
Sit, Stay, Down, Leave It, Shake, Rollover, High Five.
Some advanced tricks to try for cognitive enrichment for dogs:
Play Dead, Balance (a treat on your dog’s nose), Cover Eyes, Hug, Spin.
3. SNUFFLE MATS & LICK MATS
There are so many good mats out there to keep your dog entertained. If done right these can literally keep your dog busy for hours. Perfect for those who work from home and have an important call.
Snuffle mats typically use a bit more brain power as your dog needs to find the treats within the mat. Whereas lick mats are a more straightforward treat for your dog.
Here’s what to know about each:
When using a snuffle mat you’ll want to place treats within the folds of the mat. This can easily be implemented around meal time by using kibble instead. A great slow feeder alternative that doubles as cognitive enrichment for dogs.
While lick mats do not require as much mental stimulation – they do require persistence. When looking for a lick mat try and find one that has varying grooves. This will require your dog to use their tongue in different ways to get every last drop.
Lick mats can also provide frozen enrichment for dogs. Just spread your dogs favorite food, add a thin layer of water, and pop them in the freezer. This will make them last much longer with less calories, a win-win for your dog!
4. WALK A NEW ROUTE
*If you’re looking for non food enrichment for dogs – this is a great option!
We’ve all been there where you’re doing the same thing day in and day out. Often times that means your dog’s walk turns into the same old walk around the block. But this doesn’t allow them to explore new sights and smells.
If you want to excite your dog – take a left when you normally go right and switch it up! It will allow them to see a new part of the neighborhood and all of the fun smells that come along with it.
A simple but effective way to provide cognitive enrichment for dogs.
5. LET YOUR DOG TRY A PUZZLE
There are plenty of dog puzzles you can buy or even diy yourself!
The key here is to find a dog puzzle that is the right challenge for your dog. If you select a puzzle that is too easy, your dog will be finished in two seconds. Not much of a challenge.
However if you pick a dog puzzle that is too challenging it may discourage your dog. Think about it, you wouldn’t want to do a puzzle that felt impossible and neither does your dog.
I highly recommend checking out Nina Ottosson’s interactive dog puzzles. She has puzzles with varying levels of difficulty. That means your dog can complete new puzzles as they strengthen their problem solving skills.
If you’re just looking to try out a puzzle – this is a super affordable dog puzzle!
7. CREATE AN OBSTACLE COURSE
This can be really fun and is way easier than it sounds. You can find plenty of obstacle course materials around the house. Think cones, pillows, cardboard boxes – you can make an obstacle course out of just about anything.
The goal should be to challenge your dog to go over, under, around, and through various items. Your dog will look to you to be their guide. So give them commands along the way.
Bonus: guiding your dog through an obstacle course can help build your dogs confidence. If your dog gets scared around new objects or new places this can help show them there is nothing to be scared of. And with the right attitude, new things can actually be fun.
If you’re looking to invest in an obstacle course for your dog this is a great option!
8. PICK UP SOME NEW TOYS
A classic cognitive enrichment for dogs – toys, of course!
Just getting your dog a new toy will certainly excite them and probably keep them occupied for awhile. But if you’re going to spend money on toys, select ones that will provide cognitive enrichment for dogs.
When you’re looking at toys try and find ones that have some sort of game portion. Here are some of the best dog enrichment toys!
If you have a dog that LOVES to chew up their toys you’ll want to try burrow toys. Burrow toys are great because they come with a few small toys that you can stuff into one larger toy. This means your dog must use their brain to figure out how to remove the small toys.
Bonus: this allows your dog to pull apart the toys time and time again without destroying them.
If your dog is motivated by food you’ll want to try a toy that you can stuff yummy treats into. The KONG is a classic that you can never go wrong with.
Right now my dog is loving this topple toy. It’s made so your dog has to get it to lean over in order to get the treats out. The treats come out slowly and only one at a time so it’ll keep your dog busy for hours.
Final Thoughts On Dog Enrichment Ideas
Hopefully you found some ways you can implement mental stimulation into your dogs every day routine.
The most important part of cognitive enrichment for dogs is that you change it up! Don’t give your dog the same mental stimulation day in and day out.
There will come a point where the toys, activities, and puzzles are no longer enrichment and instead just a part of their routine. To make these enrichment ideas last longer its important to swap them in and out.
This post was all about cognitive enrichment for dogs.
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